Isak Makes History with Unprecedented Achievement

Newcastle United’s thrilling 4-3 victory against Nottingham Forest was notable for several reasons, not least because Alexander Isak joined an elite group of players. His two goals on Sunday pushed his Premier League tally this season to 19, three more and it will be his best campaign at the club.

Isak’s second goal against Forest also marked a significant milestone in his career as he reached 50 Premier League goals, accomplishing this feat in just 76 top-flight games. Only six players in the competition’s history have joined the 50-goal club quicker, highlighting how impressive Isak has been.

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart praised Isak to BBC Match of the Day: “What he has done is amazing. In the modern game, he is right up there as one of the top strikers anywhere, not just in the Premier League,” said Hart. He noted that Isak’s fitness and speed make him a constant threat because “he scores all sorts of goals.”

Hart also commended Isak for his team play: “It’s not just in front of goal where he looks good; he is clinical, but he is also a great team player,” Hart said. He concluded by saying that Isak was a gem for Newcastle and added that at 25 years old, Isak still had plenty to achieve.

So who else has scored 50 Premier League goals in fewer games than Isak? BBC Sport takes a look:

Erling Haaland – Just 48 games
Not only did Erling Haaland break the record for the most goals in a single Premier League season (36) during his first campaign with Manchester City, he also scored another 12 in his next 12 matches before reaching the half-century point. He obliterated Andy Cole’s previous record and will likely be hard to beat.

Andy Cole – 65 games
Andy Cole set this record while playing for Manchester United back in March 1995, scoring five of the nine goals in a match against Ipswich. His fifth goal that day took him to 50 Premier League goals in his 65th game. He went on to score an astounding total of 187 Premier League goals.

Alan Shearer – 66 games
The all-time leading scorer in the Premier League reached his first half-century mark after just 66 games, breaking records that were already quite impressive. He was also among the fastest to reach a century of goals with just 124 appearances.

Ruud van Nistelrooy – 68 games
At Manchester United in August 2003, Ruud van Nistelrooy scored his fiftieth goal in the Premier League. This was after a sequence of ten consecutive goals and he went on to score another ninety-five goals during his time with the club.

Fernando Torres – 72 games
Fernando Torres, who played for Liverpool from 2010-13, also reached this milestone in just 72 appearances. Although he didn’t replicate that form at Chelsea after his transfer there in January 2011.

Mohamed Salah – 72 games
Mohamed Salah, like Torres, joined the list with a total of 50 goals scored in just over two seasons (his first Premier League campaigns). He equalled Torres’ record and broke it shortly after when Haaland reached the milestone in fewer minutes.

The story continues to unfold as new records are set and old ones broken. For now, Isak stands out with his remarkable achievement of reaching 50 goals in just 76 games, joining a prestigious club. The Premier League will undoubtedly continue to see many more incredible moments like these throughout the years.