From January to December, footballers have consistently demonstrated their ability to score goals in months that share their names. This phenomenon, which has been observed throughout the year, is a testament to the skill and dedication of these athletes.

Source: i.guim.co.uk

January

One of the earliest recorded instances of a player scoring in January is Nicolas Janvier, who scored on 30 January 2016 for Lannion against Rennes Reserves. Mykola Kozlenko, a keen observer of football statistics, was the one to point out this remarkable feat.

Source: i.guim.co.uk

Mykola also highlights the significance of accepting exact spellings of month names in other languages, such as Agosto for August or Janvier for January. This attention to detail has allowed him to uncover numerous examples of players scoring in their namesake months.

Source: i.guim.co.uk

February

In February, Jayden Fevrier made his mark on the football pitch by scoring on 3 February 2024 for Colchester against Forest Green Rovers. Mykola’s diligent research has shed light on this and many other instances of players scoring in their namesake months.

March

March is a month that has been particularly kind to footballers with the same name. Heiko März, a German footballer, scored twice in March 1992-93 for Hansa Rostock against St. Pauli and Darmstadt. Solly March, an English footballer, has also had his fair share of goals in March, including two for Brighton in FA Cup quarter-finals against Millwall in 2019 and Grimsby in 2023.

April

April Heinrichs, an American footballer, scored twice for the USA on April Fools’ Day 1991 against Yugoslavia in the Grand Hotel Varna Tournament in Bulgaria. She also scored on 3 April against Hungary and again in the final as the USA beat USSR 5-0. This impressive feat has left football fans in awe.

May

David May scored the opening goal in Manchester United’s final game of the 1995-96 season, securing a 3-0 win against Middlesbrough at the Riverside. Eric Cantona got the late winner in a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup final to secure United their second domestic Double in three seasons.

Alfie May scored on 7 May 2023 for Cheltenham Town against Charlton, and then joined the Addicks two months later, leaving as Cheltenham’s record goalscorer. Matt Beaumont’s keen observation has highlighted this remarkable instance of a player scoring in their namesake month.

June

Brazil’s Edigar Junio scored on 22 June 2019 for Yokohama F Marinos against Matsumoto Yamaga in the J-League. Mykola Kozlenko’s extensive research has uncovered numerous examples of players scoring in their namesake months.

July

Three goalscoring Julios in July were found by Mykola. Anderson Julio (Ecuador) scored on 13 July 2023 for Real Salt Lake against Sporting KC. Jhojan Julio (Ecuador) scored on 31 July 2019 for LDU Quito against Olimpia. Junior Julio Bueno (Armenia) scored on 20 July 2023 for Ararat-Armenia against Egnatia.

August

August Lohapresert, a Sweden-born midfielder, won an under-23s cap for Thailand. He scored both goals for Gais Under-19 in a 2-1 victory over Kalmar FF Under-19s on 16 August 2012. Michael St John-Mcalister’s research has uncovered this remarkable instance of a player scoring in their namesake month.

September

Mateusz Wrzesien (Poland) scored on 26 September 2018 for Baltyk Koszalin against Rozwoj Katowice. Mykola’s research highlights the significance of accepting exact spellings of month names in other languages, such as Wrzesien for September.

October

Pasquale Ottobre scored a brace on 25 October 2009 for Fidelis Andros against Virtus Lanciano in Italy’s Lega Pro. His birthdate in November does not match his name, but he still managed to score in October.

November

Tymofiy Lystopad (Ukraine) scored on 7 November 2015 in Desna Chernihiv against Naftovyk-Ukrnafta Okhtyrka. Lystopad is November in Ukrainian, making him a unique example of a player scoring in their namesake month.

December

Unfortunately, December was the only month for which we didn’t receive a goalscoring answer. However, Mykola Kozlenko did find a manager: Frantz Décembre, the Haitian who managed several clubs in the 2010s. We don’t have a specific game, but it’s probably a fair bet that at least one of his teams scored at least one goal in December.

Caught in No-Man’s Land

Adrián, a West Ham goalkeeper, received a straight red card for catching Jamie Vardy with a high boot in a match against Leicester at Upton Park in 2015. This incident highlights the importance of fair play in football.

Forres Mechanics and Fraserburgh’s match on 8 August 2023 saw Forres defender Ewan Neil sent off for a foul just seven seconds after the match kicked off, and Fraserburgh awarded a penalty kick. This remarkable instance has left football fans in awe.

The quickest penalty ever awarded in a match was given to Tanzania in a World Cup qualifier against Madagascar in September 2021. The foul was committed after just four seconds, with the spot-kick given a second later. Erasto Nyoni stepped up to convert it, setting the hosts up for a 3-2 victory.

We previously looked at this topic in 2017, after a similar question from Stephen Yoxall. He saw his team, Witton Albion, win a penalty after six seconds in an FA Trophy tie against Chester FC when Tolani Omotola was fouled by Blaine Hudson.