Record-Breaking Game: Most Goals Scored in a Soccer Match

Vince Massara

When it comes to soccer, there are few things more exciting than a high-scoring game. Fans love to see their favorite teams rack up goals, and players love to score them. But have you ever wondered what the most goals scored in a single soccer game is? As a soccer enthusiast, I was curious to find out, so I did some research and here’s what I found.

First, it’s important to note that the number of goals scored in a single game can vary widely depending on the level of play, the teams involved, and other factors. However, the official record for the most goals scored in a single soccer game is 149. This incredible feat was achieved by a team called AS Adema in a game against Stade Olympique de l’Emyrne in Madagascar in 2002. While this record may seem almost impossible to beat, there have been other games throughout history that have seen a high number of goals scored, and some players have even set records for the most goals scored by a single player in a game.

So if you’re a fan of soccer or just love watching high-scoring games, the record for the most goals scored in a single soccer game is definitely one to keep in mind. Whether you’re watching professional matches or playing in your own local league, it’s always exciting to see players pushing themselves to score as many goals as possible and break records along the way.

History of Most Goals Scored in a Soccer Game

As a soccer fan, I have always been fascinated by the incredible scoring feats achieved in the game. The record for most goals scored in a single soccer game is a highly coveted one, and players and fans alike have been chasing it for decades. In this section, I will take a closer look at the history of this record and how it has evolved over time.

Early Records

The earliest recorded instance of a player scoring a high number of goals in a single game dates back to 1885 when John Petrie of Scotland scored 13 goals in a match. However, due to the lack of official records and the relatively low level of competition at the time, this record is not widely recognized.

The first official record of most goals scored in a single game was set by Stephan Stanis of France in 1932. He scored 16 goals in a match while playing for Racing Club de Lens against Aubry Asturies. This record stood for over 50 years until it was broken in 1971.

Modern Era Records

In the modern era, the record for most goals scored in a single game has been broken several times. The current world record for an international match is held by Archie Thompson of Australia, who scored 13 goals against American Samoa in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification match.

However, the most famous and controversial record for most goals scored in a single game was set in 2002 when two teams from Madagascar faced each other in Antananarivo. AS Adema hosted SO l’Emyrne, and the match ended with a score of 149-0 in favor of AS Adema. However, all 149 goals were own goals scored by SO l’Emyrne as a protest against previous refereeing decisions.

This record is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the highest-scoring soccer game ever. However, it is also highly controversial and is not recognized by many soccer organizations due to the unsportsmanlike conduct of SO l’Emyrne.

The record for most goals scored in a single soccer game has a rich and fascinating history. While there have been many incredible scoring feats over the years, the record is not without controversy and has been subject to much debate.

Notable Games

Arbroath 36–0 Bon Accord

One of the most famous games in soccer history was the Scottish Cup match between Arbroath and Bon Accord on September 12, 1885. Arbroath won 36-0, which remains the highest margin of victory in a senior soccer match to this day. The game was played in the first round of the Scottish Cup, and it was clear from the start that Arbroath were a class above their opponents. The final scoreline was a reflection of the gulf in class between the two teams.

AS Adema 149–0 Stade Olympique L’Emyrne

On October 31, 2002, AS Adema of Madagascar set a new world record for the biggest margin of victory in a soccer match when they beat Stade Olympique L’Emyrne 149-0. The game was played in the Madagascar THB Champions League, and it was marred by controversy. Stade Olympique L’Emyrne deliberately scored own goals in protest at a decision by the referee in a previous game. The result was later expunged from the record books.

Australia 31–0 American Samoa

On April 11, 2001, Australia set a new world record for the biggest victory in an international soccer match when they beat American Samoa 31-0. The game was a World Cup qualifier, and it was played in Coffs Harbour, Australia. The Australian team was far superior to their opponents, who were ranked 203rd in the world at the time. The result was a new world record, and it remains the biggest victory in an international soccer match to this day.

In addition to these games, there have been other notable high-scoring matches throughout soccer history. For example, Malika-e-Noor of Pakistan beat Akhtar Sports 58-0 in a local league match in 2014. While not as famous as the games mentioned above, these matches are a reminder of the gulf in class that can exist between teams at different levels of the sport.

Top Scorers in a Single Game

As a soccer enthusiast, I have always been fascinated by the incredible feats of players who score multiple goals in a single game. In this section, I will highlight some of the most outstanding performances in the history of the sport.

Archie Thompson

Australian striker Archie Thompson holds the record for the most goals scored in a single international match. He achieved this feat during Australia’s 31-0 victory over American Samoa in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification match. Thompson scored an incredible 13 goals, breaking the previous record of 9 goals held by Iran’s Ali Daei.

David Zdrilic

Another Australian player, David Zdrilic, is also on the list of top scorers in a single game. Zdrilic scored 8 goals for Australia in a 31-0 victory over Fiji in a 2001 Oceania Nations Cup match.

Jermain Defoe

English striker Jermain Defoe is the only Premier League player to have scored 5 goals in a single game on two separate occasions. He achieved this feat first in 2009 while playing for Tottenham Hotspur against Wigan Athletic, and then in 2014 while playing for Sunderland against Swansea City.

Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer is a legendary English striker who scored 5 goals in a single Premier League game twice during his career. He achieved this feat first in 1995 while playing for Blackburn Rovers against Sheffield Wednesday, and then in 1999 while playing for Newcastle United against Sheffield Wednesday.

Lionel Messi

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time. He scored 5 goals in a single Champions League game in 2012 while playing for Barcelona against Bayer Leverkusen.

Erling Haaland

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland is a rising star in the world of soccer. He scored an incredible 4 goals in a single Champions League game in 2020 while playing for Borussia Dortmund against Red Bull Salzburg.

The top scorers in a single game have achieved remarkable feats that will go down in the history of soccer. Whether it’s Archie Thompson’s 13 goals or Lionel Messi’s 5 goals, these performances are a testament to the incredible skill and talent of these players.

Top Scorers in a Season

As a soccer enthusiast, I have always been fascinated by the incredible goal-scoring feats of some of the game’s greatest players. In this section, I will take a closer look at some of the top scorers in a season, including Silvio Piola, Omar Sivori, Gerd Muller, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Robert Lewandowski.

Silvio Piola

Silvio Piola was an Italian striker who played for Lazio and Juventus during his career. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Italian players of all time and was the top scorer in Serie A on two occasions. In the 1950-51 season, Piola scored an incredible 30 goals in 37 games, helping Lazio to a fifth-place finish in the league.

Omar Sivori

Omar Sivori was an Argentine-Italian forward who played for Juventus and Napoli during his career. He was known for his incredible dribbling skills and ability to score goals from anywhere on the pitch. In the 1960-61 season, Sivori scored 28 goals in 34 games, helping Juventus to win the Serie A title.

Gerd Muller

Gerd Muller was a German striker who played for Bayern Munich and the German national team during his career. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalscorers in the history of the game and was the top scorer in the Bundesliga on seven occasions. In the 1971-72 season, Muller scored an incredible 40 goals in 34 games, helping Bayern Munich to win the league title.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese forward who has played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus during his career. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and has won numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. In the 2014-15 season, Ronaldo scored an incredible 48 goals in 35 games, helping Real Madrid to win the La Liga title.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is an Argentine forward who has played for Barcelona throughout his career. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and has won numerous awards and accolades, including seven Ballon d’Or titles. In the 2011-12 season, Messi scored an incredible 73 goals in 60 games, helping Barcelona to win the La Liga title.

Robert Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski is a Polish striker who currently plays for Bayern Munich. He is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world and has won numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. In the 2020-21 season, Lewandowski scored an incredible 41 goals in 29 games, helping Bayern Munich to win the Bundesliga title.

These players have all achieved incredible goal-scoring feats in a single season. Their performances have cemented their place in soccer history and inspired generations of players to come.

Top Scoring Clubs

As a soccer enthusiast, I have always been fascinated by the clubs that have scored the most goals in the history of the game. Here are some of the top scoring clubs of all time:

Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich is one of the most successful clubs in the world, having won numerous domestic and international titles. They have scored a total of 2,443 goals in the Bundesliga, making them the highest-scoring team in the league’s history. Bayern Munich has also scored 644 goals in the UEFA Champions League, which is the second-highest total of any club.

Barcelona

Barcelona is another club that has a rich history of scoring goals. They have scored a total of 6,000 goals in La Liga, which is the highest total of any club in the league’s history. Barcelona has also scored 503 goals in the UEFA Champions League, which is the third-highest total of any club.

Manchester United

Manchester United is one of the most popular clubs in the world, and they have a history of scoring goals. They have scored a total of 2,040 goals in the English Premier League, which is the highest total of any club in the league’s history. Manchester United has also scored 389 goals in the UEFA Champions League, which is the seventh-highest total of any club.

Arsenal

Arsenal is another club that has a history of scoring goals. They have scored a total of 2,018 goals in the English Premier League, which is the second-highest total of any club in the league’s history. Arsenal has also scored 228 goals in the UEFA Champions League, which is the 15th-highest total of any club.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid is one of the most successful clubs in the world, having won numerous domestic and international titles. They have scored a total of 6,263 goals in La Liga, which is the highest total of any club in the league’s history. Real Madrid has also scored 551 goals in the UEFA Champions League, which is the highest total of any club.

These clubs have a rich history of scoring goals, and they have set numerous records in the game of soccer. Their success is a testament to their skill, dedication, and passion for the sport.

Top Scoring Leagues

As a soccer enthusiast, I am always fascinated by the leagues that produce the most goals. In this section, I will take a closer look at the top scoring leagues in the world: Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and Serie A.

Premier League

The Premier League is one of the most popular leagues in the world and is known for its fast-paced, attacking football. It is also one of the highest-scoring leagues with an average of 2.7 goals per game. The league has produced some of the greatest goal scorers of all time, including Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Thierry Henry.

La Liga

La Liga is the top professional football league in Spain and is home to two of the greatest clubs in the world, Barcelona and Real Madrid. The league is known for its technical and possession-based football, but it is also one of the highest-scoring leagues with an average of 2.6 goals per game. Lionel Messi, the greatest goal scorer of all time, has scored more than 500 goals in this league alone.

Bundesliga

The Bundesliga is the top professional football league in Germany and is known for its high-scoring games. The league has an average of 2.8 goals per game, making it one of the most exciting leagues to watch. The league has produced some of the greatest goal scorers of all time, including Gerd Muller, Miroslav Klose, and Robert Lewandowski.

Ligue 1

Ligue 1 is the top professional football league in France and is known for its technical and tactical football. The league has an average of 2.5 goals per game, making it one of the lower-scoring leagues on this list. However, the league has produced some of the greatest goal scorers of all time, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani.

Serie A

Serie A is the top professional football league in Italy and is known for its defensive football. The league has an average of 2.5 goals per game, making it one of the lower-scoring leagues on this list. However, the league has produced some of the greatest goal scorers of all time, including Francesco Totti and Paolo Rossi.

These five leagues are some of the highest-scoring leagues in the world, and they have produced some of the greatest goal scorers of all time.

Conclusion

In my opinion, the most goals scored in a soccer game is an impressive feat that requires skill, teamwork, and a bit of luck. It is a moment of glory for the players, a delight for the fans, and a topic of discussion for the press.

Whether it is a national championship, a Champions League match, or an amateur game, the most goals scored in a soccer game is a milestone that every player dreams of achieving. It is a testament to their dedication, hard work, and passion for the beautiful game.

As a fan, I have witnessed some memorable moments of most goals scored in soccer games. From Pelé’s hat-trick in the 1958 World Cup final to Jean Nicolas’ 16 goals in a French league match, there have been some incredible performances that have left the fans in awe.

However, it is not just the professionals who have achieved this feat. Amateurs like the Norwegian team that scored 58 goals in a single match or Borussia Dortmund’s 32-0 win over Tottenham in a friendly match have also etched their names in the record books.

It is not just about the number of goals scored, but also the manner in which they are scored. The fans love to see a mix of individual brilliance, team play, and set-piece goals. The captains who lead their teams to most goals scored in a game are also remembered for their leadership skills and tactical acumen.

The most goals scored in a women’s soccer game is also a record that deserves recognition. Malika-e-Noor’s 58 goals in a single match is a testament to the growing popularity and competitiveness of women’s soccer.

In conclusion, the most goals scored in a soccer game is a moment of glory that transcends borders, cultures, and languages. It is a celebration of the beautiful game and the players who make it possible.