The Hardest Goals: Who Scored the Most Impossible Goals in Europe's Top Leagues (2014-2021)?

The Myth of Easy Goals

Let’s be honest: scoring in football is easy when the chance is clear. But real greatness? That happens when you face a shot with an xG below 0.1 — essentially, a miracle. I’ve spent years tracking how players perform under fire, and this data from understats reveals something wild: some legends aren’t just good — they’re impossible.

The Ghost Goal King: Messi’s 72 Miracle Strikes

In the ¹⁴⁄₁₅ to ²⁰⁄₂₁ seasons, Lionel Messi didn’t just score goals — he conjured them out of thin air. With 72 goals classified as ‘highest difficulty’ (xG < 0.1), he wasn’t playing football; he was writing poetry with his feet. These weren’t chips over defenders or tap-ins — these were curlers from 30 yards with pressure closing in, shots that should’ve missed but didn’t.

Cristiano Ronaldo came close with 39, but Messi? He made chaos look routine.

When Even Genius Needs a Break: Kane & Lewandowski

Harry Kane isn’t just a Poacher™ — he dropped 43 high-difficulty finishes during that stretch. That’s not luck; that’s relentless precision under duress. And Robert Lewandowski? With 36, he proved even elite strikers can thrive when every defender is screaming ‘no!’ at them.

But let’s talk about context: these aren’t random stats — they’re evidence that mental strength and technical mastery beat simple opportunity.

The Mid-Tier Masters: When Chances Are Good But Still Hard to Finish

Here comes the twist: most fans see ‘good chances’ as safe bets. But even then, only certain players convert them consistently.

Messi led here too with 62 medium-difficulty goals (xG between 0.1–0.4). Not because he had more shots — but because his composure never wavered when it mattered most.

cr7 and Lewa followed closely behind — showing that consistency across all levels of difficulty separates warriors from performers.

Low-Difficulty Dominance Isn’t Just About Talent – It’s About Volume & Discipline

Now we pivot to the other end of the spectrum: low-difficulty (xG > 0.4). These are golden opportunities – one-timers inside the box, rebounds… you know what I mean.

Suárez leads here with 69, while Lewandowski scored 65 and C罗 chipped in 61. This isn’t flashy stuff — it’s about being present. Being ready when your team gives you a gift.

And yes, Messi had only 55, which might surprise fans used to seeing him everywhere near goal… but remember: his value isn’t measured by easy chances alone.

The Empty Net Specialists – Where Real Fear Lives?

top scorers don’t win games by missing open net shots… unless they’re like… wait, no one misses those! Actually, even “easy” goals carry risk:

• Lewandowski scored 20 ultra-low diff (xG > 0.7)
• Messi and Aubameyang each landed 14
• Mbappé got 12, despite being lightning-fast — proving even speed can’t guarantee accuracy after crossing lines on instinct alone.

It’s fascinating how often stars fail where others succeed… or vice versa.

What This Really Means for Football Today — And You —

did you know? In my first year as an analyst at ESPN Chicago, I watched kids in South Side courts try impossible shots after losing their shoes halfway through practice.. The same courage exists at elite level—just masked by stats instead of sweat stains on jerseys. The bottom line? Success isn’t just about getting good looks—it’s about turning nothing into something. Whether it’s xG < 0.1 or facing down world-class defenders mid-run—greatness lives in those micro-moments where doubt tries to take over, The truth is simple: every champion has learned how to score when nobody believed they could.