Unbreakable 5: Football records that are unlikely to be broken any time soon

Footballers have a knack of doing incredible things, things that make us swoon over them. Football remains a game of moments, moments created by such players, moments which are often defined by records and statistics.

Records and stats have come to define the game. There are records which have now become reference points for judging achievements in the game. There are records in the game can be precisely be divided into two types. Ones that are short-term and are usually short-lived.

The other type of records are the long-standing records. Records that are just too good to be true and usually stand the test of time. Here, we have a looks five of the more surreal records in World football, those that are unlikely to be broken in the near future:

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#5 Fastest goal by a substitute in English football: Nicklas Bendtner, 1.8 SECONDS

Bendtner

Nicklas Bendtner, affectionately entitled the “Lord” by a majority of the footballing fraternity provided a surreal moment against Tottenham in the 2007/08 season. With 16 minutes to go in yet another fiercely-contested North London Derby at the Emirates, Arsene Wenger sent on striker Nicklas Bendtner for midfielder Emmanuel Eboue The game was at 1-1 and Robbie Keane had just a weak penalty saved from Manuel Almunia.

With Cesc Fabregas waiting to take the corner kick, Arsene Wenger sent the big Danish striker on. Bendtner took up position by the far post and, as Cesc Fabregas’s corner swung over, charged into the box and rammed a header past Spurs keeper Paul Robinson to put the Gunners 2-1 up.

It was Bendtner's first touch of the game and took a total of only 1.8 seconds to score the goal. An English record for the fastest goal ever scored by a sub.

#4 Longest Headed goal in European Football: Jone Samuelsen, 58.13m

Jone Samuelsen, on the 25th of September whilst playing for Odd Grenland, scored a screamer for a header in the Norwegian League. The game was against Tromso, Odd were ahead in the game by a goal and in a final attempt to equalise the Tromso keeper joined the attack for the corner kick. The corner kick was cleared, one of the Odd defenders thumped the ball clear.

The ball was then headed back into Odd's half by a Tromso defender. Samuelsen, who was standing a couple of yards within his own half, tried heading the ball back towards one of his players but missed. Instead, the ball rolled into an empty net. Samuelsen, with the header, had provided his side with the three points.

The measured distance for the header is told be around the 58-metre mark. The longest headed goal registered in European Football.

#3 Longest recorded goal in Football history: Asmir Begovic, 91.9m

Begovic scores an astonishing goal

Sticking to records pertaining to distances we have a record for the longest goal ever scored in the game. The record for the longest goal is held by the current Bournemouth keeper Asmir Begovic against Southampton back in his Stoke City days.

Begovic’s extraordinary effort had come just 13 seconds into Stoke’s Premier League clash against Southampton at the Britannia Stadium. The Britannia is often known as a windy stadium due to it’s positioning over a hill. Begovic's goal was a testament to that.

Aiming to clear a back pass from one of his defenders, Begovic hoiked the ball clear along the entire stretch of the pitch. The ball bounced in front of the Saints keeper, Arthur Boruc before being swerving due to the wind.

Boruc couldn't recover and the ball ended up in the back of Southampton's net. Making Begovic the record holder for the longest goal. Begovic later admitted that he was lucky and went and apologised for the same to the Saints' keeper end of the game.

#2 European record for most goals in a calendar year: Lionel Messi, 91

91 friggin goals!

The record for most goals scored in a calendar year is held by, well none other than the Argentine genius Lionel Messi himself. Messi scored an incredible 91 goals in just 69 appearances for club and country over the stretch of the year. On his way to the record, Messi broke Gerd Muller’s long-standing tally of 85 goals in a calendar year.

Barcelona ended up winning the Copa Del Rey that year but was a disappointing year for the club overall. However, the scoring streak the Argentine racked up was mesmerising. It remains a record that probably won't be touched for a long time in the European game.

Messi went on to win another Ballon d'Or that year, his fourth. Even though FIFA didn't recognise the feat, citing verifiability issues Messi does hold the Guinness World record for most goals scored in a calendar year. A record that will surely stay as it is for a good number of years.

#1 Most goals by a goalkeeper: Rodrigo Ceni, 132 goals

A keeper who could score!

Rogerio Ceni, a man who is adored by many in Brazil and most importantly at Sao Paulo for his immense contribution to the club during his service. Ceni holds the record for the most goals ever scored by a goalkeeper in professional football. He scored a total of 132 career goals; 61 being free-kicks, 70 penalties and one coming from open play.

Ceni had a career that spanned 25 years before retiring in 2015. A one-club man, Ceni finished his career raking up a total of 1238 appearances, ahead of Pele. A man knowing for not shying away from any challenge, Ceni stepped up everytime his team needed and given his spot-kick record was a certain game-changer.

During this incredible career, Ceni won almost everything there was to win with o Tricolor, including three consecutive Brazilian titles, four São Paulo state championships, the Copa Libertadores, and a Club World Cup in which he was awarded player of the tournament and man of the match in the final.

His record is another one that is sure to last a long long time in the modern day game.