From Messi to Pele: Footballers with most goals in calendar year

Argentina captain Lionel Messi remains the record holder for the most goals scored in a calendar year, having netted an astonishing 91 times in 2012.

Messi achieved the feat while playing for Barcelona and the Argentina national team, setting a record that has remained unmatched.

The 39-year-old’s remarkable achievement continues to stand out among football’s greatest individual scoring performances, with several legendary players also featuring on the all-time list.

According to a ranking published by Planet Football on Friday, England captain Harry Kane is enjoying an impressive 2026 campaign, with 55 goals to his name, bringing him closer to the all-time top 10.

However, the Bayern Munich striker still has work to do to join the exclusive list of players who have scored at least 62 goals in a calendar year.

Brazilian legend Pele features three times on the list, highlighting his extraordinary goalscoring ability during his playing career.

Below is the list of the players with the most goals scored in a calendar year:

10. Pele – 64 goals (1959)

Pele recorded 64 goals in 51 appearances for Santos and Brazil in 1959, securing his place among football’s most prolific calendar-year goalscorers.

9. Kylian Mbappe – 62 goals (2025)

French forward Kylian Mbappe scored 62 goals in 2025, earning a place among the highest goalscorers in a single calendar year.

Joint 7th. Cristiano Ronaldo – 69 goals (2013)

Ronaldo enjoyed the most prolific calendar year of his career in 2013, scoring 69 goals in 59 appearances for club and country.

Despite his impressive individual performance, he ended the year without a major team trophy but won the Ballon d’Or.

Joint 7th. Robert Lewandowski – 69 goals (2021)

The Polish striker scored 69 goals in 2021, enjoying an outstanding year with Bayern Munich.

His performances helped the German club win several trophies, including the Bundesliga, DFL-Supercup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

Lewandowski also finished second in the Ballon d’Or voting behind Lionel Messi.

6. Romario – 72 goals (2000)

Brazilian forward Romario scored 72 goals in 2000 while playing for Vasco da Gama and representing Brazil.

Remarkably, he maintained his goalscoring form into his later years before retiring from professional football in 2009.

5. Zico – 72 goals (1979)

Related News

• Messi shortlisted for third consecutive MLS MVP award
• Ronaldo makes TV production debut with football drama
• Kane becomes first Ballon d’Or winner left out of FIFPRO World XI

Brazilian football legend Zico recorded 72 goals in 1979 while playing for Flamengo and the national team.

Despite not being an out-and-out striker, he demonstrated exceptional attacking ability throughout the year.

4. Pele – 72 goals (1965)

Pele makes his second appearance on the list with 72 goals in 1965.

The Brazilian legend enjoyed an outstanding campaign, scoring 49 goals in 28 league appearances, averaging 1.75 goals per game.

3. Pele – 75 goals (1958)

Pele’s remarkable 1958 campaign saw him score 75 goals in a calendar year.

The Brazilian teenager also helped his country win the FIFA World Cup in Sweden, scoring in the quarter-final, semi-final and final.

2. Gerd Muller – 85 goals (1972)

German striker Gerd Muller scored 85 goals in 1972, setting a remarkable calendar-year record that stood until Messi surpassed it in 2012.

Muller also helped West Germany win the European Championship, scoring twice in the final as his country defeated the Soviet Union 3-0.

1. Lionel Messi – 91 goals (2012)

Messi occupies the top position with 91 goals scored in 2012 while playing for Barcelona and Argentina.

The Argentine superstar broke Gerd Muller’s previous record of 85 goals, producing one of the most extraordinary individual scoring performances in football history.

Speaking about the achievement in an interview with ESPN, Messi said he never played football with the intention of breaking individual records.

“In 2012, I scored around 91 goals,” he said.

“I don’t play for that, I never cared about it. It wasn’t in my mind to make an assist just to break a record or surpass someone else.”

He added that choosing his best year was difficult because he had enjoyed several outstanding seasons throughout his career.

“It’s hard to choose one year as my best; thankfully I’ve had many very good ones,” Messi said.

With 91 goals in a single calendar year, Messi remains comfortably ahead of other football greats, while Kane’s impressive 2026 form has brought renewed attention to the remarkable scoring achievements.