Top 10 highest goalscorers in football history (Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi)

Interestingly, Lionel Messi does not lead the list of the highest goalscorers of all time.

Football is defined by goals, and only a select few players have mastered the art of scoring consistently at the highest level. Over the years, legendary names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Pelé and Romário have built their legacy through incredible goal-scoring records for both club and country.

Cristiano Ronaldo currently leads the list of highest goalscorers in football history, while Lionel Messi has also crossed the remarkable 900-goal mark in his career. These icons, along with several other greats, have set benchmarks that may stand for generations.

Who is the highest goalscorer in football history?

Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time leading goalscorer in football history, with over 965 official goals for club and country.

Top 10 highest goalscorers in football history

Rank	Player	Goals
1	Cristiano Ronaldo	965
2	Lionel Messi	901
3	Romario	780
4	Pelé	767
5	Josef Bican	759
6	Ferenc Puskas	746
7	Gerd Müller	735
8	Eusebio	623
9	Tulio Maravilha	588
10	Ferenc Deak	576

Here’s a look at the top 10 highest goalscorers in football history (club and international football).

10. Ferenc Deak (Hungary) – 576 goals

Hungary were a strong nation in football in the previous century. Ferenc Deak was one of their finest players and a lethal goalscorer. He is the second Hungarian with the most number of goals, with 576 strikes to his name. 

Also Read: Top 10 players with most assists in international football history

9. Tulio Maravilha (Brazil) – 588 goals

Tulio Maravilha is a legend when it comes to Brazilian football. He played for over 40 clubs in his career, scoring 588 goals in the process. He retired as a professional in 2017 and also has 10 goals in 15 caps for the Brazil national team. 

8. Eusebio (Portugal) – 623 goals

Eusebio is still considered by many as the greatest Portuguese player of all time, at least on par with Cristiano Ronaldo. Such was the grandeur of the striker and former SL Benfica legend. He scored 623 goals in his career. He also won the Ballon d’Or in 1965 and the Golden Boot at the 1966 FIFA World Cup. 

7. Gerd Müller (Germany) – 735 goals

Germany has a knack for producing sensational strikers. However, there is only one who is considered as the all-time greatest, his name is Gerd Müller. 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 won the Ballon d’Or in 1970. He is the all-time leading German Bundesliga scorer as well.

6. Ferenc Puskas (Hungary) – 746 goals

The greatest Hungarian to ever grace the field. Ferenc Puskas also has an award in his name, which is given to the best goal every calendar year. Puskas was an iconic striker who used to score goals for fun. He has 746 goals in 754 overall appearances. He was a three-time UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid and also an Olympic gold medalist with Hungary.

Also Read: Top 10 players with most trophies in football history

5. Josef Bican (Czech Republic) – 759 goals

Josef Bican was the leading goalscorer in football’s history for a long time. He reportedly scored 759 goals in his lifetime. Bican played for Czechoslovakia and Austria back in the day and further recorded 395 goals in 217 games for Slavia Prague.

4. Pelé (Brazil) – 767 goals

Pelé is widely regarded as the best footballer ever, alongside Diego Maradona from the previous generation. He scored 643 goals for Brazilian club Santos, but claims have been made that he scored over 1,200 goals for them, a disputed figure. Pelé also scored 77 goals for the Brazil national team. Officially, Pelé is the second-highest goalscorer from Brazil. He won the FIFA World Cup on three occasions with his nation.

Also Read: Top 13 highest international scorers of all time

3. Romario (Brazil) – 780 goals

Romario is the highest goalscoring Brazilian and a legend of the game. He scored 780 goals from a reported 1000 games in his career. He led the Selecao to World Cup glory in 1994. Romario also featured for clubs like FC Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven and Flamengo.

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 901 goals

Lionel Messi and his list of achievements are simply great. He won the Copa America in 2024 with Argentina, adding another international title to his illustrious career.

Messi has now scored 901 goals in his career, making him one of the greatest goalscorers and playmakers in football history. He is among the highest goalscorers and assist providers in football history.

GOOOOOL! Another free-kick goal by him. 🔟🪄 pic.twitter.com/Jeb9L8CPB5

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) March 22, 2026

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 965 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are considered the greatest footballers ever. Their numbers are simply unbelievable, especially in the modern age of football, where competition is even more intense. The Portuguese maestro has had successful spells at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus and has gone on to become the highest-ever goalscorer in the history of football.

Ronaldo has excelled not only in club football but also on the international stage, scoring 143 goals for Portugal. He is the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s international football. He has 965 goals in his career, and being active will ensure that he crosses the 1,000 mark soon.

Conclusion

The race to become the highest goalscorer in football history has produced some of the greatest players the sport has ever seen. While Cristiano Ronaldo currently leads the charts, Lionel Messi continues to close the gap. With modern football evolving, new stars may emerge, but these legends have already set benchmarks that will be hard to surpass.

Last updated on February 28, 2026

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