Lewandowski haul makes our five incredible goalscoring

Inspired by Robert Lewandowski’s remarkable run of goals, we take a look at five explosive streaks of goalscoring form.

Robert Lewandowski – Six appearances, 15 goals (2015/16)

The Bayern Munich striker has blown away all those before him in recent weeks. Kickstarting his run with the astonishing haul of five goals in only nine minutes against Wolfsburg, the Poland international has added to that with a hat-trick against Dinamo Zagreb, braces against Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Scotland, as well as the winner against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday.

Jermain Defoe – 10 appearances, 12 goals (2000/01)

The lower leagues can be unforgiving for a teenage Premier League striker. When Defoe joined Bournemouth on loan from West Ham in October 2000 having just turned 18, nobody would have predicted he would go on to break the post-war record for consecutive goals in a season. Netting on his debut at Stoke City, Defoe then struck in each of his next nine league matches, breaking the record at Cambridge when the Cherries had been reduced to 10 men.

Dixie Dean – 12 appearances, 22 goals (1930/31)

Still the record in England, legendary Everton forward Dean also holds the record for most goals in an English top flight season with 60. Even more impressive considering this feat was done over the Christmas period when matches are played thick and fast. Dean started with a bang with four goals over Oldham and hit another four in a 9-1 win over Plymouth Argyle and a 6-0 defeat of Crystal Palace. Will it ever be beaten?

Cristiano Ronaldo – 13 appearances, 21 goals (2014/15)

Having scored against Cordoba on August 25, Ronaldo then went on to net in every game he played for club and country until November 1. The former Manchester United forward notched a treble against Deportivo La Coruna, then went one better just three days with four goals against Elche. Another hat-trick followed against Athletic Bilbao but the streak was remarkably ended by a Liverpool back four of Javier Manquillo, Martin Skrtel, Kolo Toure and Alberto Moreno. The Portuguese ended the season with a staggering 66 goals.

Lionel Messi – 21 appearances, 33 goals (2012/13)

Whatever Ronaldo can do, Lionel Messi can do better. Starting off an incredible run of scoring in 21 consecutive La Liga matches, Messi lit the touchpaper with a brace at Mallorca and went on to become the only player to ever score against every other team in the league consecutively. Between November 11 and December 16, the Argentinian scored a double in every league game he played, and by the end of the season he had scored 56 goals in all competitions as Barcelona finished 15 points ahead of Real Madrid to win La Liga.