We have compiled a list of the top five highest-scoring Olympic football games as the Paris 2024 Olympics get underway next week.
Men's football has been played at the Olympics since 1896, and women's since 1996. Plenty of high-scoring games have been played, with some monstrous scores abnormal to ones typically seen in the modern day.
Nonetheless, here is the top five…
Highest scoring Olympic football games: The top 5
5. Sweden 12-0 South Korea – 1948 Men's Quarter-final
The fact that a game featuring 12 goals only comes in fifth on our list is a treat of what is to come. Eventual Olympic gold medalists Sweden thrashed South Korea 12-0 in their home country, in what remains the only gold medal for football that the men's team have won at the Olympics.
The Swedes boasted a formidable attacking trio nicknamed “Gre-No-Li”, a play on the surnames of superstars Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm, who incidentally also all played for the dominant AC Milan at club level. In this particular quarter-final clash, the trio scored seven of the 12 goals, with Nordahl netting four of them. Nils Carlsson also scored a hat-trick, with Kjell Rosen netting a brace.
4. Great Britain 12-1 Sweden – 1908 Men's Quarter-final
In contrast to in 1948, Sweden actually conceded 12 goals in this game as Great Britain ran out comfortable 12-1 winners in the men's quarter-final at the 1908 Olympics in London. Like in 1948, the hosts would then go on to win the tournament, claiming their second gold medal in Olympic football.
Clyde Purnell scored four goals for Great Britain, while Henry Stapley, Vivian Woodward and Robert Hawkes each scored braces. Arthur Berry and Frederick Chapman also got on the scoresheet, while John Bergstrom netted a consolation goal for Sweden.
3. Argentina 11-2 United States – 1928 Men's Round of 16
Third on the list is a 13-goal clash as Argentina beat the United States 11-2 in the round of 16 of men's football at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands. They would go on to finish as runners-up, losing to fellow South Americans Uruguay in the final.
In this particular match, top scorer for the tournament Domingo Tarasconi scored four of his 11 goals, while Roberto Cerro also netted a hat-trick. Manuel Ferreira and Raimundo Orsi scored braces, while Rudy Kuntner and Henry Carroll netted for the United States.
2. Italy 11-3 Egypt – 1928 Men's Bronze medal match
At the same Olympics featured a 14-goal game as Italy thrashed Egypt 11-3 to win the bronze medal. Angelo Schiavio, Elvio Banchero and Mario Magnozzi all managed to score a hat-trick, while Adolfo Baloncieri also managed to grab himself a brace.
Ali Riadh scored twice for Egypt, while Moussa El-Ezam also managed to find the back of the net. Incidentally, this was the last football tournament held at the Olympics before the introduction of the FIFA World Cup in 1930.
1. Denmark 17-1 France – 1908 Men's Semi-final
The highest-scoring game ever at the Olympics was an 18-goal rout in the men's semi-final in 1908, as Denmark demolished France 17-1. The Danes actually ended up runners-up, losing 2-0 to Great Britain in the final.
Top scorer Sophus Nielsen scored a record 10 goals himself in this game, while Vilhelm Wolfhagen netted four times, August Lindgren scored a double, and Nils Middelboe completed the rout. Emile Sartorius netted a consolation goal for the French.
