Video: Goal machine boy hits the net 106 times

Sonny Kilkenny has netted 106 goals so far this calendar year – topping Messi’s tally of 91 for Barcelona and Argentina in 2012.

Manchester United fan Sonny, of Wrenthorpe, near Wakefield, has scored in every game he has played for the club, netting seven goals in just one game.

His coach even had to put him in defence to give his teammates a chance of scoring.

Messi’s mammoth goals haul helped him clinch the Fifa World Player of the Year for the fourth time. But Sonny, who plays in midfield for Wrenthorpe Rangers under eights team, still has two months left to boost his goal-scoring record.

Sonny, who attends Alverthorpe St Paul’s School, said: “I just love playing football. I seemed to take to it naturally and got better and better.

“I like scoring goals because it gets you more attention from people watching. I enjoy running and football keeps me fit. I would love to play football for a living,”

Sonny’s skills have helped his team win matches in the Garforth Junior Football League and cup games and he ranks United and Dutch international Robin Van Persie as one of his idols.

Football skills seem to run in the youngster’s family as his brother, four-year-old Leo, has just started playing. His father David Kilkenny used to play for the English Universities team and as a semi-professional for Ossett Town FC.

Mr Kilkenny, 38, a PE teacher at Abbey Grange School in Leeds said: “He was aware of Messi’s record and wanted to beat it. He has worked incredibly hard and we are really proud of him.

“We just want him to continue enjoying football and will support him. I work with a lot of young footballers and I have noticed that he is technically better than most children his age.”

Sonny’s achievements on the field have already attracted the attention of premiership scouts with someone from Everton having been to see him play.

His dad is in no hurry to rush him into the professional game, however.

He said: “I have been a PE teacher for a long time and have seen a lot of good players who don’t make it in the game so I know how difficult it can be.

“Andre Wisdom who now plays for Liverpool is the only one I have seen make it professional who has come through our school.”

But Mr Kilkenny is in no doubt his son has a special talent. “He is certainly a lot better than I was at this age. A lot of people noticed it. He is technically very good for his age in the way he can strike the ball.”

Mr Kilkenny said he was very proud of his son’s achievements but admitted to sometimes feeling “awkward” about Sonny’s goalscoring feats.

Sonny has won the Golden Boot trophy – for scoring the most goals – as well as the player’s player award this year.

Mum Helen, a 38-year-old assistant head teacher, added: “Sonny’s dad is his biggest fan. He goes to see every game he plays, never misses one. I try and go as much as I can but we’ve got an 18-month-old who isn’t too keen standing around the sidelines in the cold.

“I’m extremely proud of Sonny, I can’t believe how good he is. He just lives and breathes football. As soon as he comes in from school he’s got his football kit on and he’s in the garden playing football, rain or shine.”

Mr Kilkenny said: “I think the trophy that means the most was the player’s player, because it was awarded to him by all his mates.

“They’re all really good mates, they’ve been playing with each other since they were five and some of them went to nursery together. So there’s no rivalry between them – they’re glad they’ve got such a good player in Sonny. Obviously we’re very proud of him, but the most important thing to us is that Sonny is enjoying himself. And you can see, when he’s playing football, he’s always smiling.”