Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta’zim match world record after going 108 matches unbeaten in national league

The victory on May 10 means JDT have finished the season without a defeat in 24 matches. This raises their MSL unbeaten streak to 108, equalling the world record set by Ivory Coast club ASEC Mimosas between 1989 and 1994.

The Johor club also concluded the season with a performance emblematic of their domestic dominance, thrashing Kelantan 14-1. This marks the biggest margin of victory in MSL history, surpassing JDT’s own record 10-0 win against DPMM in October 2025.

Brazilian striker Bergson Da Silva scored six goals in the final match, while Manuel Hidalgo bagged a hat-trick. Antonio Glauder, Stuart Wilkin, Yago Cesar, Syamer Kutty Abba, and Alberto Diaz each contributed a goal. Kelantan only managed a consolation goal in the 64th minute.

JDT finished the season with 70 points, scoring 116 goals and conceding only 10. Kelantan finished second to last with 15 points.

JDT’s unbeaten streak has lasted over four years. Their last MSL loss was a 0-1 defeat to Terengganu in April 2021. Since then, the club have had virtually no competition domestically.

They have won the MSL for 12 consecutive seasons, one of the longest periods of dominance in Asian football. In recent seasons, they have often won the league with several matchweeks to spare and a huge lead.

The club registered many emphatic wins, averaging nearly 5 goals per match this season. Beyond a quality attack with many high-profile foreign players, JDT boast a defense that has only conceded 10 goals all season.

ESPN credits JDT’s dominance to an operating model far superior to the usual Southeast Asian football standards. The club benefits from significant investment from the Johor royal family, especially under the leadership of Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

The club have built a modern training center, invested heavily in their youth academy, recruited high-quality foreign players, and operated on a model close to that of European clubs. They also regularly bring in foreign players, coaches, and experts on long-term contracts.

The Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, inaugurated in 2020, is one of the most modern stadiums in Southeast Asia. JDT’s facilities, pitch quality, training area, and sports medicine system are superior to most clubs in the region.

The huge financial gap helps JDT maintain their absolute dominance. While many Malaysian clubs face budgetary difficulties, delayed salary payments, or constant squad changes, JDT maintain a very strong squad depth and stability over many seasons.

This superiority has sparked debates within Malaysian football. Some consider the 108-match unbeaten streak a historic achievement, reflecting JDT’s operational excellence. On the other hand, the vast gap between JDT and the rest is significantly reducing the league’s competitiveness.

JDT could break the world record in their first match of the MSL 2026-2027 season.