It meant the three-time Ballon d’Or winner had passed the 40-year-old record of 85 goals scored in a calendar year set by Gerd Muller. Yet soon after the world’s greatest player had achieved the feat, challenges emerged claiming that in fact the real record was much higher.

First the Zambian FA claimed Kabwe Warriors striker Godfrey Chitalu had scored 107 goals in 1972. They are currently compiling evidence to support this claim.

Brazil legend Zico has also been put forward, with his former club Flamengo suggesting he scored 89 goals in 1979. While the debate has raged, football’s world governing body Fifa has remained silent – until now.

Fifa spokesman Alex Stone told BBC Sport: “We don’t have a database which details every football game played in every country from around the world since day one of their formation. And rather than settling the argument one way or the other, Fifa have refused to get involved, explaining that because Fifa do not keep domestic records “it’s not an official Fifa record”.