45 Goals: Arnautovic Crowns Himself as the New Record Goal Scorer

Marko Arnautovic was highly emotional, as he is known to be in these moments. As the new ÖFB record goal scorer, after the 10-0 win on Thursday in Vienna against San Marino, he first went to the stands to embrace his father. "This is a very, very beautiful, a great moment for me," Arnautovic explained. However, the 36-year-old has an even more important goal: He wants to travel to his first World Cup with the ÖFB team in 2026.

"A Great Moment": Arnautovic Delights in Goal Record

The tournament next summer in North America could be the culmination of a dazzling career in the ÖFB selection. "I just want to go to the World Cup, play the World Cup, shake hands with all of you, and that's it," Arnautovic said after his four-goal performance to journalists. He has been the record national player since September 2022. In now 128 international matches, he has scored 45 goals - one more than Polster.

"It was an honor to compete with him up there for the record," emphasized Arnautovic. "I know that Toni Polster is a very, very great legend here in Austrian football. Huge compliments and praise to him for being up there alone for so long." Many strikers had tried, but no one had reached Polster's mark, which he set in 95 games from 1982 to 2000. He had believed that his former teammate Marc Janko would achieve it, Arnautovic said. "Now I've done it."

Emotional State of Exception at Record Goal

A considerable amount of pressure was lifted from Arnautovic. His teammates had repeatedly spurred him on about the record in recent weeks and months. The topic was also very present in the media in recent days. "Now we no longer talk about the record," said its new holder. When he broke the record after a pass from Nikolaus Wurmbrand, he initially didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or scream. "It was a bit too much, I have to honestly say, I couldn't catch my breath. I was emotional."

His teammates stormed from the bench towards him - for Arnautovic, a sign of special unity. "If we weren't a family, it wouldn't have happened like this." David Alaba even received a yellow card for the celebratory run. Michael Gregoritsch, who was the first to storm off, was "very, very relieved" that he didn't receive it, as he would have been suspended for the next World Cup qualifier match on Sunday in Romania. "I wouldn't have forgiven myself."

The goal also stood up to a VAR review. Arnautovic is thus only the fourth Austrian since World War II to score more than three goals in an international match. Previously, only Hans Krankl (6 in the 9-0 against Malta in 1977), Erich Probst (5 in the 9-1 against Portugal in 1953), and Erich Hof (5 in the 7-1 against Cyprus in 1968) had achieved this.

San Marino's Goalkeeper Sad

"I have no idea what happened here. Everything was perfect," Arnautovic struggled for words after the gala in Vienna's Prater. "We won by double digits, I broke the goal record." Additionally, World Cup rival Bosnia only played 2-2 in Cyprus. Only Edoardo Colombo had to disappoint Arnautovic. The jersey he had promised to San Marino's goalkeeper at halftime had to be kept after the record match. "It goes into my collection, it has a very great significance for me."

Beforehand, the record wasn't really a topic for him. "My only goal was to get to the World Cup." To improve the goal difference on the way there, the goal was set to win by double digits against San Marino, Arnautovic revealed - which was achieved with the highest international victory in ÖFB history.

In this, Arnautovic has long held a special place. "Marko is an extraordinary player in Austrian history," said strike partner Gregoritsch. However, he didn't want to presume a ranking. "I think that would be unfair." He hadn't lived during the times of Herbert Prohaska or Krankl, and he was too young for Polster and Andreas Herzog. "Now there is Alaba, Arnautovic, and the generation that has now experienced a very beautiful moment. For our generation, he (Arnautovic) is now very, very far ahead."

(APA/Red)

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