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Our countdown of the top 25 players in the world continues today with …

6th: Erling Haaland

(New entry)

A mere 10 months ago, Erling Haaland just missed out on our top 25 players in the world. Don’t we look silly now?

If there was any doubt that he was a flash in the pan, that has now disappeared as Haaland’s incredible rise has continued.

So far this season, he’s found the back of the net 31 times in just 30 Borussia Dortmund appearances, averaging a goal every 82 minutes on the pitch. And he doesn’t ever really seem to be peppering the goal with shots.

No, Haaland’s secret is that he repeatedly gets on the end of massive chances perhaps better than anyone else in the world right now.

Lightning quick and with intelligent movement far beyond his years (remember he’s still just 20), Haaland is a clinical finisher and a pure penalty box goalscorer.

Looking at his frame you’d never imagine he’s amongst the quickest players in the world, but when he gets that long stride going, there isn’t a defender who can live with him. Play a high line at your peril.

His movement inside the box is superb too, making dummy runs and throwing defenders off balance before ghosting into the space and tapping in.

But we already knew all that. The real improvements this season have come in his all-round game. Despite his size, he hasn’t always used his body to full effect, but now he really is bullying defenders.

Performances in big games against RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich showed an improved ability with his back to goal and even dribbling in tight spaces, two aspects Haaland had room to improve in.

That improvement has been underlined by his seven assists so far this season, including incredibly selfless passes to put goals on a plate for Felix Passlack and Reinier against Freiburg and Arminia Bielefeld respectively.

Make no mistake, Haaland is not characterised by an obsession with scoring goals, but an obsession with winning.

The improvements he’s made this year show there are no limits for the Norwegian, who has records in sight and over a decade of goalscoring at the very top level ahead of him.

Whether he stays at Dortmund for another year or not, he’ll have the pick of the world’s leading clubs when he decides to move on.