Who has scored the most goals in a single calendar year? The all-time top scorers revealed
The record for most goals scored in a single calendar year is one of football’s most prestigious — and fiercely debated — milestones. While FIFA doesn’t officially recognize an all-time record, several legendary names have earned a place in the Guinness World Records and football history books.
Lionel Messi’s record 91 goals in 2012 remain unmatched.
Gyokeres stuns in 2024 with 52 strikes.
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In 2012, Lionel Messi delivered an astonishing performance that saw him score 91 goals for club and country, breaking Gerd Muller’s 1972 record of 85. Of Messi’s 91 goals, 79 were for FC Barcelona and the remainder with the Argentine national team.
Although the Zambian Football Association claimed Godfrey Chitalu scored 113 goals in 1972, FIFA declined to officially acknowledge the record due to insufficient documentation.
Other icons follow closely behind. Pele recorded 75 goals in 1958, while Zico and Romario both achieved 72-goal calendar years. Cristiano Ronaldo appears multiple times in the top scorers’ list, while modern-era stars like Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland continue to close the gap.
Most surprisingly in 2024, Viktor Gyokeres surged to prominence by netting 52 goals for Sporting CP and Sweden, outscoring even Haaland’s best single-year tally and placing himself as one of the most prolific scorers of the modern game.
Top 10 Most Goals Scored in a Single Calendar Year
1. Lionel Messi – 91 goals (2012)
2. Gerd Muller – 85 goals (1972)
3. Pele – 75 goals (1958)
4. Pele – 72 goals (1965)
5. Zico – 72 goals (1979)
6. Romario – 72 goals (2000)
7. Robert Lewandowski – 69 goals (2021)
8. Cristiano Ronaldo – 69 goals (2013)
9. Cristiano Ronaldo – 63 goals (2012)
10. Cristiano Ronaldo – 61 goals (2014)
Top 10 Goal Scorers of 2024
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1. Viktor Gyokeres – 52 goals (Sporting CP/Sweden)
2. Robert Lewandowski – 40 goals (Barcelona/Poland)
3. Harry Kane – 39 goals (Bayern Munich/England)
4. Erling Haaland – 38 goals (Manchester City/Norway)
5. Kylian Mbappe – 36 goals (PSG/Real Madrid/France)
6. Jonathan David – 36 goals (Lille/Canada)
7. Krzysztof Piatek – 32 goals (Basaksehir/Turkey)
8. Vinicius Junior – 31 goals (Real Madrid/Brazil)
9. Cole Palmer – 29 goals (Chelsea/England)
10. Mohamed Salah – 29 goals (Liverpool/Egypt)
These statistics underline the exceptional consistency and finishing prowess of the game’s elite forwards. As each season passes, the race to reach — or even surpass — Messi's immortal record continues.
