Highest Score in Football Game: 149-0

By Sarah Miller · October 18, 2053

The highest score in a football game occurred on May 31, 2002, when AS Adema defeated SO l'Emyrne 149–0 in Madagascar's THB Champions League. This remains the highest-scoring match in recorded football history.

Understanding Record-Breaking Football Scores

Football matches are typically low-scoring affairs, but rare instances have produced astonishingly high scores. The most extreme example is not the result of dominant offensive play, but rather a protest gone viral. The 149–0 victory by AS Adema over SO l'Emyrne in Madagascar stands as the most one-sided and highest-scoring match ever officially recognized.

Why Did the Score Reach 149–0?

This unprecedented scoreline was not due to exceptional skill, but a deliberate act of protest. Prior to the match, SO l'Emyrne (SOE) had controversially won a previous fixture against Stade Olympique de L'Emyrne through alleged referee manipulation. In protest, their opponent in this match, AS Adema, instructed SOE players to score own goals throughout the game.

The players from SO l'Emyrne began scoring own goals immediately.
AS Adema did not attempt to defend or contest the goals.
The entire 149–0 result was composed of own goals.
The Madagascar Football Federation later upheld the result due to lack of formal protest rules at the time.

Historical High-Scoring Football Matches

While the 149–0 match is an outlier due to its protest nature, other high-scoring games have occurred in early football history or lower-tier leagues where competitive balance was poor.

Notable High-Scoring Games Before the Modern Era

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in domestic cup competitions, teams with vastly different resources sometimes met, leading to lopsided results.

Arbroath vs Bon Accord (1885): 36–0 in the Scottish Cup.
Portsmouth vs Plymouth Argyle (1906): 12–0 in the FA Cup.
Bayer Leverkusen vs SpVgg Unterhaching (2000): 7–6 in the Bundesliga — one of the highest-scoring top-flight games.

Date	Teams	Score	Competition	Country
May 31, 2002	AS Adema vs SO l'Emyrne	149–0	THB Champions League	Madagascar
Sep 12, 1885	Arbroath vs Bon Accord	36–0	Scottish Cup	Scotland
Oct 27, 1906	Portsmouth vs Plymouth Argyle	12–0	FA Cup	England
Mar 25, 2000	Bayer Leverkusen vs Unterhaching	7–6	Bundesliga	Germany
Nov 5, 2019	Tottenham vs Burnley	5–0	Premier League	England

Table data source:1, 2

The data highlights how extreme scores are almost exclusively confined to either protest incidents or historical fixtures from the sport’s early development. Modern professional leagues rarely see scores above 7–0 due to improved defensive organization and parity. The 149–0 result is an anomaly driven by protest, not performance, yet it remains officially recognized.

FIFA and Official Recognition of Extreme Scores

FIFA does not formally maintain a record for the highest score, but acknowledges unusual results through affiliated national associations. The Madagascar Football Federation confirmed the 149–0 result despite controversy, making it part of official records.

FIFA prioritizes match integrity and fair play.
Protest results like this are now less likely to be accepted due to stricter competition regulations.
Extreme scores today would likely lead to sanctions rather than record validation.

Common Questions About the Highest Scoring Football Game

What was the highest score in a football game?

The highest score in a football game was 149–0, achieved by AS Adema against SO l'Emyrne on May 31, 2002, in Madagascar. All goals were own goals scored by SO l'Emyrne as a protest.

Is a 149–0 football score real?

Yes, the 149–0 score is real and officially recognized by the Madagascar Football Federation. It occurred during a league match in 2002 as an act of protest, with all goals being own goals.

Has any team scored 100 goals in a football match?

No professional or officially recognized football match has seen a single team score 100 goals. The 149–0 game involved 149 own goals, not goals scored by the winning team.

What is the highest score in Premier League history?

The highest score in a single Premier League match is 9–0, achieved twice: Manchester United vs Ipswich Town (1995) and Southampton vs Leicester City (2019).

Why did SO l'Emyrne score 149 own goals?

SO l'Emyrne players scored 149 own goals as a protest against refereeing corruption in a prior match. Their opponents, AS Adema, encouraged this by letting them score unchallenged, turning the game into a symbolic demonstration.