Sports
10 Longest Goal-Scoring Streaks in Football History (Ranked)
The hardest job in football is putting the ball in the back of the net, and it’s no surprise that forwards who can do that on a regular basis often get paid the big bucks. Whether it’s scoring a screamer from 30 yards or bundling home from a goalmouth scramble, the absolute best in the business don’t just deliver in a one-off game, but can be relied upon week-in and week-out.
Erling Haaland is currently on a mission for both Manchester City and Norway in recent weeks, with the striker underlining his credentials as being one of the best players in the world and an early contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. After netting against Villareal in the Champions League, the former Borussia Dortmund star has now made it 12 games in a row for both club and country that he has scored in.
But Haaland’s incredible streak of scoring goals isn’t exactly the longest in football history. Using data available from European football’s top five major leagues from the year 2000, find out below the 10 longest goal-scoring runs for both club and country the game has ever seen, including some familiar faces like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
10
Lionel Messi
Goal-scoring streak: 10 games (2012/2013 and 2020)
Starting off this list, unsurprisingly, is Lionel Messi. The former Barcelona star actually had two separate streaks of ten games of goals, first in the 2012/2013 campaign when he did so for the Catalan giants as well as Argentina, before repeating the incredible feat with just the Camp Nou side alone in 2020.
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The 2012/2013 season was particularly special as Messi claimed a record-breaking feat of scoring in 21 La Liga matches in a row, but unfortunately for him, his failure to net while with Argentina during that run meant his club and country record of scoring in consecutive games stayed at ‘just’ ten.
9
Duvan Zapata
Goal-scoring streak: 10 games (2018/2019)
A man who has spent his entire career in Serie A after leaving South America, Duvan Zapata enjoyed his best spell in football while with Atalanta, with his performances during the 2018/2019 campaign especially noteworthy.
His streak of 10 consecutive games of scoring a goal included a particularly dominant performance against Frosinone in January 2019, when he scored four times, becoming the first Atalanta player to do so in the league since Hasse Jepson in 1952. Zapata’s goals would fire the club to a superb third-placed finish in Serie A and the Coppa Italia final, bagging 23 times in the league alone.
8
Robert Lewandowski
Goal-scoring streak: 10 games (2020)
The first of two entries for Robert Lewandowski on this list, the Poland international can rightly be regarded as one of the greatest number nines of all-time. The fact he is still going strong at Barcelona right now is only testament to his capabilities, but he was arguably at his absolute peak in a Bayern Munich shirt during the early 2020s.
Indeed, in the 2019/2020 campaign, Lewandowski scored in ten consecutive games for both club and country, and had it not been for not finding the back of the net while on international duty for Poland, his streak would have gone on for longer. He failed to score in his country’s European Championship qualifiers clash against Macedonia, which brought his incredible run to an abrupt end.
7
Neymar
Goal-scoring streak: 10 games (2022)
Amid all the recent injuries and heartbreak, it’s easy to forget that Neymar was one of the best players in the world during his time at Barcelona. The Brazilian would then, of course, make the big-money move to PSG to become part of their own version of the Galacticos. And while it didn’t result in the Champions League title the Parisien club so desperately wanted, Neymar did produce some moments of magic that left the Parc des Princes in awe.
In the 2022/2023 campaign, Neymar started the season on fire, scoring in his first five games in the league, including back-to-back braces against Montpellier and Lille respectively. That followed on from a superb individual performance at the 2022 World Cup, which saw him also score in the last 16 and quarter-finals stage.
6
Radamel Falcao
Goal-scoring streak: 11 games (2012)
Once upon a time Radamel Falcao was considered one of the greatest strikers in the world, enjoying hugely prolific spells at the likes of Porto, Atletico Madrid and AS Monaco. An ACL injury suffered while playing for the Ligue 1 side would then prove to be the start of an unfortunate decline that even counted spells in the Premier League at both Manchester United and Chelsea on loan.
However, it was his time in Atletico that really saw his name be discussed among the greats, including a 11-game scoring streak in 2012. Brilliant in the air and a deceptively quick player who could finish off both feet, Falcao even finished fifth in the 2012 Ballon d’Or race, coming only behind Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andres Iniesta and Xavi.
5
Cristiano Ronaldo
Goal-scoring streak: 11 games (2014)
One record Cristiano Ronaldo has over Lionel Messi, is the longest goal-scoring streak for both club and country. While Messi’s best effort was 10, CR7 managed to go one better and notched in 11 games straight, doing so in 2014 while he was with Real Madrid and arguably at the peak of his athletic powers.
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What perhaps made Ronaldo’s achievements all that greater, was the teams he scored against. As well as bagging three goals in two separate games against Los Blancos’ arch-rivals Atletico Madrid, Ronaldo would also net in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund and the El Clasico against Barcelona.
4
Kylian Mbappe
Goal-scoring streak: 11 games (2025)
Amid all the talk of Erling Haaland’s incredible goal-scoring run to start off the 2025/2026 campaign, it’s easy to forget Kylian Mbappe enjoyed a similarly prolific run in front of goal too. The France international netted in 11 consecutive games for club and country, scoring 15 total goals in the process.
The Real Madrid superstar bagged against Real Sociedad, Espanyol, Atletico Madrid, Villareal, Getafe, Levante, Marseille and Kairat Almaty at club level, before also scoring at international level with Les Bleus against the likes of Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan. His great run however came to an end when he failed to net in the Champions League clash against Juventus, when Jude Bellingham netted the only goal in a narrow 1-0 win.
3
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Goal-scoring streak: 12 games (2003)
For quite a while, former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy held the record of the most goals scored in consecutive games in just the Premier League alone. The Dutchman bagged in ten top-flight games straight from 22nd March 2003 to 23rd August 2003, which actually broke his own record of eight matches that he achieved just 19 months earlier.
Van Nistelrooy would score 15 goals over his ten-game run at club level, including a hat-trick against Fulham and a brace against arch-rivals Liverpool. The poacher would add an extra couple of games to his streak with his exploits at international level with the Netherlands too.
2
Erling Haaland
Goal-scoring streak: 12 games (2025)
Erling Haaland’s start to the 2025/2026 campaign has been nothing short of extraordinary, firing Manchester City back into the conversation of being Premier League and Champions League contenders again. The striker’s feat began when he scored in the Premier League against Brighton, and has since netted in every top-flight game since, including striking twice in a victory over Manchester United in the derby and netting in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates.
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Haaland has also bagged in all three of City’s Champions League games thus far, scoring against Napoli, AS Monaco and Villareal respectively. The former Borussia Dortmund star’s streak also included a goal while on international duty with Norway, when he netted the winner against Finland in a friendly.
1
Robert Lewandowski
Goal-scoring streak: 14 games (2021)
The man who currently holds the record for the most number of consecutive games of scoring, is none other than Robert Lewandowski. The striker was at the peak of his powers during his time at Bayern Munich, and having already netted in 10 games straight in 2020, he went even better just a year later. A streak of 14 games of scoring came for both Bayern and Poland, and it served to remind the world just why he was considered the ultimate number nine at the time.
Data sourced from Transfermarkt (Stats correct as of 23/10/2025)
YouTube royalty-turned-boxer Jake Paul couldn’t resist posting on social media immediately after Anthony Joshua’s dramatic victory over Kristian Prenga on Friday night. The former two-time heavyweight champion returned to the ring for the first time since a fatal car crash claimed the lives of two of his friends in December.
The showdown, which took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was widely seen as a warm-up for AJ’s highly anticipated clash with Tyson Fury, pencilled in for November. However, the 36-year-old was made to work hard for the win, suffering multiple knockdowns – including one inside the opening 20 seconds – before finally beating his unfancied opponent.
Joshua’s last fight before this weekend came against Paul, whom he knocked out in the seventh round eight months ago. Now, his former opponent has spoken out following Joshua’s first fight since.
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Indeed, boxing rivals usually involve themselves in a war of words in preparation for their fights, which certainly was the case between Paul and AJ. However, if there was anything that proved much of the trash-talking was horseplay, it is the fact the former has come out to congratulate the latter after his latest win. Paul wrote on X (see below):
“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”
The post served as a tribute to AJ’s right-hand men, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, who were both taken away from him after the tragic car accident in Nigeria, in December. They were both part of the boxer’s camps during fights, and so had to navigate Friday night’s bout without them.
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Following his comeback win, Aj opened up about the struggles of trying to move on from tragedy. He told The Sun: “I’m not going to make it about me, because someone somewhere has just lost their mum or just lost their dad, so you have to keep it together.
“It is hard, but if you let it get to you, it’ll ruin you. You know what I mean? It’s tough but so many people are going through the same situation. You just have to humble yourself and not make it all about you. The whole world, unfortunately, doesn’t stop for my situation.”
“So I’ve just got to kind of keep myself together. Because, if I was to let it get to me, I’d probably end up going crazy.” Following a pause, he added: “It just hurts – a lot. But you’ve just got to hold it together, basically, if I’m honest.”
Tottenham Hotspur are expected to listen to offers for Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur this summer, according to a top Lilywhites source.
Bentancur endured a below-par 2025/26 season in North London, contributing to Spurs’ dire struggles that almost led to a shock relegation to the Championship. This form has prompted Tottenham to not only commence a midfield rebuild, but also to contemplate selling the 29-year-old this summer.
The former Juventus star has been at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for four-and-a-half years now, and while he’s shown glimpses of quality, he’s never truly shone in a white shirt.
Despite signing a new contract last October, the North London club are now said to be open to sanctioning Bentancur’s departure in this transfer window, with his future described as uncertain.
Tottenham Open to Selling Rodrigo Bentancur
Roberto De Zerbi has evidently asked the Tottenham hierarchy to reconstruct his midfield department this summer.
Sandro Tonali was acquired from Newcastle United in a £100 million deal, with the Italian expected to become the focal point of Spurs’ midfield. Meanwhile, another £85 million was forked out on 21-year-old Mateus Fernandes, who is likely to form a double pivot with Tonali.
This leaves little room for Bentancur, who could ultimately be a casualty of this rebuild. He signed a contract last autumn that runs until 2029, but this might not prevent him from moving on in the coming weeks.
A credible Spurs source replied to a tweet on X this week by claiming that Tottenham will listen to offers for the player, and that his future isn’t certain.
While few concrete links have emerged regarding suitors for Bentancur, his potential departure would make sense for Spurs’ squad. The midfield department is currently oversized, and given the Uruguay international is the elder statesman of the group, he’s the most natural option to make way.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Where Could Rodrigo Bentancur Go This Summer?
While not setting the world alight at Tottenham, Bentancur, once described by Ange Postecoglu as ‘fantastic’, still has plenty to offer. He’s an astute possession passer, retaining the ball excellently when that’s the approach his team are taking, while he’s also adept in his defensive work when not asked to cover huge amounts of ground.
This profile would excel in the slower and more conservative Serie A, where teams are less physically dominant and are eager to use pragmatic possession as a defensive tool.
Thankfully for Bentancur, this is potentially where interest could arise. There have been next to no credible reports on a possible destination for the player, but given he spent time in Italy and made his name in the European nation, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see teams from Serie A express interest.
The likes of Roma, Napoli and his former club Juventus could be in the mix to sign the Spurs star.
Nottingham Forest is one of the clubs in England that possesses a rich wealth of history, demonstrated by the two stars on the club badge.
It is a small detail that points to one of the most remarkable achievements in English football history, and it is something which defines the Midlands club.
Here’s a deeper look at what that history is, and why it is so important for its history and the wider pedigree it holds within the annals of football folklore.
Why does Nottingham Forest have two stars above their crest?
Simply put, the two stars represent Forest’s crowning achievements: back-to-back European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980.
Both of those were won under the legendary figure of Brian Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor. The first came in Munich in 1979, as Forest beat Malmö 1-0 through Trevor Francis — who was also Britain’s first £1million footballer.
Their second triumph came twelve months later in Madrid, as they defended the trophy against Hamburg, with John Robertson scoring the only goal of the game to see off a side featuring the late Kevin Keegan.
Marking European Cup wins with stars above a badge is something a handful of British clubs have adopted. Granted, teams typically have achievements on the sleeves of kits, to showcase history, but Forest opted for it to go on the front of the jerseys.
Nottingham Forest club crest design and meaning
The badge as a whole is built around symbols of the city and the club’s identity, which all combine for an iconic look.
In terms of the crest, it was introduced in 1974 and the stars were added after the success rather than forming part of the original design.
Forest are one of only five English clubs to have won the European Cup or Champions League, alongside Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Chelsea. This speaks to the achievement that Clough and Forest achieved in the space of three seasons.
Here are some details that explain the full badge:
- The tree — a nod to Sherwood Forest and to the club’s name, which derives from the Forest Recreation Ground where Forest first played
- The river — the wavy lines beneath the tree represent the River Trent, which runs past the City Ground
- The colours — red and white, with Forest’s Garibaldi red dating back to 1865 and named after the Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi, whose followers wore red shirts
- The stars — added above the crest to denote the two European Cups
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