Erwin Helmchen

Erwin Helmchen (10 May 1907 – 8 June 1981) was a German footballer who played as a striker. He was the most prolific goalscorer in recorded history according to RSSSF with at least 989 goals scored in 582 official matches, until Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed him in 2026. He is also the second highest goalscorer in league matches with over 720 goals, the second-most prolific goalscorer for a single team with at least 667 goals, and the goalscorer with most career hat-tricks with at least 142.

PSV Chemnitz In 1928, Helmchen joined PSV Chemnitz. However, they found fierce rivalry with local competitors Chemnitzer BC. In 1932, PSV managed to reach the Central German football championship final against Dresdner SC to win 3–2 after extra-time. Helmchen scored 51 goals in the championship for PSV, with a total of 120 goals in the 1931–32 season. PSV later participated in the 1932 German football championship, where they lost 2–3 to the eventual German champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. However, Helmchen managed to score 5 goals in that competition to finish in second place behind Karl Ehmer.

The Gauliga Sachsen was inaugurated in 1933. In the debut 1933–34 season, PSV Chemnitz finished third behind Dresdner SC and VfB Leipzig. In 1934–35 and 1935–36 seasons, PSV Chemnitz managed to win two titles in the Gauliga Sachsen, both in front of the Dresdner SC. In the 1935 German football championship, PSV lost in the semi-finals 2–3 against the eventual winners FC Schalke 04, both PSV goals were scored by Helmchen. In total Helmchen scored 667 goals in 338 official matches for PSV Chemnitz. +

Playoffs

Division!!Apps!!Goals Apps Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

1923–24

7 16 1924–25

2

1925–26

1926–27

7

1927–28

7

59!!119 16

1928–29

1929–30

1930–31

2

1931–32

5

1932–33

4

1933–34

1934–35

1935–36

1936–37

1937–38

1938–39

1939–40

1940–41

1941–42

1942–43

1943–44

1944–45 Division 2

232+!!456 11 29+!!17+!!13+!!16!!23!!269+!!521+

1945–46

1946–47

1947–48

1948–49

1949–50 Div. 1 – Saxony

54+!!59

1949–50 Oberliga North

Landesliga Schleswig-Holstein

13!!16

347+!!629 32 51!!23!!40!!16!!23!!418+!!747+

Honours PSV Chemnitz

Central German football championship: 1932 Gauliga Sachsen: 1935, 1936 Saxon Cup: 1935 VfB Lübeck

Schleswig-Holstein-Liga: 1951, 1952