By the numbers: Football’s defining moments in 2025

From generational superstars to fairy-tale triumphs, 2025 was a year where football's biggest stories could be told in numbers. Kylian Mbappe matched Cristiano Ronaldo's legendary scoring mark, Lionel Messi redefined longevity in MLS, and Erling Haaland tore through international records at historic speed.

Danilo etched his name into continental history, Victor Osimhen dominated Europe in unlikely colours, and Sarina Wiegman stood alone as the most decorated coach in women's football. Beyond the icons, the sport celebrated its romance: Cabo Verde and Haiti returned to the World Cup spotlight, Mjallby shocked Sweden from a fishing village of 1,500, and women's football smashed transfer records led by Lizbeth Ovalle. In 2025, football proved once again that numbers don't just count moments — they tell unforgettable stories.

527,000:

Cabo Verde, with a population of around 527,000, became the second-smallest nation to qualify for the FIFA World Cup™. Iceland had a population of 340,000 when they reached Russia 2018. Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan also reached their first global finals, while Brazil ensured maintaining their unique record of appearing in every edition of the competition. Haiti, the surprise winners of a qualification group including Costa Rica and Honduras, will play at the World Cup for the first time in 52 years. Only Norway (56 years from 1938-1994), Egypt (56 years from 1934-1990) and Wales (64 years from 1958-2022) have returned following more time away. Austria, Norway and Scotland, for their part, will end 28-year spells away from football's biggest stage.

86:

Mjallby, in what was their 86th year, seized their first Swedish top-tier title in one of football's greatest-ever Cindarella stories. Anders Torstensson's squad was largely made up of players from Hallevik, a fishing village with a population of only 1,500. Noel Tornqvist, Herman Johansson, Elliot Stroud, Tom Pettersson, Ludwig Malachowski Thorell, Abdoulie Manneh and Co went on to finish on 75 points, smashing the record for a season Malmo and AIK shared at 67 points.

59:

Kylian Mbappe scored against Sevilla on his 27th birthday to finish 2025 with 59 goals in 58 games for Real Madrid. It equalled the club record for goals in a calendar year set by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013. Mbappe will finish 2025 as club football's leading marksman, with Harry Kane next thanks to 51 goals for Bayern Munich. Mbappe netted thrice against Manchester City, Kairat and Olympiacos to become the first player to register three UEFA Champions League hat-tricks in a calendar year. The latter treble was netted in merely six minutes and 42 seconds, making it the second fastest in the tournament's history. Mohamed Salah's for Liverpool against Rangers in 2022 was registered in 30 fewer seconds.

48:

Lionel Messi remarkably registered 48 goals involvements in 28 appearances in the MLS 2025 to set multiple milestones. 'The Atomic Flea' became the first player in the competition's 30-year history to score more than once in five successive appearances, and the first to do so 10 times in a season. Messi scored 29 times and set up a further 19 overall to become just the second man to lead the competition in both goals and assists after Sebastian Giovinco in 2015. The 38-year-old then inspired Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup conquest, and duly became the first player to pocket back-to-back MLS MVPs.

46:

Erling Haaland reached 50 Norway goals in merely 46 appearances in October. It made the 25-year-old just the sixth footballer – and first in 53 years – to register the half-century in fewer than 50 international caps. Haaland emulated Denmark's Poul Nielsen (36 appearances), West Germany's Gerd Muller (41), Hungary duo Ferenc Puskas (41) and Sandor Kocsis (42), and Brazil's Pele (49). Haaland, thanks to 17 goals in nine games, will finish as international football's leading marksman for 2025 ahead of Yemen's Nasser Al-Gahwashi, Algeria's Mohamed Amoura (11), and Jordan's Ali Olwan (11).

37:

Lyon are unbeaten in 37 Premiere Ligue matches. The run has powered Les Fenottes, for whom Vicki Becho, Tabitha Chawinga, Kadidiatou Diani, Melchie Dumornay and Lindsey Heaps have scored prolifically, to an 18th title in the last 19 seasons. Chelsea also finished 2024/25 unbeaten in the domestic championship to conquer a sixth straight Women's Super League. The Blues' competition-record 34-game undefeated streak came to an end in a shock loss to Everton earlier this month.

8:

Victor Osimhen netted in eight consecutive European appearances for Galatasaray – a record for a player outside England, Germany, Italy or Spain. The only men to have scored in more in succession were Romelu Lukaku (nine), Robert Lewandowski (nine), Cristiano Ronaldo (10) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (10). A rampaging finish saw Osimhen finish 2024/25 with 35 goals for Gala, breaking the record for a foreigner in Turkey held by Mario Jardel for 24 years.

5:

Sarina Wiegman incredibly clinched her fifth The Best FIFA Women's Coach award – the combined total of every other winner. It was indebted to the Dutchwoman conquering her third consecutive UEFA Women's EURO in July. After guiding the Netherlands to gold in 2017, she led England to back-to-back titles. Aitana Bonmati, meanwhile, was named The Best FIFA Women's Player for the third time running. Only Marta has won the award more times: six.

2:

Danilo became the first player in history to win the UEFA Champions League and CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores twice apiece. The right-back scored a rare winner as Neymar and Santos sunk Penarol to conquer South American in 2011, before ruling Europe with Real Madrid in back-to-back seasons. The 34-year-old ended a 14-year drought for a Libertadores goal with the only one in the final as Flamengo beat Palmeiras in November. Brazilian clubs have now claimed seven successive Libertadores crowns. Flamengo went on to win the FIFA Derby of the Americas and FIFA Challenger Cup, in which Danilo scored again, to set up a meeting with Paris Saint-Germain for FIFA Intercontinental Cup glory. The Mengão duly became the first side in 13 years not to lose to European opposition in normal- or extra time, only to fall on penalties due to Matvey Safonov saving four of their five attempts. Filipe Luis, 40, has amazingly clinched seven titles since becoming Flamengo coach 14 months ago.

1,29:

Orlando Pride paid Tigres €1,29 million to make Lizbeth Ovalle the most expensive female in history. The top seven signings of all time were made in 2025, with Alyssa Thompson (Angel City to Chelsea), Olivia Smith (Liverpool to Arsenal), Grace Geyoro (Paris Saint-Germain to London City Lionesses), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave to Chelsea), Tarciane (Houston Dash to Lyon) and Keira Walsh (Barcelona to Chelsea) the others. Alexander Isak was the subject of the third costliest transfer ever by joining Liverpool from Newcastle United for €144.5. It trailed Paris Saint-Germain signing Kylian Mbappe for €180 and Neymar for €222 from Monaco and Barcelona respectively.