In international football, scoring and assisting is not only a duty but also a testament to a player’s talent and influence. The greatest legends always know how to make a difference, whether it is with decisive shots or delicate passes to help teammates score. The list of players with the most goals and assists in history not only honors great strikers like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi but also recognizes those who have quietly created magical moments on the pitch. Join Bestsoccertips.com to find out who the Most international goals and assists are!
Top 10 players most international goals and assists
Top 10: Alexis Sanchez (Chile)
Alexis Sanchez is Chile’s all-time leading goalscorer and assist provider, with a total of 92 direct goal contributions. One of the most talented players Chile has ever produced, Sanchez has not only been a standout at club level but has also been a key figure for the national team for over a decade. With his pace, skill and ability to create chances, he has been central to La Roja’s style of play, helping the team achieve great success.
In 166 appearances for the national team, Sanchez has scored 51 goals and provided 41 assists, topping Chile in all three categories. These numbers reflect not only his goalscoring ability but also his influence as a playmaker. Under Sanchez’s leadership, Chile won their first major trophies in the history of football. He scored the winning goal in the 2015 Copa America final, helping Chile to victory after a dramatic penalty shootout against Argentina. A year later, at the 2016 Copa America Centenario, Sanchez continued to play a leading role, helping his team successfully defend the title. His excellent performance earned him the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament, cementing his legendary status in the history of South American football.
Top 9: Edin Dzeko (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Edin Dzeko is the player with the most goals and assists in the history of the Bosnia & Herzegovina national team, with a total of 96 direct contributions to goals. Playing for a country that is not among the top football nations in Europe, Dzeko still affirmed his class as one of the best strikers of his generation. Despite not having the quality support he had when playing for big clubs like Manchester City, Roma or Inter Milan, his goalscoring instincts have always shone on the international stage.
In 139 appearances for the national team, Dzeko has scored 67 goals and made 29 assists, becoming the greatest scorer in the history of Bosnia & Herzegovina. His height of 1m93 and his ability to fight in the air and shoot from a variety of angles make him a top threat in front of the opposition goal. Having won the Bosnian Player of the Year award for three consecutive years (2009-2011), Dzeko is not only the leader but also the biggest hope of football in this country. Although Bosnia & Herzegovina has not had much success at the national team level, he is still a symbol of national football, playing an important role in the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign – the first time Bosnia has qualified for the biggest football festival on the planet.
Top 8: Miroslav Klose (Germany)
Miroslav Klose is the epitome of a striker with a natural goalscoring instinct. As Germany’s all-time leading scorer, he also holds the record for most goals scored in World Cup history with 16 in four tournaments. Klose’s international career is a testament to the importance of being in the right place at the right time and finishing coolly in the box.
He scored 71 goals and provided 29 assists in 137 appearances for Germany, contributing to 100 direct goals. Under Klose’s guidance, Die Mannschaft were always a top contender for trophies. After coming close to glory at the 2002 World Cup (runner-up), 2006 (third place) and 2010 (third place), he finally reached the top at the 2014 World Cup. His brace against Brazil in the historic semi-final (7-1) helped him surpass Ronaldo de Lima to become the tournament’s greatest scorer. The World Cup title in Brazil was the most brilliant mark, closing Klose’s legendary journey with the national team.
Top 7: Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
Romelu Lukaku is the greatest scorer in the history of the Belgian national team, with a total of 103 direct contributions to goals. Although his form at club level has not always been consistent, when wearing the national team shirt, Lukaku has always been a real monster. Thanks to his outstanding physique, speed and diverse finishing ability, he has become an irreplaceable spearhead of the Belgian Golden Generation.
Romelu Lukaku – Players most international goals and assists
In 120 appearances for the national team, Lukaku has scored 85 goals and provided 18 assists, an astonishing rate. On average, he contributes a goal every 104 minutes – a figure that confirms his efficiency. As a key factor in Belgium’s third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, he is not only an excellent goalscorer but also plays an important role in the team’s overall play. With his consistency in scoring on the international stage, Lukaku continues to consolidate his position as one of the greatest strikers in the history of Belgian football.
Top 6: Luis Suarez (Uruguay)
Luis Suarez is one of the greatest strikers in Uruguayan football history, with a total of 108 direct goal contributions. During more than a decade with La Celeste, he was not only the team’s top scorer but also the soul of the team, always fighting with fierce spirit for the country. Despite controversial moments such as the handball against Ghana at the 2010 World Cup, Suarez is still considered a football icon for the country.
After 143 appearances for the national team, Suarez scored 69 goals and had 39 assists, leading Uruguay in both categories. An all-round striker with the ability to finish, create and press relentlessly, he played a key role in the team’s success. The highlight of his international career came at the 2011 Copa America, when Suarez scored six goals and was named the tournament’s best player, helping Uruguay win the title. Despite announcing his retirement from international football in September 2024, Suarez’s legacy in Uruguayan football will live on, cementing his status as a legend.
Discover the 10 most reputable online bookmaker in 2025.
Top 5: Landon Donovan (United States)
Landon Donovan is one of the greatest icons of American football, with a total of 116 direct contributions to goals for the national team. As the all-time leading scorer in USMNT history (tied with Clint Dempsey) and holder of the assist record, Donovan was not only a prolific goalscorer but also a leader of the team for over a decade. In particular, he is the player who scored the most goals for the US team at the World Cup, affirming his class on the biggest stage of world football.
In 157 appearances for the USMNT, Donovan scored 57 goals and provided 59 assists – an impressive tally that has made him one of the most influential players in the history of international football. From 2002 to 2012, he was not only the team’s brightest star but also played a key role in the development of Major League Soccer (MLS). When the league was on the brink of dissolution before the 2002 World Cup, the USMNT’s explosive performances – with Donovan playing a key role in their run to the quarterfinals – helped turn the tide and keep MLS alive and thriving. With the Best Young Player award at the 2002 World Cup and a host of other achievements for the national team, Donovan has cemented his place among the legends of international football.
Top 4: Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Robert Lewandowski is one of the greatest strikers of his generation, with a total of 118 direct contributions to goals for the Polish national team. Despite his bad luck in the race for the Ballon d’Or, especially in 2020 when the award was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewandowski has maintained his top form and affirmed his position as one of the most consistent goalscorers in the world.
With 83 goals and 35 assists in 155 appearances for the national team, Lewandowski is the greatest striker in Polish history. Not only is he an excellent goalscorer, he is also an irreplaceable leader of the team, leading Poland to many Euros and World Cups. Despite turning 36 in 2024, the Barcelona star has maintained his impressive form and shows no signs of slowing down. As his international career continues, it is difficult to predict how much further Lewandowski will improve his record before he retires.
Top 3: Neymar (Brazil)
Neymar is one of the most outstanding talents in Brazilian football in the 21st century, with a total of 138 direct goal contributions for the national team. Despite criticism for not reaching the stature of legends such as Pele or Messi, his career is still one of the most successful in Brazilian football history. His failure to win the Ballon d’Or does not overshadow his influence and his moments of brilliance on the pitch.
With 79 goals and 59 assists in 128 appearances for the Selecão, Neymar is Brazil’s most prolific goal-scorer in the last two decades. Despite being dogged by injury and off-field controversy, he was a key figure in Brazil’s run to the 2019 Copa America and helped Brazil reach the final of the 2021 tournament. While his career has been marred by controversy, there’s no denying that Neymar is one of the most important players in modern Brazilian football.
Top 2: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Lionel Messi is the greatest icon of Argentine football, with a total of 170 goals for the national team. The 2022 World Cup victory was just the final confirmation of a glorious international career that he has built over a decade. Before lifting this title, Messi made his mark with the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 Finalissima title, ending Argentina’s long title drought.
With 103 goals and 67 assists for the Albiceleste, Messi is not only the team’s top scorer but also the team’s conductor. Although he has entered the final stage of his career, he is still the soul of Argentina’s attack, ready to lead the team towards the next titles. His stability, class and ability to create magical moments make him one of the greatest players in the history of international football.
Top 1: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest scorer in the history of international football, with a total of 172 goals for the Portuguese national team. Although he has not won a World Cup, he still has a glorious international career, leading the team to the Euro 2016 championship and the 2019 Nations League. His extraordinary scoring ability and relentless fighting spirit help Ronaldo maintain his peak form even at the age of 39.
With 135 goals and 37 assists in 217 appearances, Ronaldo is not only Portugal’s top scorer but also holds the record for most goals in the history of the national team. As the player who scored the most goals at the Euros, he always knows how to shine in major tournaments. Although his individualistic style of play makes him have fewer assists than Messi, his persistence and incredible scoring efficiency have helped Ronaldo become a living legend of world football.
In Summary
The most international goals and assists above are not only excellent scorers but also people who have a great influence on the team’s playing style. They not only know how to score goals but also create opportunities for their teammates, contributing to the team’s success. The impressive statistics are clear evidence of talent and stability over many years of playing. Whether a striker with a goal-scoring instinct or a genius passer, each player on this list has left an indelible mark, affirming their legendary status in the history of world football.
See more: Top 10 worst strikers in football Manchester United
