During the 1958–59 Serie A season, Angelillo scored 33 goals in 33 matches, finishing the season as the tournament's top scorer. His goal total was the highest since Gunnar Nordahl had scored 34 in the 1950–51 Serie A season, and is still the record for most goals in a single 18-team Italian division season; no player scored as many goals in a single Serie A season until Gonzalo Higuaín finished the 2015–16 Serie A season with 36 goals – until then, the only player since Angelillo to break the 30 goal barrier had been Luca Toni, who scored 31 goals during the 2005–06 Serie A season. With 38 goals for Inter in all competitions throughout the 1950–51 season, Angelillo holds the club record for most goals in a single season, alongside Giuseppe Meazza.