What Soccer Players Have Netted Most of Their Career Goals in a Single Match?
“Last month, Jeremy Ngakia scored twice for his club against Oxford to bring his total career goals to three from 116 senior club appearances,” asks Peter Skilton. “Not counting footballers who scored only once, is there anyone with 100+ appearances achieved a higher percentage of their total goals in a one game?”
Another reader submits with the tale of Matthieu Chalmé. “French right-back Chalmé appeared in 362 games during his career, mostly for Bordeaux and Lille,” he explains. “He netted four goals in total, with three of them coming in a solitary match. Chalmé netted all three goals in Lille’s 3-0 win at AC Ajaccio in March 2004, recording the surprising of three-goal hauls.”
That memorable hat-trick in Corsica were the only ones Chalmé managed in 179 games for Lille, while in 167 matches with Bordeaux, he scored once. Actually, twice including his self-scored goal in the 2010 League Cup final against Marseille. Netting three-quarters of his total goals in a single match puts Chalmé ahead of Ngakia’s mark (66.7%), but there’s a complication.
Chalmé retired at Bordeaux in July 2014 after a loan spell at the Corsican club, who likely remembered his brief purple patch a decade earlier. He did return to the game with fifth-tier side Lège Cap-Ferret, playing seven games in six months – and netting once. That would drop his ratio of goals scored in a single game down to 60%, but it feels harsh to count against him for a post-career stint at semi-professional level.
A quick mention, too, for another French full-back: Lilian Thuram. While the original question relates to professional club play, many readers emailed in to point out that the defender made 142 France appearances and scored two goals in the identical game – the World Cup semi-final against Croatia. Sometimes, form is everything.
The Insubordination Files: Continued
Previously in this series we examined footballers who disobeyed their coaches. We have additional fantastic examples, so let’s reopen the Disobedience Records for a another review.
Spurs vs City, Cup semi-final, 1955-56
“The Spurs captain, Danny Blanchflower, made changes to the team during the cup match against Manchester City while they were losing 1-0,” recalls a correspondent. “Moving Maurice Norman from defense to attack, they ultimately lost and the coach, Jimmy Anderson [not that one], dropped Blanchflower for the following game and removed him of the captaincy. Soon after Anderson was out, Bill Nicholson became manager, the captain returned and the outcome is legendary.”
England v Albania, World Cup qualifying, April 1989
Another fan points out: “Gazza netted his maiden international goal in this victory at the national stadium after roaming everywhere’, as per manager Bobby Robson. The post-match interview are marvellous – a great blend of frustration, irony and fatherly pride.”
Everton v Tottenham, FA Cup semi-final, the 1990s
“Everton’s last major trophy was the 1995 FA Cup, and it wouldn’t have been possible without a key figure,” writes Jim Hearson. “Coach Royle? No. Goalscorer in the final, Paul Rideout? Close, but no. Keeper Southall? Nope. That man was unpredictable forward Amokachi, who substituted himself on during the semi-final against Spurs, netting two to secure Everton a spot in the final against Manchester United.”
Telling the tale to the media, Amokachi said: “Rideout got a knock and went down ... I just went to the assistant and told him ‘The gaffer says you need me on’.” Royle was understandably furious at the moment, but kinder at the end: “He entered the locker room and hugged me, shook my hand and said: ‘Well done, son, but never try that again.’”
Sporting v Barcelona, European match, 2008
“While playing for Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona against Sporting, Thierry Henry decided to switch wings. He soon netted to give Barcelona the lead at half-time. Guardiola’s reaction? He substituted Henry for ignoring his instructions.”
Set-Piece Specialists
“Being a Hammers supporter, I’m often looking back at past seasons for some enjoyment,” weeps Liam Corbett. “Upon reviewing, I noticed that Payet netted six set-pieces in the 18 cherished months that we had him. I’m curious if there is a more prolific free-kick taker in a comparable span?”
An example exists: David Beckham scored 27 free-kicks in his spell with United, including eight over several months between March and November 2000. His most prolific 18-month spell at the club covers the identical timeframe: from May 1999 to November 2000, he netted ten set-pieces – including two brilliant strikes against the Hammers. Sorry, Liam.
If it helps, there’s a player currently on West Ham’s books who can outdo Payet’s record: Ward-Prowse. The set-piece maestro enjoyed two purple patches with his former club, netting seven set-pieces between 2019-2021 across two Covid-affected seasons. He then added six more superb free-kicks in a 10-month spell between April 2022 and February 2023.
Knowledge archive
“A friend who follows Southend claims the club once played a league game at the national stadium? Is he having me on?” queried Stuart Jacks in April 2012.
Surprisingly, he was correct. Southend were among two clubs – Brentford being the other – to play against Orient in Division Three (South) at the stadium back in 1930, owing to stadium renovations at Orient’s Lea Bridge Stadium. Club records takes up the story:
Following a league match against Torquay (a victory for Orient), Torquay representatives complained about the boundary fence being too near to the field. The Football League was requested to inspect the ground and agreed that alterations had to be made before further matches could take place; suddenly the club found themselves homeless. Incredible as it seems, Wembley was proposed and the O’s actually played two league games in that year against Brentford and Southend United, securing two victories. Even now the Orient is the only Football League side to have played home games at the iconic venue!
After that of course, Spurs joined Orient in becoming residents at Wembley, albeit in the Premier League. Lately, talk of the Gunners upgrading the Emirates – and relocating to the national stadium while the construction occurs – has emerged.
Can you help?
“Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted four times and was red-carded in Gabon’s 4-3 win over Gambia recently,” notes a reader. “Who else have seen red after scoring at least three goals?”
“During Austria’s huge win of the minnows, all starting attackers and midfielders who began the game got a goal, an assist or both,” queries Paul Savage. “Is there another side achieved this feat?”
“Of all of the players who have a monument at their club’s stadium of their former club, who played the fewest games for that team?” wonders a fan.
“Interestingly, Tomasson is the initial coach to be sacked by {Sw
