{
  "id": 19798042,
  "title": "From Messi to Pele: Footballers with most goals in calendar year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/from-messi-to-pele-footballers-with-most-goals-in-calendar-year",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T11:30:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/from-messi-to-pele-footballers-with-most-goals-in-calendar-year/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The record for most goals scored in a calendar year belongs to Lionel Messi, who scored 91 goals in 2012 while playing for Barcelona and Argentina. Messi broke Gerd Muller's previous record of 85 goals set in 1972. Pele also makes the list, with 72 goals in 1965 and 72 goals in 1958. Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo are tied for joint 7th place with 62 and 69 goals respectively in 2025 and 2013.",
  "summary": "Lionel Messi holds the record for the most goals in a calendar year with 91 in 2012. See the full list featuring legends like Pele, Ronaldo, and Muller. Read More: https://punchng.com/from-messi-to-pele-footballers-with-most-goals-in-calendar-year/",
  "key_points": [
    "Lionel Messi holds record with 91 goals in 2012",
    "Gerd Muller's previous record was 85 goals in 1972",
    "Pele and Mbappe tied for 7th with 72 and 62 goals"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The concentration of scoring records among a few legendary names illustrates how elite offensive output defines the historical hierarchy of the world's most popular sport.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}