Top 10 highest goal scorers of all time in football

Football with its roots tracing back to ancient civilizations, it evolved into a modern game in the 19th century in England. The sport is characterised by its simplicity and universal appeal, requiring minimal equipment—a ball and a playing field. Played between two teams of eleven players each, the objective is to score goals by getting the ball into the opposing team's net.

Football's global reach is unparalleled, with millions of fans and players spanning every continent. Football's rich history is marked by incredible goal-scoring feats, and the game's all-time highest goal scorers have left an indelible mark on its legacy. Cristiano Ronaldo leads with an astounding 859 goals, celebrated for his longevity and relentless scoring ability. Lionel Messi, renowned for his vision and technique, follows with 821 goals. Here are the all time highest goal scorers in football 2024.

List of all time highest football goal scorer

Most goal scorers in football

• Cristiano Ronaldo | 859 Goals

Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for the most goals scored for Real Madrid and for Portugal, surpassing any other male player at the international level. With a total of 873 goals throughout his illustrious career, Ronaldo's achievements include three Premier League titles, five Champions League titles, and the Euro 2016 championship. Despite turning 38 in February, the former Juventus and Manchester United star remains a prolific scorer, having netted 52 goals in 2023 for Portugal and Al-Nassr. His remarkable goal-scoring record, stemming from his evolution from a quick-footed winger to a dominant striker, sets him apart as the greatest marksman in sporting history.

• Lionel Messi | 821 Goals

Often hailed as the greatest player in football history, Lionel Messi excels in both scoring and playmaking. The Argentine has amassed over 800 goals in just over 1,000 professional matches. His career highlights include scoring 672 goals for Barcelona, winning seven Ballon d'Or awards, and setting the record for most goals in a calendar year with 91. Messi also holds the record for the most hat-tricks in La Liga, with 36.

• Josef Bican | 805 Goals

Josef Bican, a star of Austrian football in the 1930s, amassed 805 goals during his career, which spanned from 1931 to 1955. Bican's prolific scoring came during his time with Slavia Prague and other clubs. Despite various accounts of his goal tally, FIFA’s 2020 commemoration confirmed his impressive total. Bican's career included notable achievements in both Austrian and Czechoslovakian football.

• Romário | 775 Goals

Romário, a Brazilian legend known for his clinical finishing, scored 775 goals throughout his career. Starting with Vasco da Gama, Romário went on to shine at PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona, where he was a key player in Johan Cruyff’s “Dream Team” that won the La Liga title in the 1993-1994 season.

• Pelé | 762 Goals

Pelé, often regarded as the greatest player of all time, scored 762 goals over his illustrious career. The three-time World Cup champion remains an iconic figure in football history, celebrated for his remarkable achievements and prolific goal-scoring abilities.

• Ferenc Puskás | 729 Goals

Known as ‘The Galloping Major’, Ferenc Puskás was a crucial part of Hungary’s ‘Magnificent Magyars’ and Real Madrid’s 1960 European Cup-winning team. Despite his unassuming physique, Puskás scored the majority of his 729 goals with his powerful left foot from 1943 to 1966.

• Jimmy Jones | 647 Goals

Jimmy Jones, the highest goal-scorer in Irish League football history, scored 647 goals throughout his career. His prolific period with Glenavon, where he netted 517 goals, solidified his reputation as an unstoppable striker.

• Robert Lewandowski | 638 Goals

FIFA’s top player in 2020 and 2021, Robert Lewandowski began his career at Dortmund and gained prominence at Bayern Munich with multiple Bundesliga records. Now playing for Barcelona, Lewandowski is Poland’s all-time top scorer and ranks as the third-highest men’s international goal-scorer in Europe.

• Gerd Müller | 634 Goals

Gerd Müller, renowned for his exceptional poaching skills, scored 634 goals during his career. The Bayern Munich legend, known as ‘Der Bomber’, averaged over a goal per game at the international level, including scoring the winning goal for West Germany in the 1974 World Cup final.

• Eusébio | 619 Goals

Eusébio, known as O Rei in Portugal, was a prolific goal-scorer of the 1960s and 1970s. Leading Benfica to domestic and European success, Eusébio scored 619 goals in 639 games, leaving a lasting legacy in Lisbon and the football world.




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