Viktor Gyökeres Declares Himself as Good as Harry Kane and Erling Haaland

Gyökeres Challenges Elite forwards as the Swedish striker claims his place among football’s top forwards, comparing himself to Harry Kane and Erling Haaland after a record-breaking season

Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres has stirred debate in the football world by boldly claiming he’s as good as Harry Kane and Erling Haaland In a recent interview with L’Équipe, the Sporting CP forward said, _“I’m definitely one of them… I’m at the same table as them now.”_

Gyökeres’ rise to prominence has been remarkable. After struggling to break into the Premier League with Brighton, he found his form at Coventry City, scoring 43 goals in 116 appearances. His move to Sporting CP in Portugal transformed his career. Over two seasons, he scored 97 goals in 102 matches, helping the club win consecutive league titles and finishing just behind Kylian Mbappé for the 2024–25 European Golden Shoe.

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Now, with top clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United reportedly interested and a €100 million release clause in his contract, Gyökeres is eyeing a return to England—not just for glory, but for redemption.
“I spent several years there without playing a single match. So, of course, it’s something I would like to do. It would be great revenge,” he said.

Statistically, Gyökeres is outperforming even the biggest names. He scored 68 goals since the start of the 2023–24 season, with an expected goals (xG) tally of 53.6—an overperformance of +14.4. That puts him ahead of Harry Kane’s 62 goals in the same period.

Despite his confidence, Gyökeres remains grounded about his place in football history:
“They are extraordinary players… who have proven much more than I have. I need to show I can maintain these performances season after season.”