Football history, properly sourced

Football Records

Explore the records, milestones and award leaders that have shaped football. Every published entry includes its competition scope and supporting source.

Popular:

19 sourced records · 2 award leaderboards

Award leaderboards

Trophies & honours

Who has won the most men's Ballon d'Or awards?

Lionel Messi leads the men's Ballon d'Or list with eight wins; Cristiano Ronaldo has five.

Official winners archive checked 30 October 2026

Scope: France Football men's Ballon d'Or, first awarded in 1956

2
Cristiano RonaldoCristiano Ronaldo2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
5wins
Lionel MessiLionel Messi2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023
8wins
3
Johan CruyffJohan Cruyff1971, 1973, 1974
Michel PlatiniMichel Platini1983, 1984, 1985
Marco van BastenMarco van Basten1988, 1989, 1992
3wins
  • Ousmane DembéléOusmane Dembélé20251 wins
  • Harry KaneHarry Kane20261 wins
Source checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
World Cup

Which countries have won the most FIFA World Cups?

Brazil leads the men's FIFA World Cup honours list with five titles, followed by Germany and Italy with four each.

Through the 2026 tournament

Scope: Men's FIFA World Cup champions

2
GermanyGermany1954, 1974, 1990, 2014
ItalyItaly1934, 1938, 1982, 2006
4titles
BrazilBrazil1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
5titles
3
ArgentinaArgentina1978, 1986, 2022
3titles
  • FranceFrance1998, 20182 titles
  • UruguayUruguay1930, 19502 titles
  • SpainSpain20101 titles
Source checked: 30 October 2026
Sources

Goalscoring records

Goalscoring2012

Who scored the most goals in a calendar year?

91goals
Lionel MessiLionel MessiArgentina

Lionel Messi scored 91 official goals for Barcelona and Argentina in 2012.

Scope: Official senior goals for club and country in one calendar year

World RecordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
GoalscoringCompetition era, excluding qualifying rounds

Who has scored the most goals in the UEFA Champions League?

140goals
Cristiano RonaldoCristiano RonaldoPortugal

Cristiano Ronaldo is the UEFA Champions League era’s leading scorer with 140 goals, excluding qualifying rounds.

Scope: UEFA Champions League proper, from 1992/93; qualifying rounds excluded

Competition recordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • UEFA UEFA lists Ronaldo’s 140 goals, 183 appearances and competition records.
Goalscoring2013/14

Who scored the most goals in one Champions League season?

17goals
Cristiano RonaldoCristiano RonaldoPortugal

Cristiano Ronaldo scored 17 goals for Real Madrid in the 2013/14 Champions League season.

Scope: UEFA Champions League season; qualifying rounds excluded

Competition recordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • UEFA UEFA competition statistics and record coverage.

FIFA World Cup records

World Cup2018–2026

Who has scored the most goals in FIFA World Cup history?

22goals
Kylian MbappéKylian MbappéFrance

Kylian Mbappé is the FIFA World Cup all-time leading scorer with 22 goals.

Scope: Men's FIFA World Cup final tournaments; goals in the final tournament only

World RecordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • FIFA FIFA states Mbappé finished with 22 goals, ahead of Messi on 21.
World Cup1958

Who scored the most goals at one FIFA World Cup tournament?

13goals
Just FontaineJust FontaineFrance

Just Fontaine scored 13 goals for France at the 1958 World Cup, the single-tournament record.

Scope: One men's FIFA World Cup final tournament

World RecordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • FIFA FIFA identifies Fontaine’s 13 goals as the single-edition record.
World Cup2006–2026

Who has played the most matches in FIFA World Cup history?

34matches
Lionel MessiLionel MessiArgentina

Lionel Messi holds the record for most FIFA World Cup appearances, with 34 matches across six editions from 2006 through 2026.

Scope: Men's FIFA World Cup final tournaments

World RecordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • UEFA UEFA lists 34 individual World Cup appearances for Messi.
World Cup2006–2026

Which players have appeared at six FIFA World Cups?

6tournaments
Lionel MessiCristiano RonaldoShared by 2Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have each appeared at six FIFA World Cup editions, from 2006 through 2026.

Scope: Men's FIFA World Cup final tournaments; participation in at least one match at each edition

Shared recordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
World CupCafu: 1994, 1998, 2002 · Messi: 2014, 2022, 2026

Which players have appeared in the most FIFA World Cup finals?

3finals
CafuLionel MessiShared by 2Cafu, Lionel Messi

Cafu and Lionel Messi have each appeared in three FIFA World Cup finals.

Scope: Men's FIFA World Cup final matches played; appearances, not titles won

Shared recordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • FIFA FIFA describes Messi as the second player after Cafu to appear in three finals.
World Cup1994

Who scored the most goals in a single FIFA World Cup match?

5goals
Oleg SalenkoOleg SalenkoRussia

Oleg Salenko scored five goals for Russia against Cameroon at the 1994 World Cup.

Scope: One player in a men's FIFA World Cup final-tournament match

World RecordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • FIFA FIFA World Cup final records and statistics.
World Cup1958, 1962, 1970

Which player has won the most FIFA World Cup titles?

3titles
PeléPeléBrazil

Pelé remains the only player to win three FIFA World Cup titles, with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

Scope: Men's FIFA World Cup winners as a player

World RecordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • FIFA FIFA confirms Pelé is the only three-time men’s World Cup winner.
World Cup1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002

Which country has won the most FIFA World Cups?

5titles
BrazilBrazil

Brazil has won the men’s FIFA World Cup five times, more than any other country.

Scope: Men's FIFA World Cup winners

World RecordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • FIFA FIFA identifies Brazil as the nation with the most titles.
World Cup2014, 2022

Who has won the most FIFA World Cup Golden Ball awards?

2awards
Lionel MessiLionel MessiArgentina

Lionel Messi is the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball twice, in 2014 and 2022.

Scope: Men's FIFA World Cup Golden Ball award

World RecordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • FIFA Coverage of Messi’s two Golden Ball awards.
World Cup2022–2026

Who scored in the most consecutive FIFA World Cup matches?

9consecutive matches
Lionel MessiLionel MessiArgentina

Lionel Messi extended the World Cup finals scoring streak record to nine consecutive matches.

Scope: Consecutive men's FIFA World Cup final-tournament matches with at least one goal

World RecordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • FIFA FIFA reports Messi extended the record to nine consecutive matches.

Trophy & honours records

Trophies & honoursEuropean Cup / Champions League era

Which players have won the most European Cup or Champions League titles?

6titles
Paco GentoDani CarvajalLuka ModrićShared by 3Paco Gento, Dani Carvajal, Luka Modrić

Paco Gento, Dani Carvajal and Luka Modrić share the record with six European Cup or Champions League titles each.

Scope: European Cup and UEFA Champions League winners medals; includes the pre-1992 European Cup

Shared recordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • UEFA UEFA lists Gento, Carvajal and Modrić on six European Cup titles.
Trophies & honoursAs of 30 October 2026

Which club has won the most European Cup and Champions League titles?

15titles
Real MadridReal MadridSpain

Real Madrid are the most successful club in the competition’s history with 15 European Cup and Champions League titles.

Scope: European Cup (1955/56–1991/92) plus UEFA Champions League (1992/93 onward)

Competition recordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • UEFA UEFA lists Real Madrid first in the all-time titles table.
Trophies & honours2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023

Who has won the most men’s Ballon d’Or awards?

8awards
Lionel MessiLionel MessiArgentina

Lionel Messi has won the men’s Ballon d’Or eight times, the most by any player.

Scope: France Football men’s Ballon d’Or; excludes the women’s award

Award recordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
Trophies & honours2010, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019

Who has won the most European Golden Shoe awards?

6awards
Lionel MessiLionel MessiArgentina

Lionel Messi has won the European Golden Shoe six times, more than any other player.

Scope: European Golden Shoe / European Golden Boot award

Award recordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • UEFA UEFA historical award coverage; verify URL availability before launch.
Trophies & honours1958, 1962, 1970

Who is the only player to win three FIFA World Cups?

3World Cup titles
PeléPeléBrazil

Pelé is the only player in men’s football history to win three FIFA World Cup titles.

Scope: Men’s FIFA World Cup titles won as a player

World RecordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • FIFA FIFA’s dedicated article on Pelé’s unique three-title achievement.

Team & league records

Team & league1982

Which team scored the most goals in a FIFA World Cup match?

10goals
HungaryHungary

Hungary scored 10 goals in its 10–1 win over El Salvador at the 1982 World Cup.

Scope: One team in a men's FIFA World Cup final-tournament match

World RecordSource checked: 30 October 2026
Sources
  • FIFA FIFA World Cup records and statistics.

Record counts are limited to the competition and definition stated on each card. Career totals and active-player records can change; verify them again before each editorial update. Page last updated . Sources are linked on each record; source publication dates and competition definitions should be reviewed whenever a record is updated.