15 Football Records that may NEVER be Broken

They say records are meant to be broken, but some records are truly unimaginable and can even be described as once-in-a-lifetime.

Here, we present 15 of the greatest footballing records: 10 held by legendary players and the remaining five focusing on an impressive feat in each of Europe’s top five leagues.

Lionel Messi - Most Goals in a Calendar Year (91 Goals)

In 2012, Lionel Messi ended the year with 91 goals! The Argentine icon scored 79 for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina, averaging more than seven goals a month - a stat you would find on a video game.

Why may this record never be broken?

Lionel Messi’s numbers are alien, and to score seven goals a month is something us football fans may never get to experience again. Especially in the modern era of football, where injuries are more persistent, and rotation is key.

Pelé - Most FIFA World Cups Won by a Single Player (3 FWCs)

In 1970, Brazilian legend Pelé lifted his third FIFA World Cup, becoming the first player to win three of football’s greatest trophies. Pelé is one of the greats to have played the beautiful game and was integral to Brazil’s dominance from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Why may this record never be broken?

Nowadays, due to strong competition from every nation, it is extremely difficult to hold an FWC title. Additionally, players' spots are not always solidified; poor form or injuries are enough to make one lose out on a place. Your name is simply not enough anymore.

Just Fontaine - Most Goals Scored in a Single FIFA World Cup Tournament (13 Goals)

At the FIFA World Cup 1958 finals in Sweden, French striker Just Fontaine scored 13 goals, winning the Golden Boot in some style by setting one of the greatest records in a single World Cup tournament.

Why may this record never be broken?

Whilst the FWC is increasing to a 48-team tournament, it only means teams will be playing one game extra. However, that only affects the team that gets to either the final or the third-place play-off. Yes, if the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland are selected, then we have two of modern football’s goalscoring machines participating in North America; yet, that relies on either nation getting to the final. In addition, nations have simply improved, meaning defences are tighter and harder to penetrate.

Cristiano Ronaldo - Most International Goals (143 Goals)

Hitting the back of the net 143 times, Cristiano Ronaldo holds the current record for the most international goals. This is an absolutely insane stat to achieve at the international level, and it could even increase with Ronaldo on course to be selected for Portugal at the FIFA World Cup 2024.

Why may this record never be broken?

Ronaldo is still playing, so expect this to increase by a few goals. Again, Mbappé and Haaland are gaining slowly, but they are still far away from the 143 tally. Also, Ronaldo’s level of athleticism is something that may never be reached, with injuries recurring for many big stars.

Rogério Ceni - Most Goals Scored by a Goalkeeper (131 Goals)

That’s right, there is a goalkeeper who has scored 131 goals in his career. His name is Rogério Ceni, a Brazilian goalkeeper who appeared over 1,000 times for São Paulo, even placing himself in the club’s top 10 goalscorers of all time. His goals heavily consisted of penalties and free kicks; yes, Ceni was trusted to take free kicks.

Why may this record never be broken?

This is the type of record to bet on never being broken. The goalkeeping spot has evolved, with some head coaches utilising the position as a means to “play out from the back” and be involved in the buildup of play. But that is as far as it goes; no goalkeeper would be trusted to take penalties, especially free-kicks. Ceni was one of a kind.

Lionel Messi - Most Ballon d’Ors (8 Trophies)

Yes, Lionel Messi appears on this list for a second time. But as the Argentine is arguably the greatest footballer of all time, it is expected to hold unbreakable records. On 30 October 2023, Messi lifted his 8th Ballon d’Or for his standout performances in winning the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Why may this record never be broken?

Second to Messi is Cristiano Ronaldo, who won five Ballon d’Ors. The pair shared the top stage during the 2010s, performing at consistent levels no one had ever seen before, and we may never experience again. Winning eight Ballon d’Ors is going to be extremely difficult to beat, especially due to a level playing field, where, in all honesty, three or four players could win it for the next few years.

Lev Yashin - Only Goalkeeper to Win the Ballon d’Or

In 1963, Lev Yashin became the first goalkeeper to lift the Ballon d’Or, and he remains the only man between the sticks to do so. Judged by UEFA panellists of sports journalists, Lev Yashin took the top spot with 73 points, a fair 18-point gap between second-place Gianni Rivera of Italy.

Why may this record never be broken?

For a goalkeeper to be given the Ballon d’Or will most likely never happen again, due to attackers and midfielders being viewed as the world’s greatest players for their goalscoring and playmaking numbers. As Michael Owen once said, “It’s easier to defend than it is to create.”

José Mourinho - Longest Unbeaten Home Run by a Manager (3,284 Days)

José Mourinho is one of football’s greatest ever coaches, and he holds the Guinness World Record for the Longest Unbeaten Home Run by a Manager. The Portuguese icon did not lose a home game for 3,284 days from 22 February 2002 to 19 February 2011. During this timeframe, he managed FC Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, where he collected 18 titles.

Why may this record never be broken?

This is another one of those stats that are alien-like; something you would expect to find in the game, Football Manager. Mourinho was known for his impressive home defence, and this is something that we may never see again, with less focus on this mental side of the game.

Kazuyoshi Miura - Oldest Professional Footballer (58 Years)

Japanese star Kazuyoshi Miura is currently the oldest man to have played at a professional level of football. Miura remains active, signing a loan deal with Japanese third division side Fukushima United. This could even extend to 59 years, as Miura’s birthday is in February.

Why may this record never be broken?

Miura is simply one of a kind; even Ronaldo has spoken about the possibilities of retiring in the next year or two. Additionally, Miura is an icon in Japan, and this type of opportunity would not be presented to an ageing footballer, especially in Europe, where there are other priorities.

Gerd Müller - Most Goals in Bundesliga History (365 Goals)

Whilst this is a very specific record in a league, it is fair to give credit to one of football’s greatest forwards. German striker Gerd Müller holds the record for the most goals scored in Bundesliga history, tallying 365 goals in 427 league appearances.

Why may this record never be broken?

As well as the record, Müller’s loyalty to Bayern Munich is something we may never see again alone. In modern football, many players like to be ambitious and attempt to move clubs in order to seek certain titles. In Müller’s case, the German won it all and stayed at the club he loved most.

Manchester City - Most Points in a Single EPL Season (100 Points)

The Premier League is known as the toughest league in the world due to the immense competition and strength within all twenty teams. In the 2017/18 season, Pep Guardiola won his first EPL title with Manchester City, collecting a grand title of 100 points, becoming the first and only team to achieve a century of points.

Why may this record never be broken?

This City side is referred to as “The Centurions”, and this is some record to beat. Arsenal, who are currently at the top of the 2025/26 EPL table, need to win every one of their remaining 17 games just to equal City’s record of 100 points.

Lille - Most Goals Scored in a 34-Game Ligue 1 Season (102 Goals)

From the 2023/24 season, Ligue 1 has been an 18-team league, which has been the case in the past. One record that is going to be very difficult to beat in the 18-team format of Ligue 1 is Lille’s 102 goals during the 1948/49 season, which is the most goals scored in a single season of the French top-flight.

Why may this record never be broken?

To beat this record, a French side must score more than three goals a game, which is a very difficult feat to beat. Whilst fans joke by saying Ligue 1 is a farmer’s league, it is still quite a strong and competitive league. In any league, to score more than three goals a game is crazy!

AC Milan - Longest Unbeaten Streak in Serie A History (665 Days)

From 26 May 1991 to 21 March 1993, AC Milan went unbeaten in Serie A for a total of 665 days and 58 games. Managed by Fabio Capello, they hold the Guinness World Record for the Longest Unbeaten Streak by a Serie A team. During this time, Capello led AC Milan to an unbeaten 1991/92 league campaign, which many deem as one of the greatest teams of all time.

Why may this record never be broken?

AC Milan’s record is going to be extremely difficult to beat; the closest was Juventus, who went 49 games unbeaten in Serie A under Antonio Conte. With the Serie A increasing in competition, it is going to get harder for teams to gain an unbeaten streak close to 58 games.

Bayern Munich - Longest Run of Games Scoring in Bundesliga History (87 Games)

Bayern Munich hold many of the Bundesliga’s records, so we picked out one of the most interesting feats. That being the Longest Run of Games Scoring in Bundesliga History, having consecutively found the back of the net 87 times as a team.

Why may this record never be broken?

Whilst Bayern Munich are most capable of breaking their own record, we think they might have outdone themselves with this one. Scoring consecutively as a team for 87 games is incredible. Vincent Kompany’s side already failed to break the record with a goalless draw against Bayer Leverkusen on 15 February 2025, so it is not as easy as it looks.

Real Valladolid - Most Losses in a Single LaLiga Season (30 Losses)

Only recently did Real Valladolid break the record for most losses in a single LaLiga season, picking up 30 defeats in a 38-game campaign. During the 2024/25 LaLiga season, Valladolid won four, drew four, and, of course, lost 30, collecting just 16 points.

Why may this record never be broken?

Not many teams have lost more than 30 games in a single 38-game league season; in fact, not one team has matched that across Europe’s top five leagues.

Will these records ever be broken?

Apart from Real Valladolid’s 2024/25 LaLiga season, the majority of these records are held by football’s greatest players and teams. Players like Messi, Ronaldo and Pelé are one-of-a-kind who provided numbers that we may never see again.

Especially in an era of tactics evolving, superstars rising, increased injuries and new champions, modern football is making some records unbreakable.

But anything is possible, and those before us were most likely saying the same thing about previous records before they were broken.

However, winning three FIFA World Cups, scoring 91 goals in a calendar year and being unbeaten for 3,284 days are stats that you do not expect to be broken ever again.