Here is the the updated list of top 10 football players who scored highest goals in one calender year. After breakdown of Gerd Muller’s record by Lionel Messi, the Barcelona striker is on top of the table with 91 goals. However, there is change at the bottom of this list. The Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo have broken his own record. To know about the highest goal scorers in one calender year, just continue your reading and stay updated with football records.
| 10. Cristiano Ronaldo [61 goals]; Year: 2012; Team: Real Madrid & Portugal | |
| In the list of top 10 goals scorers, the 29 year old Real Madrid and Portuguese winger is at the 10th spot for scoring 61 goals. Ronaldo begun the season of 2012–13 winning Supercopa de Espana, winning 4–4 on away goals in El Clasico. In same year, he became the first player Real Madrid player to score at the home ground of Barcelona four times in a row.He also played a decent role in qualification round of Euro 2012. Ronaldo scored total of 7 goals in UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying round. In last game of Euro 2012 group stage, Portugal made 2 gals against Netherlands and had two other chances go against the woodwork to secure a 2–1 win. In short, it was one of the best year of CR7. | |
| 9. Dixie Dean [63 Goals]; Year: 1927; Teams: Everton & England | |
| The former British football player Dixie Dean is now at 9th spot in the list of top goal scorers in one year. He scored total of 63 goals in 1927 for which he is best known. Dean won League Championship in 1928 and 1932 with Everton. In same years he lifted the trophy of FA Charity Shield in 1928 and 1932 with same team.He left the world on 1st March 1980 at the age of 73. Dixie Dean was the only Everton player who scored 5 goals in 1 game against Manchester United. In his International career, he scored 18 goals in 16 games. In 1971, he was honored with Hall of Fame Trophy and by Football Writers Association inscribed silver salver in 1976. | |
| 8. Henk Groot [64 Goals]; Year: 1961; Teams: Ajax & Netherlands | |
| At the eighth spot, we have a Dutch player who scored 64 goals in 1961 for his club and country. The Dutch player spent most of his football career with Ajax Amsterdam. In 1959, he made Ajax debut and played 124 games scored 116 till 1963.Groot then moved to Feijenoord scoring 34 in 54 goals. Ajax Amsterdam then resigned him in 1965. The goal machine of Ajax continued his dominance till with his club and nation. | |
| 7. Romario [65 Goals]; Year: 2000: Teams: Vasco da Gama & Brazil | |
| Here is the first Brazil football player in the list of top 10 goal scorers in one year. Year 2000 was the best for Brazilian player in which he scored 65 goals for Vasco da Gama and Brazil national football team. He also won Eredivisie three times and the league’s top scorer many times.Being a Brazilian footballer, Romario also played for Spanish club FC Barcelona. In 1994 he won La Liga with Barcelona and was also the top goal scorer of the competition. He is the third top goal scorer of Brazil for scoring 55 goals in 70 appearances. | |
| 6. Ferenc Deak [66 Goals]; Year: 1946; Teams: Szentlorinci and Hungary | |
| The Hungarian football player tasted huge success of his career in 1946. Deak registered his name in the history of football when he netted 66 times in 1946 calendar year. In his career, Ferenc Deak scored total of 576 goals and is the 6th top goal scorer of all time in history. He played for Szentlorinci, Ferencvarosi TC and Ujpesti Dozsa football clubs. | |
| 5. Cristiano Roanldo [69 Goals]; Year: 2013; Teams: Real Madrid & Portugal | |
| Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player who is listed in the list twice. Once again, the player showed his best performance in 2013 when recorded 69 goals. In same year, Cristiano Roanldo scored 6 hat-tricks for Real Madrid. Despite spending 6 years in Manchester United, he scored 1 hat-trick. Now, he is just one hat-trick away from scoring maximum hat-tricks in La Liga.Ronaldo is the fastest Real Madrid player to reach 100 goals, 150 goals, 200 goals. Next year [2014], he won FIFA Ballon D’or award, best player in Europe award, Champions League title, Copa del Rey and UEFA Super Cup. | |
| 4. Pele [75 Goals]; Year: 1958; Teams: Santos & Brazil | |
| Pele, the top goal scorer of all time in football history is at fourth position in this countdown. The Brazilian legend have won almost every title during his career. His all years were almost great, but he enjoyed 1958 the most for scoring 75 times for Santos & Brazil. In 1999, he was elected Athlete of the Century by the IOC and Time named him in their list of 100 most influential people of 20th century.With 1281 goals in 1363 games, Pele is still at the top highest goal scorer ever in the history of football. He was also the best paid sportsperson in the world. The year in which he netted 75 times and also won his first ever FIFA World Cup. He again lifted the trophy in 1962 and then in 1970. | |
| 3. Godfrey Chitalu [81 Goals]; Year: 1968; Teams: Kitwe United and Zambia | |
| At the third spot, we have a Zambian player who broke record of Pele in 1968 after netting 81 times. He is considered as the best player in Zambia as he holds his national team scoring record and was voted Zambian footballer of the year 5 times.In Lusaka, Godfrey Chitalu Road is named after him. In 2012 December, Kabwe Warriors announced plans to rename the railways stadium as the “Godfrey Ucar Chitalu 107 Stadium” as well as erect a statue in his honour. | |
| 2. Gerd Muller [85 Goals]; Year: 1972; Teams: Bayern Munich and Germany | |
| Here we have the first German footballer in this list in the form of Gerd Muller. Muller become the top goal scorer of single year in 1972. He surpassed Godfrey Chitalu’s record of 81. Gerd Muller scored 10 goals in 1970 for his national team & was awarded with Golden Boot.He was ranked ninth in the European player of the century election held by the IFFHS in 1999. He was voted 13th in the IFFHS World Player of the century election. The Brazilian legend Pele named Muller in the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players. | |
| 1. Lionel Messi [91 Goals]; Year: 2012; Teams: Barcelona and Argentina | |
| Lionel Messi is now the top goal scorer of single year calendar. Messi broke record of Gerd Muller in 2012 & the whole football world was shocked by his dominant performance. In 2012 Messi netted 56 times in 36 games of La Liga, 3 times in 7 appearance of Copa del Rey. For Argentina, he scored 12 goals in 9 games.His dominant form helped Barcelona to win all titles of 2012. FC Barcelona is the only team in the history of football to win all title in one calendar year. He is still playing for his current club and the way he is playing, it looks like this record is all set to be broken by Messi himself. | |
So this the list of top goal scorers in one calender year in which Messi is still leading. Is there any player who can break this record of Messi or is it Messi who is going to set a new record? Time will tell.
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