List of Top 10 Footballers with Most Goals in a Year

Lionel Messi, Gerd Müller, Pelé and Cristiano Ronaldo are football legends known for their incredible goal-scoring years. But Messi holds the record for the most goals scored in a calendar year.

The Argentine superstar netted 91 goals in 2012 while playing for Barcelona and Argentina. This record is one of the most amazing achievements in football history.

According to Planet Football on Friday, many other legendary players have also had impressive goal-scoring years. Müller scored 85 goals in 1972, and Pelé appears three times on this list.

Here is the ranking of the 10 most impressive calendar-year scoring performances from the report.

1. Pelé (1959), 64 goals

Brazilian legend Pelé scored 64 goals in 1959 for Santos and Brazil. This achievement places him among the greatest goal scorers in a calendar year.

It was one of several remarkable scoring seasons in his great career, which made him one of football’s best players.

1. Kylian Mbappé (2025), 62 goals

Kylian Mbappé appears on the list after his great scoring in 2025.

The French forward has become one of the most dangerous attackers in modern football. He combines speed, movement and sharp finishing.

However, the original report has conflicting numbers for his total, mentioning both 62 and 66 goals. His exact total and position need checking before being published.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (2013), 69 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo had the best calendar year of his career in 2013, scoring 69 goals in 59 matches for club and country.

Even with his amazing individual performances, the Portuguese forward ended the year without a major team trophy. But he won the Ballon d’Or, recognizing his great achievements.

1. Robert Lewandowski (2021), 69 goals

Robert Lewandowski matched Ronaldo’s total with 69 goals in 2021. That year, the Polish striker showed off his incredible finishing skill.

He won several trophies with Bayern Munich, including the Bundesliga, DFL-Supercup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

Lewandowski also received multiple individual scoring awards, although he finished second to Lionel Messi in the 2021 Ballon d’Or voting.

1. Romário (2000), 72 goals

Brazilian striker Romário scored 72 goals in 2000, having an outstanding season at the age of 34.

He played for Vasco da Gama in Brazil while still being part of the national team.

Known for his positioning and finishing in the box, Romário continued scoring well into his late thirties before retiring from professional football.

1. Zico (1979), 72 goals

Zico scored 72 goals in 1979, marking himself as one of the best attacking players of his time.

The Brazilian playmaker, nicknamed the ‘White Pelé’, was famous for his technical skills, creativity and free-kick abilities.

Playing for Flamengo, he had a fantastic year in front of goal. But Brazil did not win the Copa América after losing to Paraguay in the semi-finals.

1. Pelé (1965), 72 goals

Pelé’s second entry on the list is from his 72-goal season in 1965.

By then, the Brazilian star had already won the 1958 World Cup, making a name for himself with Santos and the national team.

His scoring during the regular league season was impressive, with 49 goals in 28 games, averaging 1.75 goals per match.

1. Pelé (1958), 75 goals

Pelé scored 75 goals in 1958, another amazing feat in the early part of his career.

That year, he helped Brazil win the World Cup in Sweden at just 17 years old, scoring in the quarter-final, semi-final and the final.

His performances on the world stage introduced him to many fans and built his reputation as one of football’s brightest young stars.

1. Gerd Müller (1972), 85 goals

German striker Gerd Müller scored 85 goals in 1972, a calendar-year record that stood for 40 years until Messi broke it in 2012.

Müller had a fantastic year with Bayern Munich and West Germany, showing the finishing skills that made him a feared striker.

West Germany won the European Championship in 1972, with Müller scoring twice in the semi-final against Belgium. The team went on to beat the Soviet Union 3-0 in the final.

Despite his success, Müller finished second to teammate Franz Beckenbauer in the 1972 Ballon d’Or voting.

1. Lionel Messi (2012), 91 goals

Lionel Messi leads the list after scoring 91 goals in 2012 for Barcelona and Argentina.

Playing mainly in an attacking role for Barcelona, the Argentine forward produced a stunning mix of goals, assists and creative play under coach Tito Vilanova after Pep Guardiola left earlier that year.

Messi’s total broke Müller’s long-standing record of 85 goals in a year and remains a celebrated individual scoring achievement in football.

Even with this historic record, Messi has said that personal milestones have never been his main goal.

In an interview with ESPN, he shared about this achievement, saying: “In 2012, I scored around 91 goals.”

He added that he never aimed to break records, explaining that he did not make assists just to outdo another player or hit a statistic target.

Messi’s record sets a standard for modern football, with players like Ronaldo, Lewandowski and Mbappé showing the high scoring levels needed to challenge the game’s greatest achievements.