Football really is ‘the beautiful game’. The greatest delight is to watch some of the world’s best footballers scoring technical, creative, outlandish goals. Today we are lucky to witness two of the greatest footballers and goal scorers in the world every week. Today let’s focus on Messi. In 2012, Messi scored 91 goals to take the record for most goals scored in a calendar year. This incredible statistic includes some stunning goals and shows why Messi will always be remembered as one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all.
In 1972 Gerd Muller scored 85 goals in a single year, already an astonishing number of goals. Messi would surpass it at the start of December and have enough time left to score a few more before the year ended. He finished the year with an astonishing 91 goals in 69 games. He also had an incredible 29 assists in the year.
While this record is incredible it has come under some controversy of late because of one man, Godfrey Chitalu. Godfrey Chitalu played around the same time as Muller and is on the record of goalscorers as fifth, for scoring 79 goals in 108 matches.
Yet many believe that Chitalu deserves the top spot as they say in one year he actually scored 107 goals in just 59 matches. The Zambian FA has said they will look into solidifying the statistic so that it can be properly recognized. The record is recognized in Zambia but not in world football so it appears there is a chance it could be approved. Chitalu tragically died in a plane accident in 1993 while he was managing the Zambian national team.
It is strange to think that Messi has scored so many goals in one season he may never be beaten and at the same time to think that maybe he already has been. To score 91 goals or 107 is absolutely incredible and both players deserve recognition. Of course, whoever scored the most deserves the title of top scorer. Let’s hope that FIFA can get to the bottom of the numbers soon.
