TOP 24 Highest Goal Scorers in Football History

Highest Goal Scorers in Football History: Football is loved worldwide for its skill and excitement, especially in scoring goals, which makes players legends. The IFFHS says 24 players have scored 500 or more goals, starting with Hungarian Imre Schlosser in 1927. Big names like Messi, Pele, and Gerd Muller are on this list.

Highest Goal Scorers in Football History

In this article we lists the 24 players with the most goals in football history.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

• Country: Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo, one of football’s greatest players, holds the record for the most goals in history, with 895 career goals. He currently plays as a forward and captain for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards and holds records in the Champions League, European Championship, and as Portugal’s top scorer.

He has played for top clubs like Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. In 2023, he moved to Al Nassr.

Off the field, Ronaldo is widely recognized and highly marketable, often topping Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes. In 2014, he was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people. His legacy as a football icon with an unmatched goal-scoring record continues to grow.

2. Lionel Messi

• Country: Argentina

Lionel Messi, ranked second in football history for most goals, is a forward for Inter Miami and captain of Argentina. He has won eight Ballon d’Or awards and six European Golden Shoes. Most of his career was spent at Barcelona, where he won 34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles.

Messi led Argentina to win the 2021, 2024 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup. With over 800 career goals, he holds records in La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and for most international goals by a South American male.

Known for his dribbling, Messi is often compared to Diego Maradona. His influence extends beyond football with high earnings and global recognition.

3. Pelé

• Country: Brazil

Pelé, ranking third among football’s top goal-scorers, is celebrated as one of the greatest players ever. Known as “O Rei” (The King), he holds a Guinness World Record for scoring 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including friendlies.

Pelé began his career with Santos at 15 and joined Brazil’s national team at 16, winning three FIFA World Cups and becoming the youngest champion at 17. He was versatile, scoring with both feet and excelling as a playmaker.

Pelé is Santos’s all-time leading scorer, with 643 goals in 659 games. His style popularized the phrase “The Beautiful Game,” and his goals made him a global star.

With 762 career goals, Pelé’s legacy in football history remains unmatched.

4. Romário

• Country: Brazil

Romário, ranked fourth among football’s top goal-scorers, is a legendary striker known for his finishing skills. With over 700 goals, he’s one of the few to score 100 goals for three different clubs.

He was a key player in Brazil’s 1994 World Cup win, earning the Golden Ball as the best player and being named FIFA World Player of the Year.

Romário shined at PSV Eindhoven, scoring 165 goals in 167 games, and later at FC Barcelona, where he helped win La Liga. Known for his speed and quick finishes, Romário made a lasting mark on football.

5. Ferenc Puskás

• Country: Hungary Spain

Ferenc Puskás, ranked fifth among football’s top goal-scorers, is considered one of the sport’s greatest players. He scored 84 goals in 85 matches for Hungary and led them to the 1954 World Cup final.

Nicknamed the “Galloping Major,” Puskás won three European Cups, ten national championships, and eight scoring titles. He was named the top scorer of the 20th century by IFFHS with 806 goals in 793 games.

Puskás started his career in Hungary before moving to Real Madrid in 1958, where he won multiple Pichichi awards. The FIFA Puskás Award, introduced in 2009, honors the year’s most beautiful goal, reflecting his lasting impact on football. Puskás scored 624 goals in his career.

6. Josef Bican

• Country: Austria Czechoslovakia

Josef Bican, ranked sixth among football’s top goal-scorers, is known as one of the most prolific scorers ever, with over 950 goals in 624 matches (though not all official). While at Slavia Prague, he scored 427 goals in 221 games, making him the club’s all-time top scorer.

Bican started his career at Rapid Vienna in 1931, won four league titles with Admira Vienna, and joined Slavia Prague in 1937. He retired in 1955 as the top scorer in the Czechoslovak First League with 447 goals.

Known for his height, power, skill, and speed, Bican left a lasting mark on football. After retiring, he became a coach and was honored by the IFFHS. In 2000, he was awarded the “Golden Ball” as the greatest goal-scorer of the 20th century, scoring 722 official goals in his career.

7. Jimmy Jones

• Country: Northern Ireland

Jimmy Jones, ranked seventh among football’s top goal-scorers, is the all-time leading scorer in Irish League football with 647 goals. According to the RSSSF, he scored over 809 goals in official matches.

Jones started his nearly 20-year career with Belfast Celtic. He faced a setback due to a leg injury caused by rival supporters but made a strong comeback with Larne and had a brief spell with Fulham.

Jones also played for Portadown, Bangor, and Newry Town, earning three caps for Northern Ireland and scoring once for the national team. He ended his career with 648 goals.

8. Gerd Müller

• Country: West Germany

Gerd Müller, ranked eighth among football’s top goal-scorers, is known as one of the greatest goal-scorers ever. Nicknamed “Der Bomber,” Müller had a standout career at both the club and international levels.

He scored 68 goals in 62 matches for West Germany and was the all-time leading scorer in the Bundesliga with 365 goals in 427 games for Bayern Munich. Müller also excelled in European competitions with 65 goals in 74 matches.

He won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and the Ballon d’Or. He was named European Footballer of the Year in 1970 and won the Golden Boot as the top scorer at the 1970 World Cup. He ended his career with 634 goals.

9. Robert Lewandowski

• Country: Poland

Robert Lewandowski, ranked 9th among football’s top goal-scorers, is one of the best strikers ever with over 600 goals for club and country.

Lewandowski started in Polish football with Lech Poznań and Borussia Dortmund, winning two Bundesliga titles and top scorer awards. At Bayern Munich, he won multiple Bundesliga titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2020. Recently, he has enjoyed success with Barcelona, winning the Supercopa de España, La Liga, and the Pichichi Trophy in his debut season.

For the Polish national team, Lewandowski has 145 caps and 82 goals, making him Poland’s all-time leading scorer. He has received many awards, including Best FIFA Men’s Player and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year. His career totals 630 goals.

10. Joe Bambrick

• Country: Northern Ireland

Joe Bambrick, ranked 10th among football’s top goal-scorers, was known for his exceptional goal-scoring ability. A former gas worker, Bambrick made a strong impact in both the Irish League and the Football League.

His skill in finding scoring positions earned him the nickname “Head, heel, or toe, slip it to Joe.” Throughout his career, he scored a total of 629 goals, cementing his place as one of the top goal-scorers in football history.

11. Abe Lenstra

• Country: Netherlands

Abe Lenstra, ranked 11th among football’s top goal-scorers, was a Dutch football icon from the 1950s. As a forward, he is celebrated as one of the greatest Dutch players ever.

Lenstra made a significant impact at Heerenveen, the club where he gained fame, and is also remembered as a Frisian legend.

He scored a total of 624 goals during his career, solidifying his legacy in Dutch football.

12. Eusébio

• Country: Portugal

Eusébio, ranked 12th among football’s top goal-scorers, was a legendary Portuguese striker known as the “Black Panther” and “O Rei” (“The King”). He starred for Benfica and is remembered as one of the greatest players ever.

Famous for his speed, technique, and powerful shot, Eusébio scored a total of 619 goals in 745 matches. He led Portugal to third place in the 1966 FIFA World Cup, where he was the top scorer with nine goals.

Eusébio left a lasting legacy in football and continued to be an ambassador for the sport until his passing.

13. Luis Suárez

• Country: 2005–present

Ranked 13th among the top goal-scorers in football history is Luis Suárez. Known as “El Pistolero,” Suárez is a top striker with over 500 career goals for club and country.

He played for clubs like Groningen, Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid. He has won two European Golden Shoes and several top scorer awards, including the Eredivisie Golden Boot, Premier League Golden Boot, and Pichichi Trophy.

At Barcelona, he was part of the MSN trio with Messi and Neymar, helping the team win the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and UEFA Champions League in his first season.

Suárez is also Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer, representing his country in multiple World Cups and Copa América tournaments.

14. Glenn Ferguson

• Country: Northern Ireland

Ranked 14th among football’s top goal-scorers, Glenn Ferguson was known for his prolific scoring. Over his 24-year career with clubs like Ards, Glenavon, Linfield, and Lisburn Distillery, he scored over 1,000 goals in domestic matches.

Ferguson’s total of 563 goals makes him the second highest scorer in Northern Irish football history, just behind Jimmy Jones. He won 31 trophies and earned 5 caps for Northern Ireland.

After retiring, Ferguson had a successful stint as a manager with Ballymena United, winning two County Antrim Shields.

15. Zlatan Ibrahimović

• Country: Sweden

Ranked 15th among football’s top goal-scorers is Zlatan Ibrahimović. Known for his acrobatic goals, technical skill, and physical presence, Ibrahimović is one of the greatest strikers ever.

Throughout his career, he has won 34 trophies, including league titles in several countries. He has scored over 560 goals, with more than 500 coming from club matches.

Ibrahimović played for top clubs like Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and LA Galaxy.

The Swedish star, who won the FIFA Puskás Award in 2013 for an incredible bicycle kick, has made over 100 appearances for Sweden and is the country’s all-time top scorer with 62 goals.

16. Fernando Peyroteo

• Country: Portugal

Ranked 16th among the top goal-scorers in football history is Fernando Peyroteo. Born on March 10, 1918, Peyroteo was a prolific Portuguese striker known for his impressive goal-scoring.

He spent his entire professional career at Sporting CP, scoring 544 goals in various competitions. Peyroteo won 11 major titles with the club and was the top scorer in Portugal’s top division six times.

His exceptional goal-scoring achievements have made him a significant figure in Sporting CP’s history.

17. Uwe Seeler

• Country: West Germany

Ranked 17th among the top goal-scorers in football history is Uwe Seeler. A legendary German striker, Seeler is celebrated for his impactful career with Hamburger SV and the West Germany national team.

He made 72 appearances for West Germany and was recognized by Pelé as one of FIFA’s 100 greatest living players in 2004.

Seeler was also the first footballer to receive the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

18. Jimmy McGrory

• Country: Scotland

Ranked 18th among the top goal-scorers in football history is Jimmy McGrory. A Celtic legend, McGrory is the all-time leading goalscorer in top-flight British football with 550 goals in 547 competitive games.

Spending 15 years with Celtic from 1922 to 1937, he scored 522 goals in 501 matches. McGrory set records for the most goals in a season (62 in 1927–28) and most hat-tricks in British top-flight football (55).

Despite his height, he was known for his remarkable heading ability, earning him nicknames “the Human Torpedo” and “the Mermaid.”

19. Alfredo Di Stéfano

• Country: Argentina Spain

Ranked 19th among the top goal-scorers in football history is Alfredo Di Stéfano. Known as “Saeta Rubia” (“Blond Arrow”), Di Stéfano is celebrated for his pivotal role in Real Madrid’s dominance in the 1950s and 1960s.

He helped Real Madrid win five consecutive European Cups, scoring in each final and forming a dynamic partnership with Ferenc Puskás.

Di Stéfano scored 216 league goals in 282 matches for Real Madrid, a club record at the time. He won the Ballon d’Or twice, in 1957 and 1959, and ended his career with 530 goals, making a lasting impact on football.

20. György Sárosi

• Country: Hungary

Ranked 20th among football’s top goal-scorers is György Sárosi. A versatile and skilled player, Sárosi made major contributions to Ferencváros and the Hungary national team before World War II.

Sárosi represented Hungary in the 1934 and 1938 FIFA World Cups, captaining the team in 1938 and scoring five goals, including one in the final where Hungary finished as runners-up.

Sárosi is fifth on Hungary’s all-time top goal-scorers list with 42 goals in 62 appearances. He ended his career with 517 goals and later became a respected coach, managing clubs like Genoa, Juventus, and Roma.

21. Roberto Dinamite

• Country: Brazil

Ranked 21st among football’s top goal-scorers is Roberto Dinamite. Born in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Dinamite had a prolific career as a center forward spanning over twenty years.

He is Vasco da Gama’s all-time top scorer and the player with the most appearances for the club. Dinamite also holds the record for the most goals in both the Brazilian Série A and the Rio de Janeiro State Championship.

On the international stage, he played in the 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cups and the 1972 Olympic Games. Additionally, Dinamite served as president of Vasco da Gama from 2008 to 2014.

22. Hugo Sánchez

• Country: Mexico

Ranked 22nd among football’s top goal-scorers is Hugo Sánchez, one of Mexico’s greatest players. Known for his stunning goals and acrobatic celebrations, Sánchez scored 507 goals in 956 matches.

His most notable achievements came in Spain with Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid. At Real Madrid, he became one of the club’s top scorers and won the Pichichi Trophy five times as the top scorer in La Liga.

For Mexico, Sánchez earned 58 caps and scored 29 goals, helping the team reach the quarter-finals in the 1986 World Cup.

Sánchez also had a successful stint as a manager, winning league titles with UNAM and managing clubs like Necaxa and Almería. He is remembered for his unique goal celebrations, including the famous backflip.

23. Imre Schlosser

• Country: Hungary

Ranked 23rd among football’s top goal-scorers is Imre Schlosser, a legendary Hungarian striker renowned for his prolific scoring. He holds the record as the all-time top goal-scorer in the Hungarian National Championship.

Schlosser was also a pioneer in international football, being the first player from outside the British Isles to set the record for the most international caps.

His exceptional goal-scoring and international achievements secure his place among football’s greats.

24. Franz Binder

• Country: Austria

Ranked 24th among football’s top goal-scorers is Franz Binder, an exceptional striker known for his prolific goal-scoring. Binder played for both Austria and, during the Anschluss, Germany.

He is best remembered as the all-time leading scorer for Rapid Wien, with 1,006 goals in 757 games. Overall, Binder scored 1,202 goals in 831 matches, averaging 1.44 goals per game.

Binder’s achievement of surpassing 1,200 career goals places him among football’s greatest scorers, alongside legends like Lajos Tichy, Josef Bican, Gerd Müller, Ferenc Puskás, and Pelé. His remarkable scoring ability cements his status as one of Austria’s greatest players.