Erling Haaland is the name on everyone’s lips. It’s easy to see why, given he has scored 11 goals in his first seven Premier League matches for champions Manchester City.
Throw in another three Champions League goals and Haaland is almost unstoppable under Pep Guardiola.
But step aside, Erling. There is another sheriff in town.
According to Central Coast Mariners star Jason Cummings – who was in a light-hearted mood – the best player in the world is based in Gosford.
“He is a beast man. What a player Haaland is man,” Cummings said during an Instagram Live via the Socceroos account when asked to pick between Haaland and Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez.
“He has come in and he has just smashed it. I think he is probably one of the best players in the world right now.
“He is probably the best player in the world behind Garang Kuol. He is probably number one, Garanski.”
Teenage sensation Kuol and Scottish-born Cummings both earned their maiden international call-ups as the World Cup-bound Socceroos prepare to face New Zealand in Brisbane on Thursday and again in Auckland on Sunday.
Alongside Cummings at the Mariners, Kuol has taken the A-League Men by storm, despite just a handful of appearances.
The 18-year-old forward, who has been linked with Premier League outfit Newcastle United and LaLiga giants Barcelona, scored four goals in nine substitute appearances across 283 total minutes of action in the ALM.
Kuol was among three Australian youngsters on the CIES Football Observatory’s list of brightest talents in world football before showcasing his immense talent in the A-Leagues All Stars clash against Barca in May.
One fan asked Cummings if Kuol was the man for the Ballon d’Or.
Cummings’ response was swift.
“Absolutely,” the fellow All Star said jokingly. “100%.”
