Harry Kane rounded off a sensational 2017 by scoring a record number of Premier League goals and hat-tricks in a calendar year, as well as toppling Lionel Messi as the top scorer in Europe as a rampant Tottenham thrashed Southampton 5-2.
The England striker followed up his treble over Burnley on Saturday by heading in a Christian Eriksen free-kick in the 22nd minute for his 37th league goal of 2017, beating Alan Shearer's 22-year-old record for the most goals in England's top flight in a calendar year.
Kane then overtook Messi as the top scorer of the year in Europe for club and country by tapping in Son Heung-min's low cross in the 39th minute.
In the second half Kane scored his side's fifth goal of the game to become the first player to hit six Premier League hat-tricks in one year.
Impressive strikes from Dele Alli and Son had further stretched Tottenham's lead in the second half, while Sofiane Boufal hit back for struggling Southampton to make it 4-1 before the relentless Kane struck once again with a classy chipped finish over Fraser Forster in the 67th minute.
"It was hard not to think about it going into the game being level," he told BT Sport.
"As always I wanted to win the game first and foremost but of course I wanted to score as a striker. To get that goal early on and get that record was a great feeling and I could enjoy the rest of the game."
Kane leads an impressive list of forwards for the most goals in competitive games for club and country which also contains Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski, Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani.
He was immediately congratulated by Shearer.
"You've had a magnificent 2017 HKane. You deserve to hold the record of most Premier League goals in a calendar year. Well done and keep up the good work," the former England and Newcastle United great wrote on Twitter.
Substitute Dusan Tadic got another consolation goal for the visitors, who are 13th on 19 points and only three clear of the relegation zone.
Reuters
