22/03/2026
A GODFREY CHITALU TRIBUTE FROM MESSI WOULD BE HISTORIC 🇿🇲🇦🇷
In a well known story, Lionel Messi scored a ridiculous 91 goals in 2012 for FC Barcelona and Argentina, breaking the Gerd Muller's 40-year record of 85 goals in 1972. The Argentine sensation outscored entire teams that year including UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea, PSG and Dortmund.
Coincidentally, while Muller was racking up 85 goals for Bayern Munich and Germany in 1972, there was a goalscoring phenomenon in Southern Africa dw@rfing those numbers.
Chipolopolo striker Godfrey 'Ucar' Chitalu registered a jaw-dropping 107 goals for club and country in 1972.
Zambia asserted that the record Messi just broke already belonged to Chitalu. However, FIFA and the Guinness World Records could not verify Chitalu's numbers due to missing match records for some of his goals.
Hence, Lionel Messi remains the official holder of that record to this day.
In as much as the record will not officially belong to our country, Lionel Messi paying a tribute to Chitalu during the upcoming international friendly between Argentina and Zambia would be the perfect way to honor Chitalu.
Atleast Zambia and Argentina won't be remembered for a decade-long football dispute but for a heartwarming show of respect.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), please make this happen.
📷 NB: Image is AI generated.
