The most popular sport in the world is football, with passionate fans who are curious and full of questions about who is the best, who has the most caps, who is the highest goal scorer, and so much more.
This article will discuss which player has the highest number of goals in his career, Club goals, and international goals.
The modern era has seen Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi redefine goal-scoring expectations, with both players maintaining elite-level performance well into their late 30s and continuing to extend their records in 2025.
This ranking represents the most current and comprehensive assessment of football’s greatest goal scorers, combining historical achievements with the latest statistics from active players who continue to write football history.
Cristiano Ronaldo recently set a new record by becoming the first player to score 800 career goals for clubs, surpassing the previous record of the highest number of goals ever scored.
Messi is the only player in football history to have won the Ballon d’Or a record 8 times. Ronaldo holds the unique record of being the only active player in football history to score a hat-trick in the FIFA World Cup.
Here’s everything you need to know about the top 20 highest goal scorers in the history of football.
Top 20 Highest Goal Scorers of all Time
Table of Contents
Cristiano Ronaldo currently holds the record as the all-time leading goal scorer in football history with 938 goals, followed closely by Lionel Messi with 874 goals. source – Ronaldo vs Messi
This comprehensive ranking includes goals scored in official matches at both club and international levels, based on the latest available data as of August 2025.
| Rank | Player | Nationality | Total Goals | Status | Career Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 938 | Active | 2002-present |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 874 | Active | 2004-present |
| 3 | Pele | Brazil | 762 | Retired | 1957-1977 |
| 4 | Romario | Brazil | 756 | Retired | 1985-2007 |
| 5 | Ferenc Puskas | Hungary/Spain | 725 | Retired | 1943-1966 |
| 6 | Josef Bican | Austria/Czech | 722 | Retired | 1931-1955 |
| 7 | Robert Lewandowski | Poland | 673 | Active | 2008-present |
| 8 | Jimmy Jones | Northern Ireland | 639 | Retired | 1947-1964 |
| 9 | Gerd Müller | Germany | 634 | Retired | 1964-1981 |
| 10 | Joe Bambrick | Northern Ireland | 626 | Retired | 1926-1943 |
| 11 | Abe Lenstra | Netherlands | 624 | Retired | 1936-1963 |
| 12 | Luis Suárez | Uruguay | 592 | Active | 2005-present |
| 13 | Eusébio | Portugal | 578 | Retired | 1960-1978 |
| 14 | Glenn Ferguson | Northern Ireland | 563 | Retired | 1987-2011 |
| 15 | Zlatan Ibrahimovic | Sweden | 561 | Retired | 1999-2023 |
| 16 | Imre Schlosser | Hungary | 553 | Retired | 1906-1928 |
| 17 | Fernando Peyroteo | Portugal | 553 | Retired | 1937-1949 |
| 18 | Uwe Seeler | Germany | 552 | Retired | 1954-1978 |
| 19 | Jimmy McGrory | Scotland | 550 | Retired | 1923-1937 |
| 20 | Alfredo Di Stéfano | Argentina/Spain | 537 | Retired | 1945-1966 |
Key Highlights of Highest Goal Scorers and Current Form
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Recent Performance
As of 2025, Ronaldo continues to add to his record tally while playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. In the 2024 calendar year alone, he scored 43 goals in 51 appearances, demonstrating remarkable longevity at age 39-40.
Through the 2024-25 season, he has maintained his scoring prowess with 32 goals in 35 matches across all competitions
Lionel Messi’s Continued Excellence
Messi, now playing for Inter Miami in MLS, scored 29 goals in 36 appearances during 2024. His move to Major League Soccer has seen him break multiple records, including becoming the fastest player to reach 40 goals in MLS history.
In 2024, he won the MLS Most Valuable Player award after scoring 20 goals and providing 16 assists in just 19 regular-season matches. Messi’s Inter Miami FC records and performances are breaking many world records.
Active Top Goal Scorer in Football
Only four players in the top 20 are still active: Ronaldo, Messi, Lewandowski, and Luis Suárez.
- Robert Lewandowski (673 goals) continues his prolific scoring for Barcelona, having scored 27 goals in 34 La Liga matches during the 2024-25 season.
- Luis Suárez (592 goals) remains productive in MLS with Inter Miami
Historical Context and Methodology
The goal tallies presented here include only official matches at the highest levels of competition, encompassing domestic leagues, national cups, continental competitions, and international fixtures.
This methodology excludes friendly matches and unofficial games, which have historically been a point of debate, particularly regarding earlier players like Pelé and Bican.
Notable Records and Achievements in the journey of the Highest Goal Scorers of all Time
- Josef Bican holds remarkable scoring records, including 57 goals in 26 matches during the 1943-44 season.
- Gerd Müller maintained an incredible 1.1 goals per game ratio for West Germany.
- Eusébio scored 473 goals in 440 official matches for Benfica.
- Jimmy Jones scored a record 74 goals in the 1956-57 Irish League season.
