Top 10 highest goalscorers in football history ft. 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 979 official goals for club and country.

Top 10 highest goalscorers in football history

Rank	Player	Goals
1	Cristiano Ronaldo	979
2	Lionel Messi	932
3	Pelé	762
4	Romário	756
5	Ferenc Puskás	725
6	Josef Bican	722
7	Robert Lewandowski	707
8	Jimmy Jones	639
9	Gerd Müller	634
10	Joe Bambrick	626

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

10. Joe Bambrick (Northern Ireland) – 626 goals

Active between 1926 and 1943, Northern Ireland forward Joe Bambrick was a prolific goalscorer. He scored more than 600 league goals during his club career with Chelsea, Walsall, and others. He has a terrific record of 12 goals from 11 appearances for his national team, including six goals in a match against Wales, which remains a British Isles record.

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

9. Gerd Müller (Germany) – 634 goals

Germany has a knack for producing sensational strikers. However, there is only one who is considered the all-time greatest, and his name is Gerd Müller. The legendary Bayern Munich and Germany striker scored 634 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.

8. Jimmy Jones (Northern Ireland) – 639 goals

Another Northern Irish forward during the 50s and 60s, Jimmy Jones was a legend for Glenavon. He scored 269 goals for the semi-professional club, leading them to their most successful period in history. He made just three appearances for the senior Northern Ireland international team, scoring one goal.

7. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) – 707 goals

The greatest player to come out of Poland, Robert Lewandowski has achieved legendary status at Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona. He won eight back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Bayern, along with a UEFA Champions League title. After moving to Barcelona, he won three LaLiga titles. He is Poland’s all-time leading goalscorer with 92 goals.

6. Josef Bican (Czech Republic) – 722 goals

Josef Bican was the leading goalscorer in football’s history for a long time. He scored 722 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.

5. Ferenc Puskas (Hungary) – 725 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 725 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

4. Romario (Brazil) – 756 goals

Romario is the highest-scoring Brazilian and a legend of the game. He scored 756 goals from a reported 1000 games in his career. He led the Selecao to FIFA World Cup glory in 1994. Romario also featured for clubs like FC Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven and Flamengo.

3. Pelé (Brazil) – 762 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

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 932 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 932 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) – 979 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 146 goals for Portugal. He is the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s international football. He has 979 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 October 7, 2026

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