Interestingly, Lionel Messi does not top the list of all-time top scorers.
Soccer is a game of goals and the goal is to score as much as possible. The art of scoring goals is unknown to many people. There have been hundreds of players in the world who are still famous for their goal-scoring skills. Although most of them have retired, some have been included in the list of the best scorers of all time in the history of football. Lionel Messi, the football basket, passed the mark of 800 goals in his career. Cristiano Ronaldo now plays for the Saudi team Al-Nassr. He recently achieved another historic total.
Some exceptional names stand out when we look back at the players who have been the greatest goalscorers in football history. Let's find out who tops the list of the greatest goalscorers in football history. (Club football and international football)
10. Ferenc Deak (Hungary) - 576 goals
Hungary was a football powerhouse in the last century. Ferenc Deak was one of their best players and a lethal goalscorer. He is the second-most-scored Hungarian, with 576 goals to his name.
9. Tulio Maravilha (Brazil) - 588 goals
Tulio Maravilha is a legend of Brazilian football. He played for more than 40 clubs during his career, scoring 588 goals in the process. He retired from professional football in 2017 and still has 10 goals in 15 appearances for the Brazilian national team.
8. Eusebio (Portugal) – 623 goals
Eusebio is still considered by many to be the best Portuguese player of all time, at least tied with Cristiano Ronaldo. Such was the greatness of the striker and former SL Benfica legend. He scored 623 goals during his career. He also won the Ballon d'Or in 1965 and the Golden Boot in the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
7. Gerd Muller (Germany) - 735 goals
Germany has a knack for producing sensational strikers. However, only one player is considered the greatest of all time: Gerd Muller. The legendary Bayern Munich and Germany striker scored 735 goals in his career. He also helped his country win the 1974 FIFA World Cup and the Ballon d'Or in 1970. He is also the top scorer in the German Bundesliga.
6. Ferenc Puskas (Hungary) - 746 goals
The greatest Hungarian to ever set foot on the pitch. Ferenc Puskas even has an award named after him for the best goal scored each calendar year. Puskas was an iconic striker who scored goals for fun. He scored 746 goals in 754 appearances in total. He won the UEFA Champions League three times with Real Madrid and was also an Olympic gold medalist with Hungary.
5. Josef Bican (Czech Republic) - 759 goals
Josef Bican has long been the best scorer in football history. He is said to have scored 759 goals in his lifetime. Bican played for Czechoslovakia and Austria at the time and also scored 395 goals in 217 games for Slavia Prague. 4. Pelé (Brazil) - 767 goals
Pélé is widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, alongside Diego Maradona of previous generations. He scored 643 goals for Brazilian club Santos but is said to have scored more than 1,200 goals for that club, a disputed figure. Pelé also scored 77 goals for the Brazilian national team. Officially, Pelé is the second-best Brazilian scorer. He won the FIFA World Cup three times with his country.
3. Romario (Brazil) - 780 goals
Romario is the best Brazilian scorer and a football legend. He scored 780 goals in 1000 games during his career. He led the Seleção to World Cup glory in 1994. Romario also played for clubs such as FC Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven, and Flamengo.
2. Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 850 goals
Lionel Messi's record is simply impressive. He won the 2024 Copa America with Argentina, adding another international title to his illustrious career. The Argentine legend scored 850 goals in his career. He is one of the best scorers and passers in the history of football. Since he is expected to play for a few more years, we can expect Messi to always be Ronaldo's competitor.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 910 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are considered the greatest footballers of all time. His number is simply incredible, especially in the modern era of football, where the competition is even more intense. The Portuguese master was successful at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus and became the top scorer in the history of football.
Ronaldo has not only excelled in club football, he has also excelled on the international stage, having scored 135 goals for Portugal. He is the all-time leading scorer in men's international football. He scored 910 goals in his career and being active, he will soon pass the 950th mark.
NEXT MORE
FIFA Club World Cup draw date set for 5 December
How to Watch Serie A in the US: Live Streams, TV Channels, and Fixture Schedule
How to Watch Bundesliga in the US: Live Streams, TV Channels, and Fixture Schedule
UEFA Cuts Ticket Prices for Away Fans in European Club Competitions
Real Madrid's 2024-25 Champions League Group Stage Schedule
Complete fixtures and results for the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League group stage
How to Watch Champions League in the US: Live Streams, TV Channels, and Fixture Schedule
