Scoring goals is the most important measure of a great striker, and throughout the history of football, many strikers have left their mark with impressive numbers. Although football playing styles and tactics have changed over time, the value of a goalscorer has always been highly regarded. The players on this list not only possess great scoring instincts but also maintain their peak performance for a long time. Below, Bestsoccertips.com shares the top 10 highest scorer in soccer – legends who have conquered the goal and left an indelible mark.
Top 10 highest scorer in soccer
Top 10: Abe Lenstra (Netherlands)
Abe Lenstra is one of the great icons of Dutch football, known for his excellent goalscoring ability and all-round technique. His speed, dribbling ability and accurate finishing with both feet made him one of the most dangerous strikers of his era. Although he played mainly for SC Heerenveen, he still left a deep mark on Dutch football history, scoring over 500 goals for the club.
At international level, Lenstra made 47 appearances for the Netherlands, scoring 33 goals. He was a key figure in the fledgling Dutch football era, inspiring many generations of players to come. Although he did not play for PSV Eindhoven as some sources mistakenly state, he is still considered one of the best Dutch players of the 20th century. His career is a testament to his talent and loyalty to his hometown team, helping Heerenveen become a force in Dutch football at that time.
Top 9: Jimmy Jones (Northern Ireland)
Jimmy Jones is one of the greatest strikers in Northern Ireland football history, despite spending most of his career in the domestic league. Possessing a natural instinct for goals and a sharp finish, he scored 517 goals for Glenavon, becoming the club’s all-time top scorer. He also made his mark at Belfast Celtic, but his career was cut short after a serious injury suffered during a riot on the pitch.
Despite limited opportunities at a higher level, Jones maintained an impressive scoring rate for two decades. He was the top scorer in the Northern Ireland National League for several seasons in a row and played a major role in Glenavon winning the domestic treble in 1956/57. His ability to take chances, his strength in challenges and his consistent goalscoring form made him a legend of Northern Ireland football, despite not playing in the big tournaments like other greats.
Top 8: Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Robert Lewandowski is the epitome of a modern striker, possessing all-round finishing skills, intelligent movement and physical endurance. He affirmed his class at Borussia Dortmund, where he helped the team win two consecutive Bundesliga titles (2010/11, 2011/12) and reached the 2013 Champions League final. His most memorable performance was a poker against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, demonstrating his superb scoring ability.
Moving to Bayern Munich in 2014, Lewandowski reached the peak of his career. He scored 344 goals in 375 matches, breaking a series of records, most notably 41 goals in the Bundesliga in the 2020/21 season, surpassing Gerd Müller’s achievement. With Bayern, he won 10 Bundesliga titles and the pinnacle was the 2019/20 Champions League. After leaving Bayern, Lewandowski continued to shine at Barcelona, maintaining a consistent scoring form. With over 80 goals for the Polish national team, he is the greatest scorer in the history of the country, affirming his position as one of the best strikers of the contemporary generation.
Top 7: Gerd Müller (West Germany)
Gerd Müller, nicknamed “The Bomber,” was one of the most effective strikers football has ever seen. Despite not having an ideal physique, he had the ability to turn quickly in the penalty area, kick extremely quickly and finish accurately. For Bayern Munich, Müller scored 566 goals in 607 matches, contributing greatly to the team winning 4 Bundesliga championships, 3 European Cups and many other titles. Notably, in the 1971/72 season, he set a record of 40 goals in the Bundesliga, an achievement that stood for nearly 50 years before being broken.
At the national team level, Müller was a key factor in helping West Germany win Euro 1972 and the 1974 World Cup. In the World Cup final, he scored the decisive goal in the 2-1 victory over the Netherlands, bringing West Germany to the world championship. With 68 goals in 62 appearances for his country, Müller had an incredible scoring rate and held the record for the highest scorer in World Cup history (14 goals) before being surpassed by Ronaldo Nazário. His simple yet effective style of play became a model for many strikers to come, making Gerd Müller forever remembered as one of the greatest goal machines of all time.
Top 6: Pele (Brazil)
Pelé was not only a goal machine but also the embodiment of creativity and the spirit of the beautiful game. He made his debut for Brazil at the age of 16 and quickly made his mark with his all-round finishing, his fluidity and his incredible pace. At the 1958 World Cup, Pelé became the youngest player to score in a final, scoring twice as Brazil beat Sweden 5-2. He continued to shine at subsequent World Cups, especially in 1970, when he led Brazil to the title with explosive play, scoring four goals and providing several important assists.
At club level, Pelé spent the majority of his career at Santos, where he scored over 600 goals and helped the team dominate South American football with two Copa Libertadores titles. He then moved to the New York Cosmos, helping to raise the bar for football in the United States. Although football in Pelé’s time did not have the detailed statistics that it does today, his moments of genius still live on in the memories of fans. Not only was he a great player, Pelé was also a global football ambassador, inspiring many generations to come.
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Top 5: Ferenc Puskas (Hungary)
Ferenc Puskás is an icon of Hungarian football, a striker with an incredible scoring ability with 760 goals in 746 matches. He was not only famous for his thunderous long-range shots but also for his exquisite ball handling, making him one of the most dangerous players of his generation. With the Hungarian national team, Puskás played an important role in the period of world football domination in the early 1950s, helping the team win the 1952 Olympic gold medal and reach the 1954 World Cup final. Despite losing to West Germany, he still left his mark with brilliant performances, scoring a total of 84 goals in 85 matches for the national team.
After leaving his homeland, Puskás continued to assert his talent at Real Madrid, where he became an indispensable part of the Spanish Royal team. Along with Alfredo Di Stéfano, he helped Real Madrid dominate Europe, winning five consecutive European Cups. In the 1960 European Cup final, he scored four goals against Eintracht Frankfurt, a feat that has never been seen before in the competition. Although he was not a physically imposing player, Puskás made up for it with his brilliant footballing mind and superb finishing technique. His legacy lives on, with the Puskás Award named after him, which honours the best goals scored each year.
Top 4: Romario (Brazil)
Not only an excellent striker, Romário was also known for his skillful dribbling skills and perfect positioning in the penalty area. He shone brightly at PSV Eindhoven with 165 goals in 167 games, before joining Barcelona and helping the team win the 1993/94 La Liga championship. That season, he scored 30 goals and won the Pichichi trophy, affirming his class as a top striker. After leaving Europe, Romário continued to play in his homeland Brazil for Flamengo, Vasco da Gama and several other clubs, extending his scoring career until the age of 40.
At the national team level, Romário was a key factor in Brazil’s 1994 World Cup victory, scoring 5 goals and winning the Golden Ball award of the tournament. He also played a key role in the 1989 and 1997 Copa América titles. With 55 goals in 70 games for the Selecão, Romário is widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers in Brazilian football history. His confident spirit, spontaneous style of play and excellent goal-scoring instincts have made him a legend in world football.
Top 3: Josef Bican (Austria)
Josef Bican was not only famous for his huge number of goals but also for his incredible speed, said to be able to run 100m in just 10.8 seconds. He played mainly in the 1930s–1950s, when football was not as popular as it is today. Bican played for Rapid Vienna, Admira Vienna and especially Slavia Prague, where he scored more than 500 goals in more than a decade. His superb scoring ability helped him to consistently top the European Golden Boot list for many seasons.
Although he could have played for Austria, Germany and Czechoslovakia, Bican chose to play for Austria, where he scored 14 goals in 19 matches. He then moved to Czechoslovakia and continued to show his class. However, due to the political situation at the time, he did not have many opportunities to shine on the international stage. However, with his incredible scoring record, Bican is still recognized as one of the greatest strikers in football history, a legend that cannot be forgotten.
Top 2: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Not only is he an impressive goalscorer, Lionel Messi is also a master of assists with excellent tactical vision. During more than two decades with Barcelona, he scored 672 goals in 778 matches, becoming the greatest scorer in the history of the club. Messi is a key factor in helping Barcelona win 10 La Liga, 4 Champions League and a series of other big and small titles. Although he left Barcelona to move to PSG and then to Inter Miami, he still maintained his class with impressive performances.
At the national team level, Messi has overcome many challenges to bring glory to Argentina. After many years of waiting, he and the team won the Copa América 2021, before completing the collection of titles with the 2022 World Cup. With 103 goals for Argentina, Messi is the best scorer in the history of the team. Not only talented, he is also admired for his humble spirit, dedicated playing style and ability to shine in important moments, worthy of being one of the greatest legends of world football.
Top 1: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Cristiano Ronaldo, with 885 goals in 1217 matches, deserves to be one of the greatest players in football history. His versatile finishing ability, enduring physical strength and relentless fighting spirit have helped him become a true goal-scoring machine. Having played for big teams such as Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, Ronaldo has always been a key factor, constantly breaking records. In particular, at Real Madrid, he scored 450 goals in 438 matches, becoming the club’s greatest scorer. At the national team level, Ronaldo also made a strong impression with Portugal, contributing greatly to the Euro 2016 championship and the 2019 Nations League.
Not only shining on the pitch, Ronaldo is also a global icon with hundreds of millions of fans. He has won many prestigious titles such as the Golden Ball, the Golden Boot and is the top scorer in many tournaments. Despite being over 30 years old, Ronaldo still maintains his peak form, constantly scoring goals and setting new records. At Juventus, he continues to be the number one scorer, helping the club dominate Serie A. Off the pitch, he stands out for his professionalism, strict discipline and rigorous training regime, becoming a role model for many young players. With what he has achieved, Ronaldo is not only a great scorer but also a living legend of world football.
Conclusion
Through the list of top 10 highest scorer in soccer above, we can see the dominance of some players throughout their careers. They are not only “killers” in the penalty area but also icons of world football. Their goals have gone down in history and inspired many generations of players. However, football is always changing and records can be broken. Let’s wait for the young talents to appear and make history in the future.
