Charlton Athletic’s striker, Alfie May, has taken the lead over Manchester City’s superstar Erling Haaland in the race for the most goals scored in 2023. In a surprising turn of events, May, a 30-year-old who only turned professional at 23, has outscored Haaland by one goal in the competition for the most league goals in English football’s top four divisions this year.
May, who was released by Millwall at 14 for being deemed too small, had a humble start in non-league clubs in Kent and south London. Despite the odds, he persevered and finally made his way back into the EFL after a prolific 18-month spell with Hythe, catching the attention of League Two Doncaster Rovers in January 2017.
The striker’s career truly took off at Cheltenham, where he played a key role in the team’s rise from League Two, earning back-to-back Players’ Player and Supporters’ Player of the Year awards. May, who joined Charlton last summer for £250,000, has become one of the most feared forwards in League One, scoring 58 goals in 103 matches combined for Cheltenham and Charlton from the start of 2021-22 until now.
May’s motivation to make up for lost time and maximize his potential is evident, and the competition with Haaland serves as an additional source of inspiration. While recognizing the difference in the level of competition, May views outscoring Haaland as a personal achievement that would be cherished, especially when sharing the story with his future children.
The article outlines the current goal tally for both players in 2023, with May leading by one goal. Despite Haaland’s foot injury, the race for the annual goals record is still on, with May expressing his determination to maintain his lead. Looking ahead, May also discusses his aspirations for Charlton, aiming to help the team secure promotion to the Championship and continue his success as a professional footballer.
As the year comes to a close, May could face an anxious wait to see if he maintains his lead over Haaland in the goals race. Plans for a celebration, inspired by Haaland’s famous lotus yoga position, are already in place if May finds the net in Charlton’s upcoming match against Bristol Rovers. In a hypothetical scenario, May reflects on the goal-scoring potential he could have if he were leading the line for Manchester City, emphasizing the quality of the team’s deliveries into the box.
Leave a Reply