Python line.split only acts on one line -

i have list of highscores (saved in text file score, space, name (no commas)). however, when go retrieve data, appears first line read.

for line in previous_scores:     data = line.split()     current_data = data[0]     if int(current_data) > highscore:         highscore = current_data         highscore_names = [data[1]]     elif int(current_data) == highscore:         highscore_names.append(data[1]) 

for example, data below:

2 james 3 anna 5 emily 

it return highscore james, score being 2.

if code wrong please tell me wrong, , if awesome fix it. don't mind if there better way this.

edit:
file opened with:

previous_scores = open("scores.txt", "a+") 

edit 2:
added lines on end, , updated code testing following:

for line in previous_scores: data = line.split() current_data = data[0] print "1 " + data[0] print "2 " + current_data if int(current_data) > highscore:     print "3 " + current_data     highscore = current_data     highscore_names = [data[1]] elif int(current_data) == highscore:     print "4 " + current_data     highscore_names.append(data[1]) elif int(current_data) < highscore:     print "5 " + current_data 

the first score returns 1, 2 , 3, , other scores return 1, 2 , 5.

    if int(current_data) > highscore:         highscore = current_data 

here convert current highscore number, store unconverted string. next loop comparing next highscore number saved string.

i don't know comparing number > string in python, it's legal syntax , returns false, never save higher highscore after first one.

edit: know, , it's interesting irrelevant answer. https://stackoverflow.com/a/3270689/478656 , https://stackoverflow.com/a/2384139/478656