🔝 Mbappé joins the list, Kane too? Top scorers in a calendar year

The best goal scorers in the world really made an impact in 2025. Kylian Mbappé did so well that he now even holds a spot in the top 10 most successful goal scorers within a calendar year for club and national team. Harry Kane was similarly outstanding, but with his 60 goals in 2025, he just narrowly missed the leaderboard. 

10th Place: Cristiano Ronaldo (2012) – 63 Goals

It’s actually absurd that CR7, with 63 goals in 2012, was by far "only" the second most successful goal getter that year. But more on that later. 

📸 JAVIER SORIANO - 2012 AFP

9th Place: Kylian Mbappé (2025) – 66 Goals

It’s been a long time since a player reached these heights. The Frenchman has now matched his idol CR7 and equaled his club record of 59 goals for Real Madrid in a calendar year. On top of that, he added seven goals for France. With that, Mbappé catapulted himself into the top 10. 

7th Place: Cristiano Ronaldo (2013) / Robert Lewandowski (2021) – 69 Goals

Prime Cristiano Ronaldo collected six more goals in 2013 than the year before and won his second of five Ballon d'Ors because of it. The golden ball eluded Robert Lewandowski during the most successful period of his career. In 2021, Lewa tore everything apart. 

📸 Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno - 2017 Getty Images

4th Place: Romário (2000), Zico (1979) and Pelé (1965) – 72 Goals

The "wooden medal" can be shared by three of the greatest Brazilians of all time. Each in different generations. Notably, Romário was already 34 at the time of his most successful year. 

3rd Place:  Pelé (1958) – 75 Goals

Pelé held this record for 14 years before being surpassed by a German legend. In 1958, the Brazilian won the World Cup as a teenager and scored for FC Santos as if on an assembly line. 

2nd Place: Gerd Müller (1972) – 85 Goals

The "Bomber of the Nation" replaced Pelé as the record holder. His best mark stood for an incredible 40 years and was actually considered one for eternity. 

📸 STAFF

1st Place: Lionel Messi (2012) – 91 Goals

If it was already hard to imagine how Müller’s record could ever be broken, then with Lionel Messi’s most successful year in 2012, it’s simply unthinkable that this number could ever be surpassed. Thirteen years ago, La Pulga played as if from another planet. He himself never tires of emphasizing that personal stats were never that important to him.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 Angel Martinez - 2025 Getty Images