Olympic football records: Dunai’s goals, USA’s dominance and Brazil's medal collection
Hungary is the most successful team in the men’s competition while the USA have dominated the women’s event at the Summer Games. Know Olympic football records.
Football
Football at the Olympics has always produced top-quality action.
Be it Nigeria’s come-from-behind win over Brazil in the semi-finals of the Atlanta 1996 Games or Sweden ousting world champions USA in the quarter-finals of Rio 2016, the beautiful game has added copious amounts of thrill to the Olympic programme.
While men’s football has featured in every edition of the Summer Games except in 1896 and 1932, the women’s game was introduced to the Olympics when the USA hosted the Games in 1996.
The men’s event was a senior competition in the beginning that saw some of the greats of the game like Romario of Brazil, Germany’s Jurgen Klinsmann and Ferenc Puskas of Hungary play.
But with fixture congestion and clubs reluctant to release players, football became an under-23 competition in 1992 where teams could feature a maximum of three senior players. Interestingly, Ryan Giggs, the ex-Manchester United superstar, became the oldest goal-scorer for Great Britain at 38 years and 243 days at the London 2012 Games.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez are Olympic champions while Neymar led Brazil to their first Olympic gold at Rio 2016. Other football heroes to play the Olympics include Xavi Hernandez of Spain, Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o and Mohamed Salah of Egypt.
The women’s competition, meanwhile, continues to be a senior team event and one that is highly competitive.
American stars Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan have been a permanent fixture of Team USA since London 2012 while the legendary Brazilian, Marta, has been a leader on the pitch ever since her Olympic debut at Athens 2004.
Football has also seen records set as well.
While Italy, with 15 appearances, have competed in the most number of Olympics in the men’s event, the USA and Brazil have featured in each of the eight editions since women’s football was introduced at Atlanta 1996.
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Gold medalist Trinity Rodman #5 of Team United States (C) and teammates celebrate with their medals after the Women's Football ceremony following the Women's Gold Medal match between Brazil and United States of America during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Parc des Princes on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Denmark’s 17-1 win over France at London 1908 is the highest victory margin in a match in the men’s event. In the women’s competition, Germany’s 8-0 success over China at Athens 2004 holds that record.
Former Hungarian striker Antal Dunai’s 13 goals is the most by a player at the Olympics in the men’s event while Brazilian Cristiane holds that record in women’s football with 14 goals to her name.