Top 15 players with most goals in all-time men's hockey history

Major Dhyan Chand has scored the most goals in hockey history.

Hockey is one of the most challenging sports due to its complexity. The chances of errors are high, as even if an opposing player intentionally hits the ball to touch a player’s body, it results in a penalty corner. Scoring goals is difficult, as the goalpost is small and players must score from within the “D” area, unlike in football.

The game involves various factors, from green, yellow, and red cards to penalty corners, shots, and shootouts. Despite the challenges, hockey is highly engaging because multiple goals can be scored quickly, keeping players on their toes.

While there are many opportunities to score, it still requires skill. Here are the top 15 all-time highest goal-scorers in hockey:

Top highest goalscorers in hockey history

15. Kunwar Digvijay Singh – 175 Goals

Kunwar Digvijay Singh had a fascinating start to his career. Playing for his club team as a 15-year-old against a strong Delhi club that had Olympian Mohammed Hussain, the boy unaware of the legendary status of Hussain, dodged and pressed Hussain which impressed the legend himself. He rated him highly and predicted to make big and KD Singh did that as he went on to score 175 goals in 80 appearances including two Olympic Gold medals.

14. Gonzalo Peillat – 180 Goals

Gonzalo Peillat played for Argentina from 2011 to 2018. After a fallout with his teammates in 2018, he gained German citizenship and started playing for Germany. Peillat scored a hat trick in the 2023 World Cup semi-finals and helped Germany win silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

13. Mark Hager – 181 Goals

Mark Hager, the Australian captain, scored 181 goals and led his team to a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He later became a successful coach, winning World Cups and medals at the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.

12. Harmanpreet Singh – 214 Goals

Harmanpreet Singh, captain of India’s bronze medal-winning team at the Paris Olympics, has scored 214 goals and is the leading scorer among active players. Year 2024 was his year as he led India to their fifth Asian Champions Trophy and was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award for his contributions to India’s national sport. He is known for his drag-flick skills and was the top scorer in the FIH Pro League for two consecutive seasons.

11. Floris Jan Bovelander – 215 Goals

Floris Jan Bovelander, known for his powerful penalty corners, played for the Netherlands during its dominant era in the 1990s. He scored 215 goals and won multiple medals, including an Olympic gold.

10. Teun de Nooijer – 219 Goals

Teun de Nooijer, a Dutch midfielder, scored 219 goals and won two Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2000. He played at five Olympics and was a key player in the Netherlands’ success.

9. Taeke Taekema – 221 Goals

Taeke Taekema, a Dutch defender, scored 221 goals and was known for his goalscoring prowess, including a double hat-trick against Belgium. He won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics and was the top scorer at the 2010 World Cup.

8. Bjorn Michel – 229 Goals

Bjorn Michel, one of Germany’s greatest players, scored 229 goals and played a key role in Germany’s bronze medal win at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He retired as Germany’s all-time highest goalscorer.

7. Jorge Lombi – 231 Goals

Jorge Lombi, an Argentine great, scored 231 goals and was known for his ability to perform in crucial moments, like his hat-trick in the 2007 Men’s Hockey Champions Challenge final, leading Argentina to victory.

6. Jamie Dwyer – 244 Goals

Jamie Dwyer, an Australian midfielder, scored 244 goals and was part of Australia’s golden era, winning multiple titles, including an Olympic gold, two World Cups and six Champions Trophies.

5. Greg Nicol – 245 Goals

Greg Nicol is South Africa’s greatest hockey player, scoring 245 goals over a decade-long career. He played at the Atlanta and Athens Olympics and later became a successful coach, currently leading the New Zealand hockey team.

4. Balbir Singh Sr – 246 Goals

Balbir Singh Sr., an Indian men’s hockey team legend, scored 246 goals in just 61 games, averaging four goals per game. He led India to three consecutive Olympic golds from 1948 to 1956 and still holds the record for the most goals scored in an Olympic final.

3. Paul Litjens – 268 Goals

Paul Litjens, a Dutch penalty corner specialist, scored 268 goals in 177 games. He was a key player for the Netherlands in the 1970s and won the World Cup and Champions Trophy.

2. Sohail Abbas – 348 Goals

Sohail Abbas, known as the ‘king of drag-flicks,’ scored 348 goals in 315 games for Pakistan. Despite his individual success, he could not lead Pakistan to any major titles during his career.

1. Major Dhyan Chand – 570 Goals

Major Dhyan Chand, widely-regarded as the greatest hockey player ever, scored an astounding 570 goals in 185 games. He led India to three Olympic gold medals and is credited with inspiring India’s dominance in world hockey.

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