It’s the 70th minute, 3rd May 2023, and Erling Haaland is at it again.
He latches onto a perfectly timed pass, breaks away from the defenders, and calmly chips the ball over West Ham’s Łukasz Fabiański. The Etihad erupts as Haaland scores his 35th Premier League goal of the season — breaking a record once shared by legends Andy Cole and Alan Shearer.
And he wasn’t done. By season’s end, Haaland had racked up 51 goals across all competitions, cementing his reputation as one of football’s deadliest strikers.
Yet despite those staggering numbers, one legendary figure still stands above him — a goal-scoring icon from nearly a century ago.
So, what is this seemingly unbreakable record? And who holds it?
Dixie Dean’s Incredible Record
In an era before modern fitness regimes, tactical analysis, or even decent pitches, Dixie Dean was a force of nature.
His name is etched in football history for scoring 60 goals in a single English top-flight season — a feat he achieved with Everton during the 1927–28 campaign. Nearly a century later, that record still stands, untouched and barely challenged.
To match it today, a striker would need to average nearly two goals per game over a full 38-game season. That’s what made Haaland’s 2022–23 efforts so impressive — and why Dean’s record remains so revered.
Who Has Come Closest?
Many greats have tried. None have succeeded.
Thierry Henry. Cristiano Ronaldo. Mo Salah. Alan Shearer. Ian Rush. Didier Drogba. Jurgen Klinsmann. Some of the most prolific goal scorers in football history — all fell well short.
The closest in modern times? Erling Haaland. His 36 goals in 35 Premier League games during his debut season (2022–23) set a new record for the current format. But it’s still 24 short of Dean’s remarkable 60.
At just 23, Haaland has time. But for now, Dixie’s record stands unchallenged.
Dixie Dean’s Legacy
Dean isn’t just a stat. He’s a symbol.
In 2001, a bronze statue of the legendary striker was unveiled outside Everton’s Goodison Park — a tribute to his legacy and a landmark for fans. As Everton prepares to move to its new home at Bramley-Moore Dock, the future of the statue is uncertain. But wherever it stands, Dean’s impact remains permanent.
Dean’s Enduring Impact
Dixie Dean’s 60-goal record isn’t just about numbers — it’s a monument to grit, instinct, and football at its rawest.
Even in today’s high-tech, data-driven game, no one has matched it. And while Haaland and others keep the debate alive, breaking the record would only elevate Dean’s legend even further.
Can the Record Survive 100 Years?
It’s been nearly a century — and still, no one’s come close.
With the 100-year mark approaching, Dean’s record stands as one of football’s greatest, most enduring achievements. Personally, I don’t think anyone — not even Haaland — will break it anytime soon.
And if someone ever does? They’ll deserve a statue of their own.
Until then, Dixie Dean remains football’s undisputed goal-scoring king.