From Robert Lewandowski to Gerd Müller — Bundesliga goal records
In its long history, the Bundesliga has seen it all: dramatic duels, spectacular saves, pulse-racing games and, above all, many, many goals. Here are some of the best Bundesliga records from the business end of the pitch...
Most goals in Bundesliga history? The answer is an easy one and most fans probably know it: Gerd Müller scored 365 goals in the top German league — all for Bayern Munich. That record may never be beaten, but Der Bomber did see another of his impossible-looking hauls bettered by a certain Robert Lewandowski, who scored 41 goals for Bayern across the 2020/21 campaign to surpass Müller's previous single-season best by one goal. That's one of many records held by Lewandowski, who is the league's record non-German scorer and also scored the fastest five-goals in Bundesliga history when he stunned Wolfsburg in a blistering eight minutes and 59 second period back in September 2015.
Meanwhile, Karim Bellarabi (Bayer Leverkusen) and Kevin Volland (Hoffenheim) both scored after just nine seconds and thus share the record for the fastest goal in Bundesliga history. Elsewhere, Moritz Stoppelkamp's 83 metre strike against Hannover is a Bundesliga record for the longest-distance goal, while Youssoufa Moukoko is the division's youngest ever goal scorer and Claudio Pizarro is its oldest. As for the very first Bundesliga goalscorer, that honour was claimed by Friedhelm “Timo” Konietzka, who found the back of the net for Borussia Dortmund on August 24, 1963
Christoph Kramer may not be too keen to shout his record for the longest-distance own goal - from almost 45 meters out — from the rooftops, though. Nils Petersen will, however, proudly boast his status as the league's best ever substitute having struck 34 times from the bench across his career. As for team efforts, Borussia Mönchengladbach's 12-0 win over Dortmund in 1978 will take some beating.
An overview of the Bundesliga goal records
Longest distance own goal: On matchday 11 of the 2014/15 season, Christoph Kramer hit the back of his own net from 44.5 metres out, in Gladbach's 1-0 defeat at Dortmund.
Longest distance goal: On matchday 4 of the 2014/15 season, Moritz Stoppelkamp scored against Hannover from around 83 metres.
Fastest five-pack: On September 22, 2015, Robert Lewandowski climbed from the substitutes' bench to score five times between the 51st and 60th minute of Bayern's win over Wolfsburg. It was the fastest five-pack in Bundesliga history and just eight minutes, 59 seconds, while it was the first time a Bundesliga sub has scored five times in a single game. He also achieved the fastest perfect hat-trick and quickest four-goal effort in the same game.
Highest victory: Gladbach beat Dortmund 12-0 on April 29, 1978 in Düsseldorf.
Most own goals: Manfred Kaltz (Hamburg) and Nikolce Noveski (Mainz) were both responsible for scoring six own goals.
Most goals as a substitute: Nils Petersen has scored 34 times as a substitute for Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen and Freiburg.
Oldest goal scorer: Claudio Pizarro scored for Werder in a 1-1 with Hertha Berlin on 16 February 2019 at 40 years and 136 days, replacing Mirko Votava as the league's oldest ever scorer. The Peruvian then extended his record with his last Bundesliga goal on matchday 34 of the 2018/19 season, with Pizarro aged 40 years and 227 days old.
Youngest goal scorer: On matchday 13 of the 2020/21 season in the game with Union Berlin, Youssoufa Moukoko scored 1-1 in the 60th minute. He was thus successful in the Bundesliga for the first time at the age of 16 years and 28 days.
Fastest goal: Karim Bellarabi (on matchday 1 of 2014/15 in Dortmund) and Kevin Volland (against Bayern on matchday 2 of 2015/16) both scored after nine seconds - making them joint-holders for the fastest goal in Bundesliga history.
Most goals: Gerd Müller scored 365 goals in the Bundesliga — all for Bayern - across 427 Bundesliga appearances.
Most goals in a season: In the 2020/21 season, Robert Lewandowski improved the 49-year record set by Gerd Müller, and set a new single-season best at 41 goals.
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