The stats will always tell a part of the story. For years it was easy enough - Haaland was on the move from one massive club to another, scoring goals wherever he went like a hot knife through butter. But that's all changed now, and we're forced to look beyond those impressive numbers.
We still know his strengths: the barrelling run between defenders, the goal from two yards out with whatever part of his body feels most convenient, the cross from the left that leaves everyone else for dead. But what about the rest? Does Haaland have a few more tricks up his sleeve now?
It seems so. He's learned to feint and shoot on his right foot, he dinks the ball around keepers with ease, and occasionally takes the classic side-foot approach but twists it just enough to leave you wondering how on earth he does it. There's even a lightness and playfulness to him now that we didn't always see.
And then there's the rest of Haaland - off the pitch, where we're seeing more maturity and growth as he allows himself to be the person he is rather than hiding behind his sporty persona. He makes videos on YouTube about his diet (think yak milk and liquid barium), jokes about his glutes being 'activated', and generally seems like a man who's allowed himself to relax into the world.
But Haaland is still all about those numbers, too. And in an age where we're constantly bombarded with data - stats, goals, assists, you name it - do they really tell us enough? Do we know what kind of footballer Erling Haaland truly is?
To some extent, maybe not. We can discuss how he benefits from City's financial might and the state ownership that gives him a level of protection other strikers don't have. But past that point, it's hard to look beyond those impressive stats and see what makes this man tick.
What we want from footballers is more than just goals - we want them to struggle, hurt, occasionally make fools of themselves. We want recognisable people behind the personas. And above all, we want to be moved and astonished by something new. Can we ever get tired of watching Haaland score? Maybe come back in three years' time.
For now, though, let's just enjoy what he does best: scoring goals like nobody else can.
We still know his strengths: the barrelling run between defenders, the goal from two yards out with whatever part of his body feels most convenient, the cross from the left that leaves everyone else for dead. But what about the rest? Does Haaland have a few more tricks up his sleeve now?
It seems so. He's learned to feint and shoot on his right foot, he dinks the ball around keepers with ease, and occasionally takes the classic side-foot approach but twists it just enough to leave you wondering how on earth he does it. There's even a lightness and playfulness to him now that we didn't always see.
And then there's the rest of Haaland - off the pitch, where we're seeing more maturity and growth as he allows himself to be the person he is rather than hiding behind his sporty persona. He makes videos on YouTube about his diet (think yak milk and liquid barium), jokes about his glutes being 'activated', and generally seems like a man who's allowed himself to relax into the world.
But Haaland is still all about those numbers, too. And in an age where we're constantly bombarded with data - stats, goals, assists, you name it - do they really tell us enough? Do we know what kind of footballer Erling Haaland truly is?
To some extent, maybe not. We can discuss how he benefits from City's financial might and the state ownership that gives him a level of protection other strikers don't have. But past that point, it's hard to look beyond those impressive stats and see what makes this man tick.
What we want from footballers is more than just goals - we want them to struggle, hurt, occasionally make fools of themselves. We want recognisable people behind the personas. And above all, we want to be moved and astonished by something new. Can we ever get tired of watching Haaland score? Maybe come back in three years' time.
For now, though, let's just enjoy what he does best: scoring goals like nobody else can.
, it's all anyone cares about anymore! We need more depth, we need to see what makes these players tick beyond just their goal-scoring record 
. I mean, Haaland's got skills for sure, but is he adaptable? Can he take a hit and keep going? 
Or is it all just about the numbers game? And don't even get me started on the "dressing room package" 
, do we really care about their personal lives when they're not on the pitch? 
Let's see more of the real Haaland, not just his highlight reels 
!
. He's still putting up crazy numbers and making highlight reels, but is it really that deep? I think we're getting caught up in his "personality" and social media presence 
! He's grown so much as a player and it's amazing to see him experimenting with new moves on the field... those dinks around goalkeepers? 
And off the pitch, his YouTube videos are hilarious 
, who knew we'd be entertained by yak milk recipes?! But what I love most is how he's allowed himself to relax and be more genuine. We all need a little bit of Haaland's positivity in our lives 
.
. For now, let's just enjoy watching him play - he's definitely putting on a show 
. Can't we want more from our footballers? Want them to make mistakes, struggle with injuries, and have imperfections that make them more relatable?
! Let's just enjoy the ride and appreciate his skills – but also keep an eye out for the human side of him. Maybe one day we'll get to see that shine through in the stats too 
.
I guess some people care more about that than just goals. But for me, it's all good – he scores goals like a pro 
, and his videos on YouTube are giving me life 
. And yeah, let's not forget about his goalscoring prowess 
... I'm still on the edge of my seat every time he steps onto the pitch 
! The stats may tell part of the story, but Haaland's growth as a player and a person is what makes him truly special 
. Bring on the next three years – I'm here for it 
I mean, can we really get tired of watching him score or is that just a number too?