Football has produced countless legends, but only a select few have carved their names into eternity with extraordinary goal-scoring records. These numbers aren’t just statistics; they define eras, ignite rivalries, and cement greatness. Whether tracked by FIFA or UEFA, only officially recorded competitive goals are counted, excluding friendlies and exhibition matches. From Pelé and Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi, these elite finishers turned decisive moments into lasting legacies. The race for the crown of the Highest Goal Scorers in Football History remains one of the sport’s fiercest battles.
Top 10 Highest Goal Scorers in Football History (All Competitions)
| Top Footballer Name | Their Goals |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 870+ Goals |
| Lionel Messi | 830+ Goals |
| Josef Bican | 805+ Goals |
| Romário | 780+ Goals |
| Pelé | 767+ Goals |
| Ferenc Puskás | 746+ Goals |
| Gerd Müller | 735+ Goals |
| Jimmy Jones | 700+ Goals |
| Robert Lewandowski | 600+ Goals |
| Zlatan Ibrahimović | 570+ Goals |
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – The Relentless Machine (870+ Goals)
When you think of the Top 10 Highest Goal Scorers in Football History, one name sits untouched at the summit: Cristiano Ronaldo. From Sporting Lisbon to Real Madrid, Juventus, Manchester United, and now Al Nassr, Ronaldo has destroyed goalkeepers in every possible league.
- Right foot, left foot, headers, hehe, he is a complete finisher.
- Longevity unmatched, still scoring beyond age 39.
- The highest international goal scorer in history.
Ronaldo didn’t just chase records; he built them brick by brick. His legacy? Ruthless professionalism and an obsession with goals.
2. Lionel Messi – The Genius With a Left Foot (830+ Goals)
Where Ronaldo is power and precision, Lionel Messi is finesse and sorcery. His goals aren’t just numbers; they’re viral highlights. Another pillar in the Top 10 Highest Goal Scorer in Football History, Messi bends time and physics with every dribble.
- Most Ballon d’Or wins in history.
- A scorer and playmaker – assists are almost as legendary as goals.
- World Cup winner, Copa America king.
Messi isn’t just a goal scorer; he’s a poet who uses football as ink.
3. Josef Bican – The Forgotten Goal Monster (805+ Goals)
Long before modern stadium lights and camera angles, Josef Bican terrorised goalkeepers during the 1930s and ’40s. His name may be lesser known today, but his scoring rate is unreal.
- Rumoured to have a 1.5 goals-per-game average.
- Lightning pace clocked faster than Olympic sprinters of his time.
He is the vintage guardian of the Top 10 Highest Goal Scorer in Football History, proving greatness didn’t start in the modern era.
4. Romario – Street Football Royalty (780+ Goals)
Brazil produces flair, and Romário was flair with killer instinct. He didn’t dribble for show; he dribbled to embarrass defenders before finishing.
- World Cup winner in 1994.
- Master of the toe-poke finish, quick, cheeky, unstoppable.
Among the Top 10 Highest Goal Scorers in Football History, Romário embodies pure Brazilian swagger.
5. Pele – The King of Football (767+ Goals)
You cannot write about the Top 10 Highest Goal Scorers in Football History without writing about Pelé. The man who made football global.
Before Ronaldo, before Messi, football’s first superstar was Pelé.
- Three World Cups — a record still untouched.
- Scored over 1,200 goals, including unofficial matches, but even official ones make him a legend.
Pelé didn’t just win matches; he built empires of hope.
6. Ferenc Puskas – The Majestic Cannon (746+ Goals)
Known as the Galloping Major, Ferenc Puskás had a left foot that struck fear in defenders across Europe.
- Led Hungary’s Golden Team in the 1950s.
- Later conquered Europe again with Real Madrid.
His finishing was so elegant that FIFA named an award, the Puskás Award, after him. That’s how you stamp your place in the Top 10 Highest Goal Scorers in Football History.
7. Gerd Muller – The Goal Machine of Germany (735+ Goals)
If football had a word for clinical, it would simply be Gerd Müller.
- Short, stocky, but moved like a bullet.
- Averages that break logic: 68 goals in 62 matches for West Germany.
He was never flashy. Just brutally efficient, the quiet assassin of the Top 10 Highest Goal Scorer in Football History.
8. Jimmy Jones – The Northern Irish Phenomenon (700+ Goals)
Unlike others on this list, Jimmy Jones wasn’t a global superstar—he was a local legend with world-class numbers.
- Prolific in the Irish League during the 1940s and 50s.
- Scored 74 goals in one league season, a record that still stands.
Proof that greatness isn’t always televised, but it is remembered in the Top 10 Highest Goal Scorers in Football History.
9. Robert Lewandowski – Modern Efficiency Redefined (600+ Goals)
Precision. Consistency. Zero weakness. That’s Robert Lewandowski.
- From Dortmund to Bayern to Barcelona, the same result: chaos for defenders.
- Once scored five goals in nine minutes, a Guinness World Record.
Among the Top 10 Highest Goal Scorers in Football History, Lewy represents modern professionalism at its peak.
10. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – The Lion Who Refused to Age (570+ Goals)
He didn’t just score goals, he scored karate kicks, bicycle volleys, and physics-defying missiles. Zlatan Ibrahimović isn’t a footballer, he’s a blockbuster.
- Played in every major league and dominated all of them.
- Retired at 41, still scoring more than younger stars.
In the Top 10 Highest Goal Scorer in Football History, Zlatan is the warrior philosopher, influential, theatrical, and unforgettable.
Key Takeaways – Who Is the Greatest Goal Scorer of All Time?
- When it comes to the top 10 Highest Goal scorers in Football History, Cristiano Ronaldo leads the official charts with 900+ career goals, a testament to longevity, fitness, and elite consistency.
- Lionel Messi, while slightly behind in numbers, dominates in efficiency and all-around playmaking, making him the most complete attacker the sport has ever seen.
- Legends like Pelé, Romário, Ferenc Puskás, and Josef Bican may have played in earlier eras, but their outrageous scoring records laid the foundation for today’s superstars.
- Modern football offers more data, tougher competition, and higher physical demands, which makes the ranking of the top 10 Highest Goal scorers in Football History even more impressive.
- The honest debate isn’t just who scored the most, it’s who scored when it mattered the most. In that metric, Ronaldo’s clutch goals and Messi’s final-winning moments keep the argument alive.
Conclusion – Football’s Immortal Goal Scorers
When we talk about legends, numbers don’t just tell stories; they define eras. From the ruthless finishing of Pelé and Gerd Müller to the longevity of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the top 10 Highest Goal scorers in Football History list is more than a leaderboard; it’s a timeline of greatness. What makes this legacy even more thrilling is that the tale isn’t over. Modern icons are still rewriting statistics once thought untouchable. Records fall, heroes rise, but the top 10 Highest Goal Scorers in Football History will forever stand as football’s ultimate hall of immortals.
