Scoring goals is one of the hardest and most celebrated achievements in football. Only a small number of players have maintained an exceptional scoring record across long careers. From Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to legends such as Pelé, Romário and Ferenc Puskás, these players have left a lasting mark on the game.
But who is the highest goal scorer in football history? The answer depends partly on which matches are included in a player’s career total. Some records count only recognised senior matches at the highest level, while others include regional competitions, reserve games and selected fixtures.
This article uses the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) ranking of official goals in top-level matches. Its published list is marked preliminary and was last updated after matches on 19 July 2026. The figures below follow that source so that the players can be compared using the same criteria. They are not live career totals for November 2026.
Highest Goal Scorers in Football History: Top 10 Ranked
Source Image: Olympics
According to the RSSSF top-level official matches list, Cristiano Ronaldo leads the ranking with 978 goals. Lionel Messi is second with 921, followed by Pelé, Romário and Ferenc Puskás.
| Rank | Player | Country | Goals |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 978 |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 921 |
| 3 | Pelé | Brazil | 770 |
| 4 | Romário | Brazil | 761 |
| 5 | Ferenc Puskás | Hungary | 760 |
| 6 | Josef Bican | Austria and Czechoslovakia | 743 |
| 7 | Robert Lewandowski | Poland | 697 |
| 8 | James Jones | Northern Ireland | 659 |
| 9 | Abe Lenstra | Netherlands | 645 |
| 10 | Gerd Müller | Germany | 640 |
Source: RSSSF, Best Goalscorers All Time (Official Matches, Top Level). These are the figures in its 19 July 2026 snapshot, not live career totals.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 978 Goals
Cristiano Ronaldo is the leading scorer in the RSSSF top-level ranking. The Portuguese forward has scored consistently for clubs and his national team over more than two decades.
Ronaldo began his senior career at Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United in 2003. He later played for Real Madrid, Juventus and Al Nassr. His time at Real Madrid was particularly successful, with the forward becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer.
He also produced outstanding numbers for Portugal. Ronaldo became the men’s international football record scorer and represented his country at several major tournaments.
On 5 November 2026, Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football. He finished his Portugal career with a world-record 146 goals in 234 appearances. However, he continues to play club football for Al Nassr.
His strength, movement, heading ability and finishing have helped him score in different leagues and competitions. His record at the highest level places him first in this ranking.
2. Lionel Messi – 921 Goals
Lionel Messi is second on the list. The Argentine forward is known for his close control, dribbling, passing and ability to score from difficult positions.
Messi developed through Barcelona’s youth system and became one of the club’s greatest players. He later joined Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Inter Miami.
His achievements include winning the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in 2022. He has also won multiple Copa América titles and eight Ballon d’Or awards.
Messi combines goalscoring with playmaking. His ability to create chances for teammates makes him different from many traditional centre-forwards.
Messi played his final match for Argentina on 6 October 2026, in a 3–0 friendly victory against Benin at the Monumental Stadium. He scored his 126th international goal from the penalty spot in his 208th and final appearance for Argentina. He continues to play club football for Inter Miami.
3. Pelé – 770 Goals
Pelé is one of the most celebrated footballers of all time. The Brazilian forward scored 770 goals in the RSSSF top-level official matches ranking.
He spent most of his club career with Santos, where he became a global football icon. Pelé also represented Brazil at four FIFA World Cups and helped the national team win the tournament in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
His finishing, speed, technique and ability to use both feet made him a complete attacker. He could score from inside the penalty area, take on defenders and create opportunities for teammates.
Pelé’s career totals vary considerably across historical sources. Some wider counts include additional matches and give him a much higher figure. The number in this table follows RSSSF’s top-level official matches category.
4. Romário – 761 Goals
Romário was one of Brazil’s most clinical forwards. His movement inside the penalty area and quick finishing made him a difficult opponent for defenders.
He played for clubs including PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and Flamengo. Romário also enjoyed a successful international career with Brazil.
His biggest international achievement came at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He played a major role in Brazil’s title-winning campaign and received the tournament’s Golden Ball award.
Romário was not known for elaborate movement outside the box. Instead, he focused on finding space and finishing chances with accuracy. His scoring record places him fourth in this ranking.
5. Ferenc Puskás – 760 Goals
Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian forward famous for his powerful left foot and remarkable finishing. He became a major figure in Hungarian football before achieving further success with Real Madrid.
Puskás was part of Hungary’s famous national team of the 1950s. He later represented Spain at international level.
At club level, he became a key player for Real Madrid and helped the Spanish side win major European honours. His goalscoring ability remained exceptional even after moving to Spain.
Puskás is remembered for his technique, shooting power and ability to find the net from different positions. He sits fifth, just one goal behind Romário in the RSSSF ranking.
6. Josef Bican – 743 Goals
Josef Bican was one of the most prolific forwards of the twentieth century. He played for clubs including Rapid Vienna and Slavia Prague and represented Austria and Czechoslovakia.
Bican was known for his pace, sharp movement and clinical finishing. He could score with either foot and was particularly effective when running behind defenders.
His career took place during a period when football records were not collected as consistently as they are today. As a result, different organisations publish different totals for him.
The RSSSF top-level official matches list credits Bican with 743 goals. Some broader historical counts are considerably higher because they include additional types of matches.
7. Robert Lewandowski – 697 Goals
Robert Lewandowski is one of the most successful modern centre-forwards. The Polish striker has scored consistently for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Poland.
He became widely recognised during his time in Germany. At Bayern Munich, he won multiple domestic titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2020.
Lewandowski is known for his positioning, first touch, aerial ability and finishing with both feet. He is also effective at holding up the ball and linking play with teammates.
Unlike most players in this ranking, Lewandowski’s career is still active. His total can continue to change as he plays more matches.
8. James Jones – 659 Goals
James Jones was a prolific Northern Irish forward who played from the mid-1940s to the mid-1960s. He spent much of his career with Glenavon and became one of the most productive scorers in British football history.
Historical players are sometimes overlooked because modern football receives more media coverage and has more accessible statistics. Jones is an example of a forward whose record deserves recognition.
RSSSF credits him with 659 goals in top-level official matches. Its wider official matches list gives him a different total because it includes a broader range of competitions.
9. Abe Lenstra – 645 Goals
Abe Lenstra was a Dutch footballer who became one of the most recognised players in the Netherlands during the mid-twentieth century.
He spent much of his career with Heerenveen and also represented the Netherlands. Lenstra was known for his technical ability, creativity and goalscoring instinct.
His record is especially notable because he played during a period when Dutch football was still developing its modern professional structure.
Lenstra’s 645 goals place him ninth in the RSSSF top-level ranking.
10. Gerd Müller – 640 Goals
Gerd Müller completes the top ten. The German striker was famous for his movement inside the penalty area and ability to score from tight spaces.
He spent most of his club career with Bayern Munich, helping the team become one of Europe’s leading clubs. Müller also played a major role in West Germany’s 1974 FIFA World Cup triumph.
He won the Golden Boot at the 1970 World Cup and scored the winning goal in the 1974 final against the Netherlands.
Müller did not need many touches to score. His positioning, balance and quick reactions made him one of the most effective finishers football has seen.
Why Do Football Career Goal Totals Differ?
There is no single worldwide database that settles every historical career goal total. Different organisations use different rules when deciding which matches count.
For example, a ranking may include:
- Official senior club competitions.
- Senior international matches.
- Regional and lower-division league games.
- Reserve team matches.
- Exhibition matches and selected fixtures.
These categories can produce very different totals. Pelé and Josef Bican are two examples whose career numbers vary considerably between sources.
For a fair comparison, readers should check the source and its counting method before comparing players. This article uses RSSSF’s top-level official matches category rather than mixing figures from different databases.
The RSSSF list is preliminary and was last updated after matches on 19 July 2026. Therefore, the figures shown in the top 10 table represent that published snapshot, not the players’ latest career totals as of November 2026.
Who Has Scored the Most International Goals?
Source Image: Esquire India
Cristiano Ronaldo holds the men’s international goalscoring record, with 146 goals for Portugal. He also holds the record for the most men’s international appearances, finishing his career with 234 caps.
Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football on 5 November 2026. He remains the leading men’s international goalscorer in football history.
Lionel Messi is second in the men’s international goalscoring list with 126 goals for Argentina. He played his final international match on 6 October 2026, ending his career with 208 appearances.
Other leading men’s international goalscorers include Iran’s Ali Daei, with 108 goals, and India’s Sunil Chhetri, with 95 goals.
| Rank | Player | Country | International goals |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 146 |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 126 |
| 3 | Ali Daei | Iran | 108 |
| 4 | Sunil Chhetri | India | 95 |
International goals are a separate record from total career goals. A player’s overall total includes eligible club goals as well as goals for their national team.
Conclusion
Cristiano Ronaldo leads the RSSSF ranking of top-level official goals, with Lionel Messi in second place. Pelé, Romário, Ferenc Puskás and Josef Bican also feature among the greatest scorers in football history.
Historical totals are not always directly comparable because sources use different counting methods. Checking the match criteria and update date is essential when discussing the highest goal scorers in football history.
Ronaldo and Messi have both ended their international careers, but their club careers remain separate from their international records. The RSSSF figures in this article should be read as its 19 July 2026 snapshot rather than live November totals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cristiano Ronaldo is first in RSSSF’s ranking of official goals in top-level matches, with 978 goals in its 19 July 2026 snapshot.
Lionel Messi is second in the same RSSSF ranking, with 921 goals in the published snapshot.
RSSSF credits Pelé with 770 goals in top-level official matches. His total is higher in some historical lists that use broader match categories.
Cristiano Ronaldo holds the men’s international record, with 146 goals for Portugal in 234 appearances. He retired from international football on 5 November 2026.
Both players have retired from international football. However, they continue to play club football. Ronaldo plays for Al Nassr, while Messi plays for Inter Miami.
