Robert Lewandowksi continued his fine form by scoring 3 goals in 2 games in the European Championship qualifiers to bring his incredible recent record to 15 goals in his last 6 games for club and country, securing Poland’s place in France next summer.
His fine run of form included scoring 5 times in a period of 9 minutes against Wolfsburg, which broke many Bundesliga records, but his recent international exploits against Scotland and the Republic of Ireland saw him add another record to his CV. He is now the joint holder of the record number of goals in a single European Championship qualifying campaign, hitting 13 in total; the same amount that David Healy scored for Northern Ireland in the 2008 qualifiers.
Lewandowski is not the only forward in Europe scoring goals for fun at the moment, with Bundesliga rival Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also breaking records at Borussia Dortmund this season, beating the best scoring streak at the beginning of a league campaign in Germany. The Gabon international striker has scored in the opening 8 league games so far, the previous best having been beaten by the 26 year old when he scored six games in against Hoffenheim. He has now scored 11 goals in his last 10 Bundesliga appearances, but fell short of the club record of 12 consecutive games, held by Lewandowski. Dortmund will do well to fend off interest for Aubameyang in the January transfer window.
Enigmatic Swede, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, set a record of his own recently with two converted penalty kicks against Marseilles on 4 October taking him to the top of PSG’s all time scorers list with 110 goals in 137 games, beating the 109 goals scored by former Portugal international Pauleta.
In Spain, another Portuguese international has been setting records despite a stuttering start to the season. World superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, was awarded a record fourth Golden Shoe on Tuesday for topping the European goalscoring charts last season. He has also equalled Real Madrid legend Raul’s overall goal record for the club, 323, and has achieved this feat in only 309 games, compared to Raul’s 741. It is merely a matter of time before Ronaldo breaks this record, barring a catastrophic injury.
A former Real Madrid forward has equalled a club record set 10 years ago by Juventus legend, Alessandro del Piero. Young Spaniard, Alvaro Morata, has now scored in 5 consecutive UEFA Champions League games after goals this season against Manchester City and Sevilla. His run began last season at the semi-final stage, where he scored in both legs against Real, and he also scored in the final defeat against FC Barcelona. He will have a chance to break this record against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 21 October, two days before his 23rd birthday.
In England, Sergio Aguero added his name to an elite group of players who have scored 5 goals in one Premier League game on Saturday 3 October. He joined Dimitar Berbatov, Jermain Defoe, Alan Shearer and Andy Cole in the record books with a scintillating 21 minute spell against Newcastle United for Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. This ended a drought for Aguero, and looked promising for City, but the diminutive forward has since injured his hamstring on international duty for Argentina and will be unavailable for at least a month.
Across the Atlantic, 37 year old former Chelsea targetman Didier Drogba has began life in the MLS in fine fettle, scoring nine goals in his first nine games for Canadian side Montreal Impact. The veteran Ivorian marked his first start with a perfect hat-trick, scoring with his right foot, left foot and head in a 4-3 victory against Chicago Fire and scored a wonderful, dipping 25 yard free kick on his last outing, a 1-0 win over Colorado Rapids.
Elsewhere in the MLS, and Canada, Italian international Giovinco has been setting the league alight since his move to Toronto FC from Juventus in February. The 28 year old has contributed 22 goals and 15 assists so far this season, including a nine minute hat trick against New York City FC earlier in the season. He further tormented NYC FC this week with a superb individual goal, picking the ball up onthe left hand side, ghosting past defenders, before unleashing a thunderous drive into the far corner with his left foot. Such form has led to speculation FC Barcelona are interested in the attacker, but Giovinco was quick to play down the rumours, saying he is happy where he is.
Everyone loves to see goals flying in, but keeping them out is just as important, therefore we have to include the recent heroics of 36 year old goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet. The Belgian international, who plays for KV Mechelen in the Jupiler Pro League, saved three penalty kicks in a game against Anderlecht, saving from the spot in the eighth, fifteenth and 89th minutes, earning his side a point after Anderlecht conceded an injury time own goal to draw 1-1.