Football is a game of passion, but nothing captures our imagination quite like the thrill of goals. Every now and then, the sport delivers matches that defy belief, where the scoreline seems impossible. These record-breaking games become moments that are etched in football folklore.
In today’s article, we are going to look at the highest-scoring football matches in history.
Club Football: Score – 149-0
Game – AS Adema vs Stade Olympique de l’Emyrne
In the year 2002 there was an extraordinary football match that unfolded in Madagascar’s top flight, the “THB Champions League”. The match between AS Adema and SO Emyrne not only shattered the record of most goals but left a stain on the professionalism of football. For those tracking expected goals and other statistical metrics, it created a massive outlier.
SO Emyrne, champions of the league in 2001, entered the game under a cloud of frustration. Their bid to retain the title had been derailed in the penultimate match of the season by a contentious late penalty decision. Which ultimately handed the championship to AS Adema. Bitter over the referee’s call and their title loss, SO Emyrne decided to stage a dramatic protest in their final match of the season.
From the very first whistle, SO Emyrne’s players shocked everyone by deliberately passing the ball into their own net. Goal after goal, they continued this protest, refusing to play in any meaningful way. By the time the referee mercifully ended the farce, the scoreline stood at an unprecedented 149-0 in favour of AS Adema. Every single goal had been intentionally scored by SO Emyrne players into their own net.
While their protest made headlines worldwide and earned them a place in the Guinness World Records, it came at a heavy cost. SO Emyrne’s coach, along with four players, including the Madagascan national team captain, faced severe repercussions. They were hit with three-year bans from football, and their actions tarnished their reputations.
This bizarre episode left a permanent mark not only on Madagascan football but also on the history of the sport. The staggering scoreline of 149-0 is one that is unlikely to be beaten outside of a similar show of discontent.
International Football: Score – 31-0
Game – Australia vs American Samoa
The clash between Australia and American Samoa stands as the highest-scoring game in international football history, a match so extraordinary it inspired the Hollywood movie Next Goal Wins. American Samoa, a tiny nation with a population of just 43,914, never carried expectations of becoming a footballing force.
When they faced Australia in a 2002 World Cup qualifying match, the hope was simply to keep the scoreline respectable. However, Australia had no intentions of holding back. Just two days prior, they had demolished Tonga 22-0, setting a record for the most goals scored in an international match. Against American Samoa, they took that record to even greater heights, scoring a staggering 31 goals and obliterating their previous milestone.
For American Samoa, it was undoubtedly a humbling experience, but the game also highlighted the vast disparity in footballing resources and experience between nations
Highest Scoring Premier League Match: Score – 7-4
Game – Portsmouth vs Reading
Premier League fixtures are widely regarded as the pinnacle of the sport. Which game features the most goals in Premier League history?
On September the 29th 2007 a match between Portsmouth and Reading, was nothing short of spectacular, ending with a record-breaking 7-4 scoreline in Portsmouth’s favour. This unforgettable game, played at Fratton Park, set the record for the most goals scored in a Premier League match, delivering non-stop action for elo rating users and football fans alike.
Portsmouth’s Benjani Mwaruwari was the star of the show, netting a brilliant hat-trick and leading his side’s relentless attack. Despite Portsmouth’s dominance, Reading fought back valiantly, with Stephen Hunt and Dave Kitson leveling the score at 2-2 early in the second half after a costly error from Portsmouth goalkeeper David James.
However, Portsmouth quickly regained control. Hermann Hreidarsson’s header put them back in front, while Benjani’s third, along with goals from Niko Kranjcar, Sean Davis, and Sulley Muntari, sealed the victory. Reading kept pushing, with Shane Long and Nicky Shorey adding late goals to keep the tension alive until the end.
Both teams showcased thrilling attacking play, but their defenses struggled to keep up, which only added to the excitement of this goal-filled spectacle. Portsmouth emerged as deserving winners of this iconic match, cementing their place in Premier League history on a day that fans will never forget.
Highest Scoring Champions League Game: Score – 8-4
Game – Dortmund vs Legia Warzaw
The Champions League is a competition where the best of the best face off against each other. In this format, you wouldn’t expect games to be that one sided, given the caliber of teams on offer.
On November 22, 2016, Borussia Dortmund and Legia Warsaw delivered a Champions League match for the ages. Dortmund triumphed 8-4 in a high-octane clash at the Westfalenstadion, setting a record for the highest-scoring game in the competition’s history. With five goals packed into just 24 chaotic first-half minutes, the night was a rollercoaster of relentless action and stunning moments.
One of the standout highlights was Marco Reus’s triumphant return after a six-month injury absence. The Dortmund captain scored twice and forced an own goal in injury time, crowning a near-perfect comeback. His sharp performance reminded fans of his immense talent and leadership on the pitch.
Though Dortmund’s offensive brilliance stole the spotlight, Legia Warsaw made history of their own. Despite scoring four goals, more than many might have expected, they walked away defeated. Historically becoming the first team to hit that tally in a Champions League match and still lose. Ultimately, this 12-goal thriller etched its place in football history, showcasing the drama, unpredictability, and excitement that make the sport of football so captivating.
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