Phil Foden turned in a top performance for Manchester City against Leeds United – and has moved clear of a football legend in the Premier League.
Manchester City got back to winning ways yesterday at the Etihad Stadium, but were made to work very hard for their victory.
Phil Foden handed the hosts the perfect start, and Josko Gvardiol made it 2-0 after 25 minutes.
But Leeds did not lie down and came back into the game, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin pulling one back before Lukas Nmecha equalised, scoring the rebound from a penalty.
City looked to be heading for more dropped points as the game entered injury-time.
Phil Foden playing for Manchester City against Leeds United.
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
But Foden popped up with what would turn out to be the winner, 90 minutes after scoring his first.
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It was a terrific finish from Foden who had so many bodies in front of him, and that strike now takes him up to six for the season across all competitions.
And that second strike was also significant as it moved him past a legend in the Premier League goalscoring chart.
Phil Foden surpasses David Beckham and Yaya Toure for Premier League goals
Phil Foden scores for Manchester City against Leeds United.
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
The performance from Foden was huge yesterday as City struggled as a collective.
The Englishman obviously struggled a lot last season, failing to kick on from his PFA Player of the Season win.
But this term he now looks to be back to his best, and is delivering in big moments which is vitally important while City aren’t on top form.
Foden’s goals yesterday were so well taken, and his second actually meant he surpassed David Beckham’s haul of 62 for Manchester United. It is an achievement he will surely take great pride in, and one that will also satisfy Manchester City fans everywhere.
A very impressive achievement from Phil Foden
He has now moved into the top five for Man City goalscorers in the Premier League
Phil Foden has now scored more Premier League goals (63) than David Beckham and Yaya Toure (both 62).
Overtaking two of the finest players to play in Manchester. 👏 pic.twitter.com/VjbZlQQUkl
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 29, 2025
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Foden also moved ahead of City legend Yaya Toure.
With 63 to his name in the Premier League, Foden has now moved into the top five goalscorers for City. Only Kevin De Bruyne (72), Raheem Sterling (91), Erling Haaland (99) and Sergio Aguero (184) are ahead of him.
There is a possibility that, if he carries on playing this well, Foden will move ahead of De Bruyne by the end of this season.
Phil Foden is well and truly back
It was sad to see Foden struggle so much last season, given how amazing he was in 2023/24.
But the criticism of him always felt overboard, and it feels like he has been using that as fuel this season.
It was hugely encouraging to see him be so influential yesterday – without him, City may well have crashed to a third straight defeat.
Foden came in for plenty of plaudits after his brace vs Leeds
“At the end, it was the quality of Phil, a player with special [talent].”
– Pep Guardiola (via mancity.com)
‘He got them out of jail, but he got them out of jail with absolute quality.”
– Joe Hart (via Match of the Day)
“What a star. Phil Foden’s the boy, isn’t he? He’s the star boy!”
– Nedum Onuoha (via Man City YouTube channel)
With Arsenal looking so strong and City not at their best as a collective, it is so vital for Foden to be playing like this.
On his day he is a total gamechanger, and hopefully he can sustain this for as long as possible.