Which footballer holds the record for the most goals in a calendar year?

The most talented football players display their skills in various ways effortlessly. While some offer ironclad defense fronts and offense, others score impossible goals. Dig in and discover the world's most skilled footballers who scored the most goals in a calendar year.

Who are the skill kings of football? This article will dive into the past win records of soccer players worldwide to bring you the top 10 highest scorers in a year.

Who has the most goals in a calendar year?

Undoubtedly, scoring propels clubs to the top of their leagues while earning them millions of adoring fans. In addition, top scorers often earn a hefty goal bonus, global fame, and notoriety. For example, on the 22nd of December 2012, Messi entered the Guinness World Records after clocking his highest shot in a season during a match against Real Valladolid at the José Zorrilla Stadium in Valladolid, Spain.

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Although this article only highlights ten shot scorers from around the globe, countless more from local leagues remain unrecognized. Look at the top 10 players with the most goals in a calendar year in football.

10. Harry Kane - 56 goals (2017)

When did Harry Kane score the most goals in a calendar year? In 2017, Kane made his last appearance of the season at Wembley, where he scored his fifty-sixth volley against Southampton.

In addition to beating Messi, Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Cavani in 2017, he broke Alan Shearer's 1995 record in the EPL and scored seven hat tricks. He later expressed his delight to the media where he said,

"It has been a fantastic year. To get compared to the Messis and Shearers is what it is all about, and getting another hat trick is a great way to end the year. It is about improving every year. That is what I have always done throughout my career."

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9. Dixie Dean – 63 Goals (1928)

How many goals did Dixie Dean score in a single season? Although many publications give different figures for his record, the consensus lies around 60 volleys.

Dean ended the 1927/28 season with 60 shots after scoring a hat-trick against Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England. True to his own words, the Englishman's record at Everton still stands.

8. Cristiano Ronaldo - 69 goals (2013)

2014 Laureus Sportsman of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo broke the record for the most goals in a calendar year for four consecutive years since 2011. His highest record came in 2013 when he successfully scored 69 shots for Portugal and Real Madrid. Here is a summary of his records between 2011 and 2014.

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7. Robert Lewandowski - 69 goals (2021)

When did Lewandowski score the most goals in a calendar year? In 2021, Lewandowski set his highest record and equalized Cristiano Ronaldo's record in 2013. His record-setting volley came in the last quarter during a game against VfL Wolfsburg.

The shot broke a long-standing Bundesliga record by Gerd Muller, making him the highest goal scorer in the league in a calendar year. Messi, who won the 2021 Ballon d'Or, acknowledged Lewandowski's achievements in his acceptance speech. He said,

"I want to tell Robert you deserve your Ballon d'Or. Last year everyone agreed that you were the winner. Hopefully, France Football can give it to you because you would have been the true winner without the pandemic."

6. Romário - 72 goals (2000)

Unfortunately, Romário does not share the same fame as some of Brazil's most famous footballers. Despite this, he ranks highly as the fourth-highest scorer behind legendary Brazilian football players such as Pele, Neymar, and Ronaldo Nazario. In 2000, he topped the charts after taking 72 shots for the Brazillian national football team and the Vasco da Gama club.

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5. Zico - 72 goals (1979)

Although Zico's goals may be disputed, the retired attacking midfielder dominated the Brazilian football scene between the 1970s and 1980s. During his time with CR Flamengo, he scored the most volleys in a season and the most direct free-kick shots.

4. Pele - 75 goals (1958)

One of Pele's goal records in his career includes an impressive 75 volleys in a season for the Brazilian national football team and Santos FC. The same year, he led Brazil to its first FIFA World Cup victory with six volleys. In 1965, Pele topped the most goals in a calendar year charts again when he scored 72 successful shots.

3. Gerd Müller - 85 (1972)

In 1972, Gerd Müller scored a record 85 shots for the Bayern Munich club and the West Germany national football team. In addition to scoring the most volleys for club and country, the legendary striker has several long-standing records, including his ten shots for the 1970 Mexico FIFA World Cup.

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2. Lionel Messi - 91 goals (2012)

In addition to his 91 shots scored, Messi made over 100 shots possible in 2012 with 24 additional assists. Out of the 91 volleys, he scored 79 for Barcelona FC and 12 for the Argentinian national football team. Fifty-nine of the shots were scored for La Liga, 13 for the UEFA Champions League, five in the Copa del Rey, and two in the Spanish Super Cup.

What more records does Messi hold? Messi broke two more records by scoring the most goals in soccer during the 2016 and 2010 calendar years.

1. Godfrey Chitalu - 116 goals (1972)

Chitalu scored the most goals in a calendar year of all time in 1972 when he scored 116 volleys for the Zambian Kabwe Warriors. His first record came in 1968 when he scored 81 goals for Kitwe United, breaking Pele's 1958 record. Despite achieving this, FIFA does not recognize the five-time Zambian Footballer of the Year's impressive feat.

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Among several football players, top dogs such as Neymar hold some of the records for the most international goals scored in a calendar year in the world. Here is a summary of football players who scored the most volleys in a single season.

Who is the current highest goal scorer this season?

Erling Haaland has made the most goals in the 2023 calendar year. The Manchester City striker has successfully scored 29 volleys in 23 appearances. Tottenham's Harry Kane and Brentford's Ivan Toney follow closely in the season's most contested race for the Golden Boot.

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Who had the most goals in the 2022 calendar year?

Who were the all-time top scorers in 2022? Scroll down and find the complete list of the world's top scorers for the 2022 calendar year.

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Over the years, players who scored the most goals in a calendar year have won numerous awards, such as the Golden Boot, and even millions of dollars in bonuses and endorsements. As the season rolls on, the hotly contested 2023 race continues for the ultimate top scorer prize, the Golden Boot.

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