Målantal

Målantal, commonly translated as goal tally, is a statistic used in many ball-and-stick sports, especially football, to indicate the total number of goals scored by a team or a single player over a defined period, such as a season or a tournament. The term is a compound of mål (goal) and antal (number) and appears in Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish sports reporting. It is often presented in league standings and player statistics alongside poäng (points), målskillnad (goal difference), and insläppta mål (goals conceded).

Calculation and scope: For a team’s målantal, every goal scored in official matches during the specified period is counted, regardless of the scorer. For players, the målantal is the sum of the player’s goals in competitive matches; in some leagues, only goals in official competitions count, while friendlies are excluded. In standings, målantal is typically used to illustrate offensive output and can serve as a secondary criterion for ranking when points are tied, depending on the competition’s rules.

Usage and interpretation: A high målantal indicates strong attacking performance, but it does not measure defensive quality or efficiency. It is most informative when examined together with other statistics such as goals conceded, goal difference, and the number of matches played. Translations in English include “goal tally” or “goals scored.” See also: målskillnad, poäng, insläppta mål.