Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, approaching 40 years old, continue to excel on the football field, fueling ongoing debates about who is the greatest of all time (GOAT). Messi has solidified his legacy by leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup, while Ronaldo remains a contender for the title of the best player in the world.
Both players have impressive goal-scoring records for their respective clubs—Ronaldo with Al Nassr and Messi with Inter Miami. Currently, Ronaldo holds the top spot in the all-time scoring charts, surpassing the legendary Josef Bican with remarkable achievements that include being the first player to score 900 goals recognized by FIFA. His milestone was celebrated with a goal against Croatia in the Nations League.
The following is a list of the top ten highest goal-scorers in football history:
10. **Tulio Maravilha**
Totaling 575 goals (exact number of games unknown) from 1988 to 2019, the Brazilian forward had a long career with nearly 40 clubs. He found success at Botafogo, where he won the Golden Boot three times, and he scored 13 goals in 15 appearances for the Brazil national team.
9. **Uwe Seeler**
With over 575 goals (exact number of games unknown) from 1953 to 1978, Seeler was a prolific scorer for Hamburger SV. Although he had a stellar club career, he didn’t win much silverware. He played in four World Cups for West Germany, famously captaining the team in the 1966 final.
8. **Ferenc Deak**
Scoring over 576 goals (exact number of games unknown) between 1940 and 1957, the Hungarian striker was a dominant force, especially at Szentlorinci AC, where he averaged over three goals per game. He spent his entire career in Hungary.
7. **Gerd Muller**
With 734 goals in 793 games from 1962 to 1981, Muller was a key player for Bayern Munich, netting 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga matches. His most notable achievement was scoring the winning goal in the 1974 World Cup final. His long-standing record of 40 goals in a single Bundesliga season was broken in 2021.
6. **Ferenc Puskas**
With 746+ goals in 754+ games from 1943 to 1966, Puskas became a football icon, especially at Real Madrid, where he scored over 150 goals. He is remembered for his performance in Hungary’s famous 6-3 victory over England in 1953.
5. **Pele**
The Brazilian legend scored 757 goals in 831 games from 1957 to 1977. A three-time World Cup winner, he achieved a near goal-per-game ratio at Santos. While he claimed to have scored over 1,000 goals, many of those came from friendlies.
4. **Romario**
With 772 goals in 994 games from 1985 to 2007, Romario was instrumental in Brazil’s 1994 World Cup win, scoring five goals in the tournament. His most prolific period was at PSV, where he scored 98 goals in just 110 matches.
3. **Josef Bican**
Bican netted over 805 goals in 530+ games from 1931 to 1956, making him a scoring legend. He scored 395 goals in 217 games for Slavia Prague. Although he reportedly scored nearly 1,500 goals, only 805 are officially recognized.
2. **Lionel Messi**
Currently with 849 goals in 1,077 games since 2003, Messi has a decorated career filled with numerous trophies, including eight Ballon d’Or awards. He scored seven goals during the 2022 World Cup, contributing significantly to Argentina’s success.
1. **Cristiano Ronaldo**
Ronaldo has scored 907 goals in 1,246 games since 2001. He is a modern football great, having won multiple trophies with clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid. Notably, he is the only player to score in five different World Cups. He recently signed a record-breaking contract with Al Nassr and aims to reach 1,000 career goals before retirement. His international tally stands at 133 goals for Portugal.