BASH THE BULLY
If you want to become your nation’s record
scorer, you’ve got to fill your boots when the
chance arises. Bashar Abdullah understood
that when Kuwait entered qualification for
the 2000 Asian Cup – after opening up with
a steady brace against Turkmenistan, he
smashed eight goals past Bhutan in a 20-0
thrashing, then bagged all five in a victory
against Nepal. Fifteen goals in the space of
a week. Kuwait qualified (obviously), but
Abdullah only found the net once at the final
tournament, stymied by peskily competent
defenders. Without those 15 goals, he’d be
second on his nation’s all-time list, behind
Jasem Al-Huwaidi.
RECORDS ARE FOR LOSERS
To track down the world’s longest-standing
international goal record, see Denmark. Poul
Nielsen posted his 52nd and final goal for
the Danes in 1925, a full five years before the
first World Cup even took place – but none
of his countrymen have ever surpassed that
tally. Jon Dahl Tomasson equalled it during
the 2010 World Cup, but then chose to retire
at the end of the tournament. Why not crack
on for one more measly goal?
THE BHUTANESE RONALDO
In 2002, Bhutan famously faced Montserrat
in The Other Final, an alternative World Cup
final between the two worst nations in the
FIFA rankings. Things have improved thanks
to Chencho Gyeltshen – nicknamed CG7,
in honour of his hero, Cristiano Ronaldo. He
made his international debut in 2011 at 14,
and has already struck 10 goals (double the
previous record) with plenty of years ahead
of him. By 2015 he’d helped his country to
a record high of 159th in the FIFA rankings.
Inevitably, he’s faced fierce rivalry from the
Lebanese Messi, Hassan Maatouk – another
who tops his nation’s scoring chart.
FED THE GOAT, HE SCORED
Shaun Goater is a living Manchester City
legend – and things aren’t much different in
Bermuda. The striker made his international
debut in 1987, shortly before he moved to
Manchester United (no appearances), then
Rotherham. Goater worked his way back up
to stardom with City, later earning himself
a column in the matchday programme –
called ‘Read The Goat’, naturally. He’s almost
certainly the only international record
goalscorer to have later managed Ilkeston.RECORD
SCORERS