Top 10 Highest Goal Scorers In International Football History
Here is a list of the top 10 highest goal scorers in international football history. Football is the world's most popular sport, and the top players in the game are usually the ones who can score the most goals.
Goal scoring is the most important part of the game, and it is no surprise that the top international football goal scorers are among the best players in the game.
Along with Sergio Ramos, Ronaldo is the male footballer with the most caps, a record he has held since 2020. Ramos was the captain of Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of the Portugal football team, now has 118 goals to his name in international competition after scoring in his side's exciting 3-2 victory over Ghana on November 24. In the 65th minute from the penalty spot, Ronaldo gave Portugal the lead. Rafael Leao and Joao Felix both scored goals in the 78th and 80th minutes to give Portugal a 3-0 victory to start their FIFA World Cup campaign.
Ali Daei, a former center-forward for Iran, had previously been overtaken by the former Manchester United forward in terms of highest goal scorers in international football history. From 2006 until Ronaldo tied Daei's record at the rescheduled Euro 2020, the record of 109 goals stayed unchallenged for 15 years.
Daei started his international career in 1993 scoring a total of 109 goals in 149 matches. He also held the record for the most number of international caps held by an outfield player with 149 appearances. As impressive as his goalscoring record is, his international career is perhaps more renowned for his success in captaining the Iran national team. He was the team captain during the 2002 FIFA World Cup where they reached the group stage, and he has since been regarded as one of the greatest captains in Iranian football history.
Any mention of Cristiano Ronaldo, however, feels incomplete without drawing comparisons to fellow modern-day icon Lionel Messi. Lionel Messi holds the third-highest international goalscoring record with 93 goals in 142 matches. The Argentinean international has earned the nickname ‘La Pulga’ or ‘The Flea’ for his lightning-quick and agile movements on the pitch. His most iconic moment came in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final against Germany where he scored a stunning goal to give Argentina a 1-0 lead before the team eventually lost out in extra time. Messi is also the record holder for most goals scored in La Liga with 438 and is widely considered to be one of the best footballers of all time.
The fourth-highest goal scorer in international football history on the list is Malaysian forward Mokhtar Dahari, who scored 89 goals in 105 appearances for the Malaysian national team. His impressive record earned him the nickname ‘SuperMokh’ and he is widely remembered as one of Malaysia’s most prolific strikers. His iconic moment came in 1977 when he scored the winning goal against Japan in the qualifying rounds of the 1978 FIFA World Cup. He was also a key member of the Malaysian team that won its first Southeast Asian trophy in 1977 and was widely regarded as one of the greatest players in both Malaysia and Asia.
The fifth-highest goalscorer is Ferenc Puskas of Hungary, with 84 goals in 85 appearances. Nicknamed ‘The Galloping Major’, Puskas is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and led Hungary to the World Cup final in 1954. He also scored a stunning hat-trick against England in 1953 and dominated international football for a decade before retiring in 1966. He was also a prolific goalscorer in the domestic leagues, topping the scoring charts in Spain, Germany and Hungary.
Coming in sixth with an impressive 84 goals in 115 appearances is Indian striker Sunil Chhetri. Chhetri is a legend in India and holds the record for the most goals scored for the national team. He is India’s all-time highest goalscorer and has been the face of Indian football since his debut in 2004. He has inspired a new generation of players and fans alike and has been a key part of the Indian team that has qualified for three Asian Cups.
In seventh place is Ali Mabkhout of the United Arab Emirates with 80 goals. Mabkhout is the current Asian Footballer of the Year and is the all-time leading goalscorer for the UAE national team. He has been a key player for his country since his debut in 2011 and has scored some important goals, including the winner in the 2014 Asian Cup final against Australia. Mabkhout is a clinical finisher and is one of the most lethal strikers in Asia.
Rounding out the top eight of highest goal scorers in international football history is Zambian striker Godfrey Chitalu with 79 goals. Chitalu is the all-time leading goalscorer for Zambia and is one of the most prolific strikers in African football history. He was a key member of the Zambian team that won the African Cup of Nations in 1974 and was named the top scorer of the tournament. Chitalu was a feared goalscorer and was known for his clinical finishing.
Ninth on the list is Iraqi striker Hussein Saeed with 78 goals. Saeed is Iraq’s all-time leading goalscorer and was a prolific scorer in the Arab Cup. He made his debut for the Iraqi national team in 1969 and was a key player in their successful campaigns in the 1970s, including their 1974 Arab Cup title. Saeed was known for his ability to find the back of the net with both feet and his clinical finishing.
Finally, rounding out the top ten of is Brazilian legend Pelé with 77 goals. Pele is widely considered to be the greatest footballer of all time and is one of the most iconic sports figures in history. He won three World Cups with Brazil and is the only player to ever do so. In addition to his international success, Pelé also scored over 600 goals in his club career and was known for his creative style of play and ability to score from anywhere on the pitch.
These players have all achieved legendary status due to their goal-scoring prowess. They have all scored goals in major international tournaments, as well as for their respective clubs. While some of them may have retired, their records remain as a testament to their greatness. These players have all given us moments of pure footballing joy, and they will continue to inspire the next generation of footballers to strive for greatness. For more information, visit our site daily.
Goal scoring is the most important part of the game, and it is no surprise that the top international football goal scorers are among the best players in the game.
#1. Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal - 118 goals (Top 1 of highest goal scorers in international football history)
Source: SportsAdda
Along with Sergio Ramos, Ronaldo is the male footballer with the most caps, a record he has held since 2020. Ramos was the captain of Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of the Portugal football team, now has 118 goals to his name in international competition after scoring in his side's exciting 3-2 victory over Ghana on November 24. In the 65th minute from the penalty spot, Ronaldo gave Portugal the lead. Rafael Leao and Joao Felix both scored goals in the 78th and 80th minutes to give Portugal a 3-0 victory to start their FIFA World Cup campaign.
Ali Daei, a former center-forward for Iran, had previously been overtaken by the former Manchester United forward in terms of highest goal scorers in international football history. From 2006 until Ronaldo tied Daei's record at the rescheduled Euro 2020, the record of 109 goals stayed unchallenged for 15 years.
#2. Ali Daei - Iran - 109 goals
Source: SportsIllustrated
Daei started his international career in 1993 scoring a total of 109 goals in 149 matches. He also held the record for the most number of international caps held by an outfield player with 149 appearances. As impressive as his goalscoring record is, his international career is perhaps more renowned for his success in captaining the Iran national team. He was the team captain during the 2002 FIFA World Cup where they reached the group stage, and he has since been regarded as one of the greatest captains in Iranian football history.
#3 Lionel Messi - Argentina - 93 (Top 3 goals highest goal scorers in international football history)
Source: ThanhNienNewspaper
Any mention of Cristiano Ronaldo, however, feels incomplete without drawing comparisons to fellow modern-day icon Lionel Messi. Lionel Messi holds the third-highest international goalscoring record with 93 goals in 142 matches. The Argentinean international has earned the nickname ‘La Pulga’ or ‘The Flea’ for his lightning-quick and agile movements on the pitch. His most iconic moment came in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final against Germany where he scored a stunning goal to give Argentina a 1-0 lead before the team eventually lost out in extra time. Messi is also the record holder for most goals scored in La Liga with 438 and is widely considered to be one of the best footballers of all time.
#4. Mokhtar Dahari - Malaysia - 89 goals
Source: Goal
The fourth-highest goal scorer in international football history on the list is Malaysian forward Mokhtar Dahari, who scored 89 goals in 105 appearances for the Malaysian national team. His impressive record earned him the nickname ‘SuperMokh’ and he is widely remembered as one of Malaysia’s most prolific strikers. His iconic moment came in 1977 when he scored the winning goal against Japan in the qualifying rounds of the 1978 FIFA World Cup. He was also a key member of the Malaysian team that won its first Southeast Asian trophy in 1977 and was widely regarded as one of the greatest players in both Malaysia and Asia.
#5. Ferenc Puskas - Hungary - 84 goals
Source: Transfermarkt
The fifth-highest goalscorer is Ferenc Puskas of Hungary, with 84 goals in 85 appearances. Nicknamed ‘The Galloping Major’, Puskas is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and led Hungary to the World Cup final in 1954. He also scored a stunning hat-trick against England in 1953 and dominated international football for a decade before retiring in 1966. He was also a prolific goalscorer in the domestic leagues, topping the scoring charts in Spain, Germany and Hungary.
#6. Sunil Chhetri - India - 84 goals
Source: Goal
Coming in sixth with an impressive 84 goals in 115 appearances is Indian striker Sunil Chhetri. Chhetri is a legend in India and holds the record for the most goals scored for the national team. He is India’s all-time highest goalscorer and has been the face of Indian football since his debut in 2004. He has inspired a new generation of players and fans alike and has been a key part of the Indian team that has qualified for three Asian Cups.
#7. Ali Mabkhout - United Arab Emirates - 80 goals
Source: The National
In seventh place is Ali Mabkhout of the United Arab Emirates with 80 goals. Mabkhout is the current Asian Footballer of the Year and is the all-time leading goalscorer for the UAE national team. He has been a key player for his country since his debut in 2011 and has scored some important goals, including the winner in the 2014 Asian Cup final against Australia. Mabkhout is a clinical finisher and is one of the most lethal strikers in Asia.
#8. Godfrey Chitalu - Zambia - 79 goals
Source: Twitters
Rounding out the top eight of highest goal scorers in international football history is Zambian striker Godfrey Chitalu with 79 goals. Chitalu is the all-time leading goalscorer for Zambia and is one of the most prolific strikers in African football history. He was a key member of the Zambian team that won the African Cup of Nations in 1974 and was named the top scorer of the tournament. Chitalu was a feared goalscorer and was known for his clinical finishing.
#9. Hussein Saeed - Iraq -78 goals
Source: Gettyimages
Ninth on the list is Iraqi striker Hussein Saeed with 78 goals. Saeed is Iraq’s all-time leading goalscorer and was a prolific scorer in the Arab Cup. He made his debut for the Iraqi national team in 1969 and was a key player in their successful campaigns in the 1970s, including their 1974 Arab Cup title. Saeed was known for his ability to find the back of the net with both feet and his clinical finishing.
#10. Pelé - Brazil - 77goals (Top 10 highest goal scorers in international football history)
Source: DanTri
Finally, rounding out the top ten of is Brazilian legend Pelé with 77 goals. Pele is widely considered to be the greatest footballer of all time and is one of the most iconic sports figures in history. He won three World Cups with Brazil and is the only player to ever do so. In addition to his international success, Pelé also scored over 600 goals in his club career and was known for his creative style of play and ability to score from anywhere on the pitch.
These players have all achieved legendary status due to their goal-scoring prowess. They have all scored goals in major international tournaments, as well as for their respective clubs. While some of them may have retired, their records remain as a testament to their greatness. These players have all given us moments of pure footballing joy, and they will continue to inspire the next generation of footballers to strive for greatness. For more information, visit our site daily.
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