Haaland, Mbappe, Messi, Ronaldo: What's the best season by an U21 player?

Manchester City have signed an absolute gem in Erling Braut Haaland.

The Premier League champions are acquiring the world-class striker for around €60 million after activating his release clause at Borussia Dortmund.

For a 21-year-old who’s already among the best footballers on the planet, that fee looks a mere pittance in the modern market.

Haaland has scored goals for fun during the course of his young career and is only going to get better.

But how does the Norwegian compare to other great players from this century when they were aged 21 or under?

Well, we have some answers.

Using Transfermarkt, we’ve worked out the 25 most prolific seasons (goals and assists combined for a team in one of Europe’s top five leagues) by a footballer in the aforementioned age bracket since the turn of the millennium.

And Haaland occupies two spots in the top five…

=25. Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund, 2012/13) – 36

Goals: 16 | Assists: 20

=23. Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, 2008/09) – 36

Goals: 21 | Assists: 15

=23. Kylian Mbappe (AS Monaco, 2017/18) – 36

Goals: 21 | Assists: 15

22. Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid, 2008/09) – 36

Goals: 24 | Assists: 12

21. Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan, 2014/15) – 36

Goals: 27 | Assists: 9

20. Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, 2007/08) – 36

Goals: 26 | Assists: 10

19. Eden Hazard (Chelsea, 2012/13) – 37

Goals: 13 | Assists: 24

18. Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid, 2009/10) – 37

Goals: 29 | Assists: 8

17. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur, 2014/15) – 37

Goals: 31 | Assists: 6

16. Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich, 2010/11) – 38

Goals: 19 | Assists: 19

15. Roberto Firmino (Hoffenheim, 2013/14) – 38

Goals: 22 | Assists: 16

14. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, 2006/07) – 38

Goals: 23 | Assists: 15

=12. Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen,