As Ovechkin breaks Gretzky's goals mark, a look at some of sports' hallowed records

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has broken Wayne Gretzky's career NHL regular-season record of 894 goals, one that has stood for more than a quarter-century.

It's a number that was seemingly untouchable. Gretzky, considered arguably the greatest hockey player of all time, set the mark with the New York Rangers in 1999 in his 20th and final season.

The 39-year-old Ovechkin scored his 895th goal against the New York Islanders by beating fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin on a power play on April 6, 2025.

"It's just a matter of time, whether it's late this year, early next year, whenever," Gretzky told NHL.com last September about Ovechkin breaking the mark. "I mean, he's a great player. He's a great goal scorer."

Gretzky also holds the record for most career goals in the regular season and playoffs combined, with 1,016. Ovechkin sits in second place as well in that category, about 50 goals back.

Gretzky won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, and also played for the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers. By contrast, Ovechkin has spent his entire pro career in Washington, D.C. A colorful personality off the ice, the Moscow native once portrayed a Russian spy in an ESPN commercial and swam in a public fountain with teammates to celebrate winning the Stanley Cup. Ovechkin, who led the Capitals to their first championship in 2018, already holds several NHL career records, including the most power play goals, most goalies scored upon and most goals with one team.

Here are some of the most famous records in American sports.

While Ovechkin has tied Gretzky's holy grail of goals, no one will likely touch Gretzky's record of 1,963 assists and 2,857 total points. 

To put that in perspective: If Gretzky had never scored a single goal in his entire ...