FIFA awards numerous titles recognizing various accomplishments on both the international and league scene. However, the world football governing body never acknowledged the record for most goals scored in a calendar year. Fortunately for both players and fans, Guinness World Records has recognized this feat on multiple occasions.
Messi presently holds the Guinness Record of the highest goals scored in a calendar year. There are more players in this list of achievements. This article covers a list of such players.
Highest Goal Scored in a Calendar Year:
| Rank | Player | Goal | Year | Country |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | 91 | 2012 | Argentina |
| 2 | Gerd Müller | 85 | 1972 | German |
| 3 | Pele | 75 | 1958 | Brazil |
| 4 | Romário | 72 | 2000 | Brazil |
| 5 | Pele | 72 | 1965 | Brazil |
| 6 | Zico | 72 | 1979 | Brazil |
| 7 | Robert Lewandowski | 70 | 2021 | Poland |
| 8 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 69 | 2013 | Portugal |
| 9 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 63 | 2012 | Portugal |
| 10 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 61 | 2014 | Portugal |
Most Goal Scored: Messi
Lionel Messi is an Argentine football legend. He is considered the greatest of all time by most football fans and enthusiasts. Messi is leading the Guinness Record of scoring the highest goal in a calendar year. In 2012, he scored a total of 91 goals for both club and national teams. At that time, the Argentine player served as a forward in Barcelona.
Attending 69 games throughout the year, Messi scored 91 goals. Which calculates to a goal per 66 minutes. These goals come from
- Champions League: 13 goals
- Copa del Rey: 5 goals
- Super Copa: 2 goals
- Other League games: 59 goals
As a result, 2012 is still considered one of the best years of his career.
Most Position Holder: Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is the Portugal national team captain. The football legend is playing under Manchester United at present. He holds the most position in the top-10 list of most goals scored in a calendar year. The player achieved the feat greatly, with 69 goals in 2013, 63 goals in 2012, and 61 goals in 2014.
The highest record of Ronaldo’s goal count is 69. He achieved it in 2013. While playing for Real Madrid that year, he scored 59 goals in 50 appearances. The player scored 10 more wearing the Portuguese national jersey.
Recent Record of Highest Goals a Year: Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski is a Polish national player. He is mainly known for playing in Bundesliga under Bayern Munich. In 2021, he bagged a total of 69 goals. This earned him the 7th spot in the list of most goals scored in a calendar year. These goals came from
- Bundesliga: 44 goals
- Champions League: 11 goals
- DFB-Pokal: 4 goals
- International: 13 goals
With these, he surpassed 3 of Cristiano Ronaldo’s records. Scoring 41 goals, He also earned the title of most goals in a season that year. The player broke multiple records for the former German football legend. Gerd Müller. But he is still far behind the gold standard of 91 goals created by Lionel Messi.
