Aside from catching up with the 2023 UEFA Champions League group stage draw, last night’s UEFA program saw numerous awards presented to last season’s outstanding performers. Notably, Erling Haaland won the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year. After winning the prize, the striker admits he is ‘living the dream,’ as he also emulates a 14-year-old record of Lionel Messi.

Aitana Bonmati won Women’s POTY. Subsequently, Haaland’s manager at City, Pep Guardiola, won the UEFA’s Men’s Coach of the Year, and England’s manager, Sarina Wiegman, won the Women’s Coach of the Year.

Erling Haaland insists he is ‘living the dream’

Erling Haaland has quickly established himself as one of the most elite strikes of the sport. After an impressive season with Manchester City, the Norwegian has clinched the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year, for the very first time. Haaland’s 22/23 campaign saw the striker put up mouth-watering numbers, with 52 goals and 9 assists in his 53 appearances for the club, 12 and 1 of which came in the Champions League.

When he was handed over the award, the striker acknowledged the feat. He said, “What can I say? I won the treble at age 22. I’m kinda living the dream.” Remarkably, the Norwegian star played a formative part in winning the treble (Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup) with Manchester City last season, only the second club in English history to do so.

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Notably, this is Haaland’s second POTY award a week after being announced as the PFA Player of the Year. As he rakes in individual and team awards, the 22-year-old has emulated a 2009 record held by one of the greatest players to grace the pitch, Lionel Messi and his Barcelona side.

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Haaland imitates 14-year-old record of Lionel Messi

Haaland saying he won the treble at 22 may sound familiar to the ears of ardent soccer fans. Argentine superstar Lionel Messi also won his first treble at the age of 22. The magician clinched the massive feat with his childhood club FC Barcelona during the 2008/09 season. The 7x Ballon d’Or winner’s impressive feat coincidently came under the leadership of the same manager, Pep Guardiola.

Aside from La Liga, Copa Del Rey, and Champions League, Messi also won his first ever Ballon d’Or that season. In the subsequent campaign, Pep Guardiola would drive Barcelona to a historic sextuple. Haaland may not have won the Ballon d’Or, yet However, winning the UEFA POTY and a treble in the bag, the Norwegian star may very well be on his way.

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