Malawian female footballer scores more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo in 2023

Temwa Chawinga and two Zambian players; Racheal Kundananji and Barbra Banda finished in the top 10. Temwa is the first African, the first non-European and the third women’s footballer to achieve the feat.

“Temwa Chawinga has scored 51 goals for Wuhan Jiangda in all competitions this season. She won the Golden Boot Award in the Chinese Super League with 30 goals, in the Chinese National Cup with 15 goals and also achieved the same feat in the Chinese FA Cup with six goals. She added also 12 goals for her national team where she won also the COSAFA Golden Boot! She ended the year 2023 with 63 goals,” IFFHS announced on its website.

Temwa’s feat means that she has scored more goals than any male football player in 2023 including the renowned and leading male goal scorer on the list, Cristiano Ronaldo who scored a total of 54 goals in 2023 and England's Harry Kane and France's Kylian Mbappé with a total of 52 goals each.

The International Federation of Football History & Statistics is an organisation that chronicles the history and records of association football. It was founded in 1984 in Germany but is now registered in Zurich, Switzerland.

“Honestly, I was bewildered when I heard about it. I just couldn’t believe it because there are many world-class players out there. But when reality sunk in, I felt like flying. I am really excited and I guess it’s a reward for my hard work,” Temwa said in an interview on January 2, quoted by local media Mwnation.

“Over and above that, I thank God Almighty for His continued blessings because without Him I couldn’t have achieved it. This will inspire me to work even harder,” she added.

Temwa’s older sister, Tabitha who came 25th on the list has also made history as the first player from her country to play and score in the UEFA Champions League. Tabitha also became the first African to win the Italian Serie A Feminine Golden Boot last year.