Top 10 goalscorers for Netherlands national football team

Some of the biggest legends of the game have played for the Dutch

The Netherlands have always been favourites at every tournament, due to their rich squad strength and extensive experience at major tournaments; despite only winning one major title, the Dutch remain a threat in a major competition.

Reaching the 2010 World Cup final and the 2014 World Cup semi-finals demonstrate how brilliant their players have been, despite not winning either. Their only World Cup win came in 1988, when they were led by the legendary Marco van Basten.

The Netherlands have struggled to win any competition since then. But they can now compete with any powerhouse, as the country has seen lethal strikers at their disposal. The national team consists of many world-class players at the moment. We have ranked them below.

10. Johan Cruyff - 33 goals

The Netherlands' greatest legend, Cruyff had the world at his feet both as a manager and a player. The way he inspired the Dutch team to become one of the best in the world is now a legend. Johan Cruyff was synonymous with football and led the Netherlands to the 1974 World Cup finals. He was an influential player, steering them to World Cup qualification in 1978, but was unable to participate due to high political unrest, and his family was threatened with kidnapping.

Cruyff retired with 33 goals in 48 games for the Netherlands after being named European Player of the Century in 1999 and runner-up in the World Player of the Century poll.

9. Abe Lenstra - 33 goals

Abe Lenstra was a member of the greatest Heerenveen team in history and was one of only a few players to score on his debut and final match for the national team. His awareness and eye for goal distinguished him as a great striker. He formed an excellent attacking partnership with Wilkes but was rarely used as a striker. Despite this, Lenstra managed to score 33 goals in 44 appearances.

8. Ruud van Nistelrooy - 35 goals

The terrific striker had an illustrious club career as well as a starring role for the Netherlands on their way to glory. He did not win an international trophy, but he was an asset to the team, scoring 35 goals in 70 games for the Netherlands. His best performance came in the 2006 Euros when he scored four goals, but the Oranje were eliminated in the semi-final against Portugal. Nistelrooy's last game came in 2008 in the Euros, where he scored a brace before hanging his boots.

7. Faas Wilkes - 35 goals

Wilkes had one of the best goals per match ratio, 0.92, and his desire to score goals earned him a higher status with the national team, where he scored 35 goals in 38 appearances. Wilkes played fewer games, but his name was on every match scoresheet, well almost. Besides scoring goals, he was a creative player with excellent dribbling skills.

6. Arjen Robben - 37 goals

Although he was not used as a false nine, the pacy winger scored 37 goals in 96 appearances for the national team. Robben played in three World Cups and three Euros. He was the most important player in the squad, with a burst of speed that beat many defenders. He would have won the World Cup in 2010 if he hadn't missed a one-on-one against Iker Casillas.

After reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2014, the Netherlands were unable to secure their place in the 2018 World Cup. The former Bayern Munich player subsequently announced his retirement.

5. Dennis Bergkamp - 37 goals

Despite scoring fewer goals, he was one of the most clever attackers in Dutch history. He was capable of netting as well as feeding goals to other players. His first international appearance was against Greece. His on-field mentality inspired the country to great runs in many World Cups, and the player was praised for his long-range goals. Bergkamp announced his retirement in Euro 2000, after losing on penalties to Italy and scoring 37 goals in 79 games.

4. Patrick Kluivert - 40 goals

Kluivert, one of Europe's most lethal strikers, scored his first national team goal against Malta in 1995, and the rest is history. The Dutch international was a big game player with exemplary striking abilities, scoring a famous goal against Argentina in the quarter-finals and an equaliser against Brazil in the 1998 World Cup. However, they lost in a penalty shootout, but Kluivert was a standout performer. He concluded his national career with 40 goals in 79 national team appearances.

3. Memphis Depay - 42 goals

Depay had a slow start, but he quickly picked up the momentum and is now only eight goals away from becoming the national team's all-time leading scorer. His club performance impressed van Gaal, and he was called up by the manager for the 2014 World Cup. The current-Barcelona striker made a stellar debut as Netherlands were on the verge of drawing against Australia; Depay came on as a substitute and assisted Van Persie before scoring a goal, making him the national team's youngest goal-scorer.

The player now has 42 goals to his name, and the team has qualified for the 2022 World Cup. Depay will have high ambitions in the tournament, as he will be their most reliable striker in the competition.

2. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - 42 goals

Huntelaar may have flown under the radar by fans, but he is the Netherlands' second-highest scorer, and his breakthrough came in 2006 when he scored a brace and assisted against Ireland. He hasn't looked back since and has been on a goal-scoring streak ever since.

Huntelaar went on to play in two European Championships and two World Cups, scoring 42 goals in 76 games. His best game came against San Marino when he scored three goals and assisted another.

1. Robin van Persie - 50 goals

Van Persie was a clinical finisher who scored many goals to become the Dutch team's top scorer. In 102 appearances for the national team, the former Manchester United player scored 50 goals. Van Persie was integral in the Netherlands' World Cup run in 2014, and his famous header against Spain was nominated for the Puskas award as well.

In the same tournament, he became the only player in World Cup history to score with his left foot, right foot, head, free-kick, and penalty. His last game was a 4-0 loss to France in a bid to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.