The Top Goal Scorers of the Game* | OneFootball

The object of soccer is to put the ball in the goal. Therefore, the goal scored is the most important statistic in the game (for an attacker). These ten below are among the best to have performed this act (not named Cristiano or Lionel).

Given some older sources can be a little untrustworthy, and different players appear on different lists depending on which organization compiles and measures the statistics, this entire article should be taken with a grain of snark.

1. Josef Bican

(Source)

Clubs: Rapid Vienna, Slavia Prague, various Austrian & Czech clubsGoals Scored: 805Games Played: ~530Overview: You’re forgiven if you’ve never heard of Josef Bican. I didn’t either until researching this article. This Austro-Czech wünderkind was a goal scoring machine, averaging over 1.5 per game in a career that spanned from 1931 through 1957, saw him play for ten different clubs and suit up for three different national teams (Austria, Bohemia and Moravia, Czechoslovakia). Crikey.

2. Pelé

(Source)

Clubs: Santos, New York CosmosGoals Scored: 757Games Played: ~815Overview: If you haven’t heard of Edson Arantes do Nascimento (mononymously known as Pelé) go hit your head against a wall. The Qooligan doesn’t get in the middle of religious arguments about who was the greatest soccer player to have ever lived, but he definitely would be in the discussion.

3. Romário

(Source)

Clubs: Vasco da Gama, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Flamengo, and six other clubs worldwideGoals Scored: 755Games Played: ~970Overview: To reduce Romário’s career achievements by labeling him one of the best poachers in history might be unfair. In any event, Romário was a master of positioning and clinical finishing, with blisteringly quick feet and unflappable composure. He later became a career politician in Brazil, so maybe the poacher label isn’t so far off….

4. Ferenc Puskás

(Source)

Clubs: Budapest Honvéd, Real MadridGoals Scored: 746Games Played: 754Overview: The Hungarian legend was a left-footed genius known for his powerful shots and exceptional goal-scoring ability. He played a crucial role in both Hungary’s golden era and Real Madrid’s dominance.

5. Gerd Müller

Center: Gerd Müller (Source)

Clubs: Bayern Munich, Fort Lauderdale StrikersGoals Scored: 735Games Played: 793Overview: Gerd Müller was squat, oddly-proportioned and an absolute terror in the six-yard box. Nicknamed “Der Bomber,” he thrived in tight spaces and could score with any part of his body from the most impossible of angles. He and Messi are the only players to have won: a FIFA World Cup, a European Golden Boot, a Ballon d’Or, and a UEFA Champions League.

6. Robert Lewandowski

(Source)

Clubs: Lech Poznań, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, BarcelonaGoals Scored: 688Games Played: 971Overview: One of the most complete strikers of the modern era, Lewandowski is known for his positioning, finishing, and aerial ability. He continues to add to his goal tally at the highest level.

7. Ferenc Deák

The only known picture of Ferenc (Source)

Clubs: Szentlőrinci AC, Ferencvárosi TC, Újpesti Dózsa, Spartacus BudapestGoals Scored: 676Games Played: 455Overview: Those stats are not a typo. Ferenc Deák averaged 1.48 goals per game in a career that spanned from 1940 through 1959. Surprising, he only earned 20 caps for Hungary (but scored 29 times doing so). Holds the record for most goals scored in a season: 66 in 34 games in 1945-46.

8. Eusébio

(Source)

Clubs: Benfica, Various North American clubsGoals Scored: 623Games Played: ~650Overview: Known for his powerful shots and quick feet, Eusébio was Portugal’s first global football superstar. His incredible goal tally helped Benfica dominate European football in the 1960s.

9. Luis Suárez

KINGSTON, JAMAICA – MARCH 13: Luis Suárez #9 of Inter Miami CF attempts a bicycle kick during the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 Second Leg match between Cavalier SC and Inter Miami CF at The Jamaican National Stadium on March 13, 2025 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Clubs: Barcelona, Ajax, Liverpool, Athlético Madrid, Grêmio, Inter Miami + two more.Goals Scored: 574Games Played: 967Overview: Still active with Inter Miami, Suárez is a potent and feared finisher. Read more about him in this article.

10. Zlatan Ibrahimović

(Source)

Clubs: Malmö FF, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG, Manchester United, LA GalaxyGoals Scored: 573Games Played: 988Overview: A towering striker with unmatched technical ability, Zlatan has netted some of the most spectacular goals in football history. His longevity and consistency across multiple leagues make him one of the all-time greats.