Viktor Gyokeres is on an incredible goal-scoring journey, captivating fans with his relentless pursuit of the net. Currently playing for Sporting CP, Viktor Gyokeres has tallied an astonishing 24 goals in 17 club appearances this season, including a notable hat-trick against Manchester City. Adding his performances for Sweden to the mix, the total rises to 32 goals in 23 matches across all competitions. These numbers suggest that Gyokeres could be on his way to one of the most impressive individual seasons in European football.
At 26, the former Brighton, Swansea, and Coventry player appears poised to attract significant interest from Europe’s elite clubs. As he edges closer to Lionel Messi’s record-breaking 2011-12 season of 73 goals, fans and pundits alike are asking if Gyokeres can truly challenge one of the most celebrated achievements in football history. Here’s a deeper look into Gyokeres’ trajectory and how he stacks up against Messi and other legendary goal-scorers.
Comparing Viktor Gyokeres to Historic Goal-Scoring Legends
The top individual goal-scoring season in European club football belongs to Lionel Messi, who netted 73 goals for Barcelona in 60 games during the 2011-12 season. Next is Gerd Muller with 66 goals for Bayern Munich in 1972-73, followed by Ferenc Deak’s 66 for Szentlorinci AC in 1945-46. Other notable records include Dixie Dean’s 63-goal season for Everton in 1927-28 and Cristiano Ronaldo’s 61-goal feat for Real Madrid in 2014-15.
Viktor Gyokeres, with 24 goals in 17 games, is on pace to potentially break these historical benchmarks. His goal tally surpasses that of Messi’s at the same point in their respective seasons, although it remains below Muller and Dean’s totals. If Gyokeres maintains his scoring form and plays a similar number of games, he could be remembered among Europe’s all-time greats for single-season performances.
Breaking Down Viktor Gyokeres and Messi’s Goal-Scoring Stats
Comparing Viktor Gyokeres’ current season with Messi’s 2011-12 record reveals both similarities and contrasts. Gyokeres scores a goal every 65 minutes on average, slightly better than Messi’s 72 minutes per goal in his historic campaign. In Champions League matches, their rates are comparable, with Messi scoring 14 in 11 games and Gyokeres tallying five goals in four appearances so far this season.
However, for Gyokeres to play the 60 games Messi completed in 2011-12, Sporting would need to reach the finals in both of Portugal’s domestic cup competitions and advance deep into the Champions League. With these additional fixtures, Gyokeres could theoretically reach 62 games, though this hinges on him playing every match. If Gyokeres can replicate Messi’s output while helping Sporting make deep tournament runs, he could position himself to break Messi’s records across multiple competitions.
Gyokeres’ Steady Rise in Goalscoring Prowess
While Gyokeres’ talent has long been recognized, his scoring rate has seen consistent improvement year over year. Last season, he netted 43 goals for Sporting, a significant jump from his earlier seasons at Coventry, where he scored 18 and 22 goals respectively. Four years ago, Gyokeres was a promising but lesser-known striker, tallying only five goals across stints with Brighton, Swansea, and Coventry.
Messi’s rise also followed an upward trend leading into his record season, with 16, 38, 47, and 53 goals over the four previous campaigns. Gyokeres’ meteoric rise from a low-scoring forward to a prolific striker suggests that he is reaching his peak, much like Messi was in 2011-12. If he sustains this form, he could be the next breakout star, potentially inspiring comparisons with current Championship players hoping to follow in his footsteps.
Could Gyokeres Make History This Season?
With nine goals in six Nations League games for Sweden and another four fixtures still to come, Gyokeres’ international contributions could also enhance his overall tally. Messi scored nine goals in nine games for Argentina during his record-breaking season, and Gyokeres’ current trajectory suggests he could match or exceed that pace.
As Gyokeres continues to shine for both club and country, the conversation around him will only intensify. Reaching Messi’s 73-goal record remains an ambitious target, but his current form suggests that he could challenge this and several other high-scoring seasons. Whether he stays at Sporting or attracts a transfer offer from one of Europe’s elite, Gyokeres’ performances this season are setting him up for a historic year, potentially placing him among the top single-season scorers in European football history.
