Real Madrid Players Who Scored 40 or More Goals in a Single Season: Scoring 40 goals in a single season is an achievement most footballers only dream about. At Real Madrid, only a handful of players have ever reached that mark. These are the players who delivered the most extraordinary individual seasons in the club’s entire history.
Every entry on this list represents a level of consistency and brilliance that goes far beyond what most elite strikers ever achieve. Ordered by goals scored and by season.
The Most Prolific Single Seasons in Real Madrid History
Only four players in Real Madrid history have ever scored 40 or more goals in a single season. Three of them played in entirely different eras. One player dominates this list like no other.
Cristiano Ronaldo — Six Seasons of 40 or More Goals
Cristiano Ronaldo achieved the 40-goal mark in a single season six separate times during his nine years at Real Madrid. No other player in the club’s history has come anywhere close to that level of consistency.
Season 1: 2014-15 — 61 Goals
- League Goals: 48
- Domestic Cup Goals: 1
- Continental Goals: 12
- Total Goals: 61
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 61 goals in the 2014-15 season. That is the highest single-season total in Real Madrid history. It has never been beaten.
He was absolutely relentless throughout the entire campaign. He scored 48 La Liga goals alone. That is one of the greatest individual league seasons in the history of Spanish football. His 12 European goals added another layer of brilliance to an already historic campaign.
Achievements:
- Highest single-season goal total in Real Madrid history with 61 goals
- 48 La Liga goals in a single season, one of the best league totals ever recorded
- UEFA Champions League semifinalist that season
- La Liga top scorer that season
- Ballon d’Or winner in 2014
- Named in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season
Season 2: 2011-12 — 60 Goals
- League Goals: 46
- Domestic Cup Goals: 4
- Continental Goals: 10
- Total Goals: 60
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 60 goals in the 2011-12 season. It was only the second time in Real Madrid history that a player had scored 60 or more goals in a single campaign.
He won La Liga that season with Real Madrid. He scored 46 league goals. That remains one of the greatest La Liga scoring seasons in the competition’s entire history. His form throughout that year was genuinely unstoppable.
Achievements:
- La Liga title winner with Real Madrid in 2011-12
- 46 La Liga goals in a single season
- La Liga top scorer that season
- Copa del Rey winner with Real Madrid
- One of only two seasons in history where a Real Madrid player scored 60 or more goals
- FIFA Ballon d’Or finalist that year
Season 3: 2012-13 — 55 Goals
- League Goals: 34
- Domestic Cup Goals: 9
- Continental Goals: 12
- Total Goals: 55
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 55 goals in the 2012-13 season. His 9 domestic cup goals that season is the highest cup total across any of his 40-plus goal seasons.
He was the Copa del Rey top scorer that campaign. His European form was equally impressive with 12 continental goals. He delivered across every competition Real Madrid entered that season.
Achievements:
- Copa del Rey winner with Real Madrid in 2012-13
- Copa del Rey top scorer that season with 9 goals
- UEFA Champions League top scorer that season
- La Liga top scorer that season
- Ballon d’Or winner in January 2013
- One of six seasons where Ronaldo scored 40 or more goals for Real Madrid
Season 4: 2010-11 — 53 Goals
- League Goals: 40
- Domestic Cup Goals: 7
- Continental Goals: 6
- Total Goals: 53
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 53 goals in the 2010-11 season. He scored exactly 40 La Liga goals that campaign. He became only the second player in La Liga history to score 40 league goals in a single season.
His 7 domestic cup goals was an outstanding individual cup return. His consistency across La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and European competition made this one of the most complete individual seasons on this entire list.
Achievements:
- Copa del Rey winner with Real Madrid in 2010-11
- 40 La Liga goals in a single season
- La Liga top scorer that season
- One of the most complete all-competition seasons on this list
- FIFA Ballon d’Or winner in January 2011
- Named La Liga Best Foreign Player that season
Season 5: 2013-14 — 51 Goals
- League Goals: 31
- Domestic Cup Goals: 3
- Continental Goals: 17
- Total Goals: 51
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 51 goals in the 2013-14 season. His 17 continental goals that campaign is the highest European total across any of his 40-plus goal seasons at Real Madrid.
That season ended with Real Madrid winning the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 12 years. La Decima. Ronaldo was at the heart of everything. His European goal return that season was extraordinary.
Achievements:
- UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid in 2013-14, La Decima
- 17 continental goals in a single season, his highest European return
- UEFA Champions League top scorer that season
- Ballon d’Or winner in January 2014
- Named UEFA Best Player in Europe that season
- One of the defining seasons of Real Madrid’s modern Champions League era
Season 5: 2015-16 — 51 Goals
- League Goals: 35
- Domestic Cup Goals: 0
- Continental Goals: 16
- Total Goals: 51
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 51 goals in the 2015-16 season. He shares fifth place on this list with his own 2013-14 campaign. He scored zero domestic cup goals that season but delivered in La Liga and Europe throughout.
Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League again that season. Ronaldo scored the decisive penalty in the final shootout against Atletico Madrid. He was the most important player in the biggest moment of the campaign.
Achievements:
- UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid in 2015-16
- Scored the decisive penalty in the Champions League final shootout
- 16 continental goals in a single season
- La Liga top scorer that season
- UEFA Champions League top scorer that season
- Ballon d’Or winner in December 2016
Season 8: 2017-18 — 44 Goals
- League Goals: 26
- Domestic Cup Goals: 1
- Continental Goals: 17
- Total Goals: 44
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 44 goals in the 2017-18 season. It was his final season at Real Madrid. He left for Juventus that summer. He ended his Real Madrid career in the best possible way by winning another Champions League title.
His 17 continental goals that season matches his 2013-14 European return. He scored a stunning bicycle kick against Juventus in the quarter finals. That goal was one of the most iconic in Champions League history.
Achievements:
- UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid in 2017-18
- 17 continental goals in a single season
- UEFA Champions League top scorer that season
- Scored an iconic bicycle kick against Juventus in the quarter final
- Left Real Madrid as the club’s all-time top scorer after this season
- Ballon d’Or winner in December 2017
Ferenc Puskas — Three Seasons of 40 or More Goals
Ferenc Puskas scored 40 or more goals in three separate seasons at Real Madrid. He achieved this across different eras of European football when defences were equally physical and demanding.
Season 7: 1959-60 — 47 Goals
- League Goals: 25
- Domestic Cup Goals: 10
- Continental Goals: 12
- Total Goals: 47
Ferenc Puskas scored 47 goals in the 1959-60 season. That is the highest single-season total in Real Madrid history before the Ronaldo era. His 10 domestic cup goals is the highest cup return of any season on this list.
Real Madrid won the European Cup that season. Puskas scored four goals in the final against Eintracht Frankfurt. That final is still regarded as one of the greatest matches in football history. His domestic cup return of 10 goals in a single season remains unmatched on this list.
Achievements:
- European Cup winner with Real Madrid in 1959-60
- Scored four goals in the 1960 European Cup final
- 10 domestic cup goals in a single season, the highest on this list
- La Liga top scorer that season
- Hungary international and one of the best players of his generation
- Part of the greatest Real Madrid team ever assembled alongside Di Stefano
Season 8: 1960-61 — 44 Goals
- League Goals: 28
- Domestic Cup Goals: 14
- Continental Goals: 2
- Total Goals: 44
Ferenc Puskas scored 44 goals in the 1960-61 season. His 14 domestic cup goals that campaign is the highest single-season cup total on this entire list. No player in Real Madrid history has ever scored more domestic cup goals in a single season.
He was 33 years old during this campaign. His finishing was still as ruthless as ever. His ability to produce extraordinary numbers at that age is a testament to his natural talent and dedication.
Achievements:
- 14 domestic cup goals in a single season, a Real Madrid record on this list
- European Cup finalist with Real Madrid in 1960-61
- La Liga title winner with Real Madrid that season
- Delivered an extraordinary season at 33 years old
- Joint eighth on this list alongside Ronaldo’s 2017-18 season and Benzema’s 2021-22 season
- One of the greatest finishers in Real Madrid and football history
Season 16: 1961-62 — 40 Goals
- League Goals: 20
- Domestic Cup Goals: 13
- Continental Goals: 7
- Total Goals: 40
Ferenc Puskas scored exactly 40 goals in the 1961-62 season. He reached the 40-goal mark for the third consecutive season. That level of consistency across three straight seasons was remarkable.
His 13 domestic cup goals again shows how lethal he was in knockout competition. He was 34 years old during this campaign. He was still producing numbers that most players in their prime could never match.
Achievements:
- European Cup finalist with Real Madrid in 1961-62
- 13 domestic cup goals in a single season
- La Liga title winner with Real Madrid that season
- Third consecutive season scoring 40 or more goals for Real Madrid
- One of only four players in Real Madrid history to score 40 or more goals in a single season
- A permanent legend of the Real Madrid attacking tradition
Alfredo Di Stefano — 1956-57 — 43 Goals
- League Goals: 31
- Domestic Cup Goals: 3
- Continental Goals: 9
- Total Goals: 43
Alfredo Di Stefano scored 43 goals in the 1956-57 season. He shares 12th place on this list with Hugo Sanchez’s 1986-87 season.
He was the complete footballer. He could create and score in equal measure. His 43 goals across all competitions in that season was an outstanding individual achievement for a player who also carried every other aspect of Real Madrid’s game.
Achievements:
- European Cup winner with Real Madrid in 1956-57
- La Liga title winner with Real Madrid that season
- Ballon d’Or winner in 1957
- Scored in five consecutive European Cup finals during his career
- Widely regarded as the greatest player in Real Madrid history
- One of only four players to score 40 or more goals in a single season for the club
Hugo Sanchez — Two Seasons of 40 or More Goals
Hugo Sanchez scored 40 or more goals in two separate seasons at Real Madrid. He was the most clinical finisher in Spanish football during the late 1980s.
Season 12: 1986-87 — 43 Goals
- League Goals: 34
- Domestic Cup Goals: 6
- Continental Goals: 3
- Total Goals: 43
Hugo Sanchez scored 43 goals in the 1986-87 season. His 34 La Liga goals that campaign is one of the highest single-season league totals in La Liga history during the 1980s.
He was at the peak of his powers that season. His finishing was acrobatic and spectacular. He was the most feared striker in Europe throughout that entire campaign. He won the La Liga Golden Boot that year.
Achievements:
- La Liga title winner with Real Madrid in 1986-87
- La Liga Golden Boot winner that season with 34 league goals
- One of the most prolific La Liga seasons of the 1980s
- 5x consecutive La Liga Golden Boot winner across his Real Madrid career
- Mexico international and greatest Mexican footballer in history
- One of only four players in Real Madrid history to score 40 or more goals in a single season
Season 14: 1989-90 — 42 Goals
- League Goals: 38
- Domestic Cup Goals: 3
- Continental Goals: 1
- Total Goals: 42
Hugo Sanchez scored 42 goals in the 1989-90 season. His 38 La Liga goals that campaign is one of the highest single-season league totals in La Liga history. It is the highest La Liga total on this entire list.
He was 32 years old during this season. His finishing power showed absolutely no signs of decline. He was still the most prolific striker in Spanish football in his early thirties.
Achievements:
- La Liga title winner with Real Madrid in 1989-90
- 38 La Liga goals in a single season, the highest league total on this list
- La Liga Golden Boot winner that season
- 5x consecutive La Liga Golden Boot winner across his Real Madrid career
- One of the greatest individual La Liga seasons in the competition’s history
- Delivered his best league season at 32 years old
Karim Benzema — 2021-22 — 44 Goals
- League Goals: 27
- Domestic Cup Goals: 2
- Continental Goals: 15
- Total Goals: 44
Karim Benzema scored 44 goals in the 2021-22 season. It was the greatest individual season of his career. It was also one of the greatest individual seasons in the history of the Champions League.
His 15 continental goals included three consecutive hat-tricks across knockout rounds against PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City. His performances in those three ties were almost impossible to believe. Real Madrid won the Champions League that season. Benzema was the reason why.
Achievements:
- UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid in 2021-22
- Ballon d’Or winner in 2022
- UEFA Champions League top scorer that season with 15 goals
- La Liga title winner with Real Madrid that season
- La Liga top scorer that season
- Named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2021-22
Kylian Mbappe — 2024-25 — 44 Goals
- League Goals: 31
- Domestic Cup Goals: 3
- Continental Goals: 10
- Total Goals: 44
Kylian Mbappe scored 44 goals in his debut season at Real Madrid in 2024-25. He joined from PSG in the summer of 2024. He hit the 40-goal mark in his very first campaign at the club.
His 31 La Liga goals is an outstanding return for a debut season at a new club. His 10 continental goals contributed heavily to Real Madrid’s European campaign. He is still just 26 years old in 2026. His best seasons at the club are still ahead of him.
Achievements:
- La Liga title winner with Real Madrid in 2024-25
- 31 La Liga goals in his debut season at Real Madrid
- UEFA Champions League top scorer contender that season
- FIFA World Cup winner with France in 2018
- One of only a handful of players to score 40 or more goals in a debut season at Real Madrid
- Among the active players on this list with more seasons still to come
FAQs
Q: What is the most goals scored in a single season in Real Madrid history?
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 61 goals in the 2014-15 season. That is the all-time Real Madrid record for a single season.
Q: How many times did Ronaldo score 40 or more goals in a season for Real Madrid?
Ronaldo achieved the 40-goal mark in six separate seasons. No other player in Real Madrid history has done it more than three times.
Q: Who scored the most domestic cup goals in a single season at Real Madrid?
Ferenc Puskas scored 14 domestic cup goals in the 1960-61 season. That is the highest single-season cup total on this list.
Q: What is the highest La Liga total in a single season on this list?
Hugo Sanchez scored 38 La Liga goals in the 1989-90 season. That is the highest single-season league total on this entire list.
Q: Did Kylian Mbappe score 40 goals in his first Real Madrid season?
Yes. Mbappe scored 44 goals in his debut season of 2024-25. He is one of only a handful of players to reach that mark in their first campaign at the club.
Q: Who is the oldest player to score 40 or more goals in a season for Real Madrid?
Ferenc Puskas scored 44 goals in the 1960-61 season at the age of 33. He scored 40 goals again in 1961-62 at the age of 34. His achievement at that age remains extraordinary.
