England is the most celebrated country when it comes to football. The toughest leagues and tournaments are hosted in England. Many legendary footballers have been a part of this team but they couldn't gain the appropriate international tournaments or recognition till now. SportzPoint.com takes you on a tour of England's all-time top goalscorers.

1. Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney is England's all-time top goalscorer with 53 goals. Not only this, but he is also the country's most capped outfield player of all time with 119 appearances. Globally considered as one of the best English footballers, he made his debut in the England national football team in 2003 and continued playing till 2018. Also, he made his debut in the senior International team as the youngest ever goalscorer at the age of 17. In the UEFA Euro 2004, the world got to know him because of his excellent performance to score four goals. Also, he became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the European Championship. During his International career of 14 years, he played in 3 World Cups; 2006 World Cup, 2010 World Cup, and 2014 world cup.

Read also: Players with the Most Premier League Goals in history

2. Bobby Charlton

Bobby Charlton had an exceptional football career. Globally considered as one of the greatest players in history, he was capped 106 times for England and he made 758 appearances for Manchester United. He was one of the key members behind the the victory of 1966 World Cup as he scored goals twice in the semifinals. Also, he is often regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time. Before Wayne Rooney broke Charlton's record of top goal scorers in England, Bobby remained at the top of the list for 45 years with 49 goals.

3. Gary Lineker

With 48 goals, Gary Lineker holds the third position on this list of England's all-time top goalscorers. The former English footballer is considered one of the greatest strikers in the country. He has always been the knight in shining armor for the team especially in World Cup. At the 1986 World Cup, he scored 6 goals and followed it with 4 goals in the 1990 World Cup. He also won the Golden Boot for his exhilarating performance in the 1986 World Cup.

Read also: Top 10 Highest scorers in the history of the UEFA Euros (Updated)

4. Jimmy Greaves

Jimmy Greaves is England's 4th highest goalscorer with 44 goals. He played as a forward for his nation's team. Also, the Tottenham Hotspur legend is the leading goalscorer of the club. He was a part of the squad in both the 1962 world cup and the 1966 World Cup. The former English footballer scored the most hat tricks (6) than anyone else in the country.

5. Harry Kane

The captain of the England football team is England's fifth highest goal scorer with 40 goals. Presently known as one of the best strikers in the world, he is notable and renowned for his extreme goal-scoring records and the ability to link play as well. Also, he has tremendous records to his name for Tottenham Hotspur. In the 2016-17 Premier League, he won the golden board after scoring 29 goals in 30 games for a rate of 0.97.

6. Michael Owen

With the same number of goals as Harry Kane, Michael Owen also holds the 5th position on this prestigious list of England's top goalscorers. The former English footballer played for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Stoke City, and Manchester United. One of the most important and remarkable moment of his career was the 1998 World Cup held in France. He became the youngest player and the youngest goalscorer from England at that time and became a prominent member of the international team. Also, he is the only player from England who scored in four major tournaments. In total, he was capped 89 times as well.

Whenever a new transfer window arrives, with more money coming into the game, we see more spending and expensive buys from clubs around the world. However, along with experienced and proven footballers, football clubs always tend to buy new, exciting teenage footballers, even before they become stars.

Today, in this article, we will list the 20 most expensive teenagers in football transfer history.

20 Most expensive teenagers in football transfer history

Please note that the fee is based on Transfermarkt's data and is accurate as of August 7, 2025.

20. Javier Saviola – River Plate to FC Barcelona – 2001 – €35.90m (Age 19)

Javier Saviola's transfer to FC Barcelona from River Plate was the record fee for any teenager till it was later broken by Wayne Rooney. After scoring 24 goals in 41 matches, besides his 11 assists for River Plate, while winning the Argentine league in consecutive years, Saviola became the star FC Barcelona were looking for.

However, the transfer did not work that well for both him and the club as he was loaned out many times and went to play for Real Madrid in future as well. Saviola was recently the assistant manager of the Barcelona U19 team as well.

19. Josko Gvardiol – Dinamo Zagreb to RB Leipzig – 2021 – €36.8m (Age 19)

A Croatian defensive prodigy, Gvardiol impressed with his versatility and speed by playing as a ball-playing centre-back and left-back. His performances for Dinamo Zagreb and Croatia’s national team stirred RB Leipzig to break their transfer record.

Along with skill, Josko Gvardiol's physical strength and tactical intelligence made Leipzig pay €36.8m for the defender in 2021.

Two years later, Leipzig sold Gavrdiol to Manchester City for a whopping €90.00m.

18. Wayne Rooney – Everton to Manchester United – 2004 – €37m (Age 18)

One of England’s greatest ever talents, Rooney was signed for a then-record fee for a teenager. His all-around attacking prowess, vision, and finishing skill justified the huge investment.

In the 2003/04 season for Everton, Rooney had already scored nine goals in the Premier League as a teenager, which made Sir Alex Ferguson sign the youngster for a record €37m.

Rooney became Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals in 559 official games, winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.

Read Also: Most Premier League titles as a player

17. Luke Shaw – Southampton to Manchester United – 2014/15 – €37.5m (Age 18)

A highly rated left-back, Shaw was signed for his blend of strong defensive skills and speed. He was seen as the next big defender from England after John Terry, as he had done quite well at Southampton and England U-21s then.

Luke Shaw was bought by Manchester United in 2014 with a transfer fee of €37.5 million, making him one of the most expensive teenage footballers ever.

Despite serious injury setbacks, he has developed into a dependable member of United’s backline since then and continues to be a member of Ruben Amorim's team.

Two years ago today, @LukeShaw23 signed for #mufc. We can't wait to see him back in action! pic.twitter.com/uHXr6q10Pt

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 27, 2016

16. Yankuba Minteh – Newcastle United to Brighton – 2024 – €38.8m (Age 19)

A direct, pacey Gambian forward, Yankuba Minteh, earned his big move as Brighton always invests in young, aggressive talents to shape their Premier League competitiveness and future development.

Newcastle United were the first to sign him, but sent him on loan to Feyenoord, where he scored 11 goals and had five assists. Brighton then signed him permanently in the 2024/25 season, for €38.8m, making him one of the most expensive teenagers in football transfer history.

Last season, he had 12 goal contributions for Brighton in the Premier League.

In 2024, Sportz Point named Minteh among the top 10 future stars of the Premier League.

In case you missed the big news overnight... 😜 Yankuba Minteh is an Albion player! 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/hA9HVaeHc6

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) July 1, 2024

15. Dejan Kulusevski – Atalanta to Juventus – 2019/20 – €39m (Age 19)

Dejan Kulusevski, the Swedish winger, scored 10 goals and assisted 9 times in Serie A in the 2019-20 season, leading Juventus to pay a premium to have him in the Winter transfer window.

Although he was brought to Turin with a €39m transfer fee from Atalanta BC, he was soon loaned out to Parma and Tottenham Hotspur. In 2023, he was eventually bought by Spurs with a transfer fee of €30.00 million.

14. Fabio Silva – Porto to Wolves – 2020/21 – €40m (Age 18)

Portuguese striker Fabio Silva came with impressive youth goal-scoring records for FC Porto U19 and the FC Porto team from the 2018-2020 season. Seeing his talent, Wolves paid a significant fee of €40m, hoping that his technical finishing and physicality would translate well into Premier League success.

However, he was soon loaned to various clubs. Last season, he joined the team after spending a season at UD Las Palmas on loan.

13. Vitor Roque – Athletico Paranaense to FC Barcelona – 2024 – €40m (Age 19)

Barcelona acquired Roque to bolster their attack during a rebuilding phase. Known for his goal instinct, technical skill, and agile movement, Roque had scored 21 goals in 45 games for the Brazilian club Paranaense to attract a €40m bid from the Catalan club.

However, after only 2 goals in 16 games for the Spanish, he was sent back on loan to Real Betis and eventually signed for Palmeiras last season.

12. Archie Gray – Leeds United to Tottenham Hotspur – 2024 – €41.25m (Age 19)

A promising English defensive midfielder, Archie Gray, made a high-profile resume after winning the U21 Euros and doing well for Leeds United.

This helped Tottenham sign him for €41.25m in 2024 as they continued to focus on developing young home-grown talent.

Archie played 28 Premier League and 11 Europa League games for Spurs in his first season at the club.

Read Also: Most goal contributions in every season since 2001 [Updated]

11. Jorrel Hato – Ajax to Chelsea – 2025 – €44.18m (Age 19)

Dutch defender Jorrel Hato, who came through Ajax’s ranks, secured a big move to Chelsea. With Enzo Maresca and Chelsea’s long-term strategic vision for rebuilding their defence, Hato was supposed to be the next big thing for the Blues.

The left-back has a knack for scoring and contributing to goals as well. He had eight goal contributions in the 2024/25 Eredivisie for Ajax.

Read Also: Premier League Stats: Top 5 defenders with the most goals

10. Franco Mastantuono – River Plate to Real Madrid - 2025 - €45m (Age 18)

With a €45 million coming on 14th August 2025, Argentine U21 star Franco Mastantuono is all set to be the most expensive teenager in the football transfer window of the 2025/26 season.

The right-winger had a successful 2024/25 season with River Plate, scoring seven times in 22 games along with four assists, which led him to make his senior debut for Argentina as well.

9. Vinicius Jr. – Flamengo to Real Madrid – 2018 – €45m (Age 18)

Real Madrid and Brazilian youngsters have always been a love affair made in heaven. After scoring 10 goals and assisting four times in 32 goals for Flamengo in the 2017-18 season, Vinicius Jr.’s electrifying pace, dribbling, and flair made him a valued acquisition for Real Madrid.

Vinicius was brought to Real Madrid for €45m, which made him one of the most expensive teenagers in world football of the last decade.

Despite a slow start, he developed into a key player, helping Madrid win three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies.

Read Also: Players with the most Champions League titles

8. Rodrygo – Santos to Real Madrid – 2019 – €45m (Age 18)

As I was saying, Real Madrid and Brazilian teenage stars stand in a love affair made in heaven.

Following Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo was signed to strengthen Real Madrid’s attack with a versatile winger capable of playing across the frontline. Rodrygo had already done well for Santos in the previous season, which caught the eyes of Los Blancos, and soon he was signed for €45m

Since then, he has won three La Liga titles and two Champions League titles with the club, while scoring 68 crucial goals and providing 51 assists.

Read Also: Most Champions League titles won by Football Clubs

7. Endrick – Palmeiras to Real Madrid – 2024 – €47.5m (Age 18)

Now it would be boring for you if I repeated the same thing. But what can I do if we have three back-to-back, same transfer patterns on our list of the most expensive teenagers in football transfer history?

Hailed as one of Brazil’s brightest prospects, Endrick’s prolific youth scoring and sharp finishing caught the eye of Real Madrid.

Endrick was brought to Bernabeu by Carlo Ancelotti after he helped Palmeiras win the Brazilian league in successive previous seasons.

6. Anthony Martial – Monaco to Manchester United – 2015 – €60m (Age 19)

🗓️ On this day in 2015...

Anthony Martial introduced himself to Old Trafford with THAT goal against Liverpool on his #MUFC debut 🥲🫶pic.twitter.com/2pbOF0B6F3

— Stretford Paddock (@StretfordPaddck) September 12, 2024

Martial’s dazzling speed, dribbling, and flair from France made Manchester United break their teenage transfer record. After a great season with AS Monaco, where he scored 12 goals and provided five assists, United broke every record to bring him to Old Trafford.

He had an immediate impact with 17 Premier League goals in his debut season, though injuries and form fluctuations have tempered his career since.

5. Leny Yoro – Lille to Manchester United – 2024 – €62m (Age 18)

Manchester United invested heavily in Leny Yoro’s defensive attributes, physicality, and maturity beyond his years. Yoro was signed by United under Erik ten Hag for €62m, a record transfer fee for a teenage defender.

He still continues to be one of the pillars of the United defence under new boss Ruben Amorim.

4. Romeo Lavia – Southampton to Chelsea – 2023 – €62.1m (Age 19)

Belgian midfielder Romeo Lavia’s combination of technical skill, tactical intelligence, and defensive contributions enticed Chelsea to pay a club-record fee of €62.1m for a teenager.

Lavia was first discovered by Manchester City, where he flourished for the Manchester City U-21 and U-23 teams. Then, he did well for Southampton to be able to attract a large bid from Chelsea.

3. Matthijs de Ligt – Ajax to Juventus – 2019 – €85.5m (Age 19)

Matthijs De Ligt captained a young Ajax side to the 2018/19 Champions League semifinals and even scored a decisive goal for them in the quarter-finals. Juventus rewarded him with one of the highest fees ever for a teenage defender when he was bought for a record fee for a teenage defender, €85.5m.

After spending seasons with Juventus and FC Bayern Munich, the defender signed for Manchester United in 2024, under former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag.

Read Also: European treble winners in men's football history

2. Joao Felix – Benfica to Atletico Madrid – 2019 – €127.2m (Age 19)

Touted as a generational talent, Joao Felix was signed as a creative attacking replacement for Antoine Griezmann by Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a club record €127.2 million.

Felix had scored 20 goals in 43 games for Benfica, along with 11 assists, before joining the Spanish club. However, he could not justify the price tag and soon found himself playing for different clubs.

At 25, he has now signed for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr FC.

Read Also: Reliving Barcelona's Golden Era: A Tribute to Footballing Brilliance

1. Kylian Mbappe – Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain – 2018 – €180m (Age 19)

Kylian Mbappe's transfer from AS Monaco to PSG in 2018 is still the most expensive football transfer for a teenager.

Mbappe's blistering pace, clinical finishing, and football intelligence at such a young age had already made him a star.

Read Also: Top 12 players with most hat-tricks in football in the 21st century

In the 2016/17 season, Mbappe scored 28 goals and had 14 assists in 46 games for Monaco, which had set him up as one of the greatest footballing talents on earth. Among those 28 goals, 6 were in the Champions League in just 9 games.

Monaco have agreed to loan Kylian Mbappe to PSG with an option to sign him for €180m next summer. Medical tomorrow. (Source: L'Equipe) pic.twitter.com/cXSjQRva3K

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 27, 2017

PSG thought of Mbappe as an investment as they looked to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time.

PSG’s record fee of €180m paid off as he became Ligue 1’s all-time top scorer, a World Cup winner, and one of the world’s best players.

Cristiano Ronaldo might be playing in Saudi Arabia these days, but he's still racking up records in Portuguese colours. Among male footballers, Ronaldo holds the record for most international goals of all time, as part of his enduring pursuit of titles and records. The 40-year-old also has most international appearances in the history of men's football after playing his 200th game for Portugal in June 2023. 

In this article, we'll look at the active football players with the most international goals.

Also Read: Messi vs Ronaldo: Who has scored the most non-penalty goals?

Most International Goals by Active Players (2025)

10. Edin Dzeko | 68 goals

Edin Dzeko is one of the most underrated strikers of his generation. The Inter Milan marksman is 39 years old but is still going strong. He has won the 'Bosnian Footballer of the Year' award three successive times in his career.

Dzeko has been quite prolific for his national team. He has scored 68 goals and provided 21 assists in his international career so far.

9. Harry Kane | 73 goals

Captain Harry Kane became the first player to score two goals on his 100th appearance for England. The striker scored his 67th and 68th international goals in the second half of the Nations League at Wembley over Finland, thundering an excellent strike in off the underside of the bar, then curling in a neat finish.

He also became just the third player to score on his 100th England appearance, after Wayne Rooney (versus Slovenia in 2014) and Bobby Charlton (against Northern Ireland in 1970).

Before kick-off, Kane was presented with a golden cap to mark the achievement, and also wore golden boots during the match.

8. Luis Suarez | 69 goals

Uruguay international Luis Suarez has had an illustrious career. He won the European Golden Shoe twice in the last decade and is widely regarded as one of the best centre-forwards of the 21st century.

Suarez, who recently led Uruguay to World Cup qualification, has scored 68 goals in his international career.

7. Neymar | 79 goals

Neymar Jr. is one of the most talented footballers we have seen in the 21st century. He is a joy to watch on the football pitch and is capable of producing moments of magic on a regular basis.

Neymar is one of the most innovative forwards of the modern era. He has been absolutely phenomenal for Brazil and is now surpassed Pele's goalscoring record for Brazil (77). Neymar has scored 79 goals and for the Brazilian national team so far in his career.

6. Robert Lewandowski | 85 goals

Robert Lewandowski is currently the most prolific goalscorer in Europe's top five leagues. The Bayern Munich striker has played some of the best football of his career in recent seasons.

Lewandowski has been a cut above the rest of his national teammates throughout his career. He has been a standout performer for Poland in recent years. The 36-year-old has scored 85 goals for Poland in international football.

Also Read: Top 12 players with most hat-tricks in football in the 21st century

5. Ali Mabkhout | 85 goals

Al Jazira and UAE legend Ali Mabkhout is a clinical finisher and as well as being one of his club's best scorers. However, he is also the United Arab Emirates' top international scorer of all time. He has a total of 85 international goals to his name. 

During the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals, Mabkhout netted the only goal in a 1–0 victory over defending champions Australia, which helped his country qualify for the semi-finals. Mabkhout scored a hat-trick against Indonesia in a 5–0 win in 2019 to become UAE's all-time leading goalscorer.

4. Romelu Lukaku | 89 goals

Romelu Lukaku has been a beast in attack for Belgium's golden generation. He has consistently produced the goods for his star-studded national team and continues to do so.

Lukaku's form at club level may have fluctuated but he has maintained high standards in international football. The 32-year-old has scored 89 goals in his international career so far.

3. Sunil Chhetri | 95 goals

Sunil Chhetri is regarded as one of the best football players India has ever produced. In a career spanning over two decades, the centre-forward has won many individual as well as team accolades.

With 95 goals to his name in 154 international appearances, Chhetri is the third highest goal-scorer in international matches, only behind Portuguese ace Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi of Argentina.

Also Read: Every Indian Team Football Coach Since 1948

Since Sunil Chhetri’s first senior professional goal for Mohun Bagan in the National Football League season (2002-03), the Indian football great has notched up many goal-scoring feats for both club and country.

2. Lionel Messi | 112 goals 

Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers, has had a remarkable international career with Argentina. Messi, with 112 international goals, ranks second on the all-time top goal-scorers list, trailing only Ronaldo. Since his debut in 2005, Messi has earned 189 caps, leading Argentina to victories in the Copa America and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Argentina and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi can still catch Ronaldo for the record, if he plays on through to the 2026 World Cup and perhaps beyond.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo | 138 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo holds the world record for international goals, scoring 138 for Portugal since making his debut in 2003. He is also the all-time leading appearance-maker in men's international football, having played 221 games, eclipsing the previous record of 196 held by Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa against Liechtenstein on 23 March 2023, and marking the occasion with two goals. He has hit ten international hat-tricks, a record he shares with Lionel Messi.

Also Read: Every Manchester United records that may never be broken

Ronaldo broke the world record for international goals when he scored twice against the Republic of Ireland in Portugal's European Qualifier in Faro-Loulé on 1 September 2021, aged 36. He surpassed the existing world-record mark set by former Iran forward Ali Daei, the first man to claim a century of international goals. Lionel Messi joined the elite group on 28 March 2023.

Hat tricks are one of the toughest and most exciting things in football. To score thrice in a single match is not only hard but also one of the rarest things as well. However, some players have made it look so easy.

Today, in this article, we will talk about the top ten players with most hat tricks in football in the 21st century.

But before that, let me answer the question that you have in your mind. I know that you want to know who has scored the most hat-tricks in football history.

Who has scored the most hat-tricks in football history?

Now that's a very tricky question to answer because there is a lack of proof with the data of football score lines from the past.

As per Guinness World Records, the Brazilian legend Pele has scored the most hat-tricks in football history. The former striker scored as many as 92 hat tricks in his career, with seven of them being for Brazil. However, since Pele never played in Europe, there is no exact data or proof to support the answer. Most of Pele's hat-tricks came in unofficial and friendlies as well.

Top 12 players with most hat-tricks in football in the 21st century

Now, to list the top ten players with most hat tricks in football in the 21st century, there will be no confusion, because we have the proof and the data to support our list. This data not only validates but also proves why keeping the record of every football stat is important.

With this list, you will know how the 21st century has been dominated by two of the greatest footballers in history.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have scored twice as many hat tricks as the 3rd player on the list has achieved.

Here is the full list of the top 12 players with most hat-tricks in football in the 21st century.

12. Sergio Aguero | 18 hat-tricks

The former Manchester City and Argentina legend is one of the greatest strikers of this century. Sergio Aguero finished his career as one of the highest scorers in Premier League history with 180 goals for Manchester City in the league.

With 18 hat tricks to his name, including his club and international career, Aguero is the player with the 12th most hat-tricks in the 21st century.

Not surprisingly, twelve of his 18 hat tricks came for Manchester City, most in the Premier League. However, Aguero only scored one hat-trick for Argentina in his international career.

The former striker scored more than four goals three times in his career, all in the Premier League. 

11. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 18

Now, this name can come as a surprise to many Gen-Z football followers. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the former Dutch and Ajax centre-forward, scored 18 hat-tricks in his stunning football career.

Although three of his 18 hat-tricks came in the second division of the Dutch League, they are considered official hat-tricks.

Huntelaar scored seven hat-tricks for Ajax and eight for German club FC Schalke. He could only score one international hat-trick for the Netherlands.

Huntelaar scored 366 goals in his career and also featured for clubs like Real Madrid and AC Milan.

Read Also | European treble winners in men's football history

#10. Mario Gomez | 18

The former German striker is one of the most underrated players of his generation. Over his entire career, Mario Gomez scored 333 goals in 610 games for teams like FC Bayern Munich, VfB Stuttgart and Fiorentina.

The one-time Champions League and three-time Bundesliga winner scored 18 hat-tricks in his career.

12 of his hat-tricks came for FC Bayern Munich, while four came for Stuttgart and one each for Wolfsburg and Germany.

#9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 20

One of the most acrobatic and threatening strikers of the modern era, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the highest scorers of the 21st century.

The Swedish legend is perhaps one of the greatest players to never win the UEFA Champions League despite playing for teams like FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Manchester United, PSG and Juventus.

Read Also | Players with most Champions League finals without winning it ever

Zlatan scored 20 hat-tricks in his career, among which half were for PSG. He scored four hat-tricks for his country, Sweden.

#8 Neymar | 21

The Brazilian modern-day great, Neymar, is one of the most loved and eye-catching footballers of the 21st century. Neymar is Brazil's highest goal scorer ever, with 79 goals in 120 matches.

The attacking midfielder made his name with Brazilian club Santos and then went on to conquer Europe with FC Barcelona and PSG before joining Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

Four of his 21 hat tricks came for Brazil, which is the second most for the five-time world champion nation. He scored four hat tricks each for FC Barcelona and PSG, while scoring eight hat tricks for his home club, Santos. 

#7 Kylian Mbappe | 22

Now here comes the new generation superstar. Kylian Mbappe has already broken multiple football records in his short career for AS Monaco, PSG, Real Madrid and France.

One of the youngest goal scorers in FIFA World Cup history and one of the youngest ever to score in a World Cup final, Kylian Mbappe is indeed made for greatness.

Read Also | Most Valuable Football Players In 2025: Who is Worth the Big Bucks?

Mbappe has already scored 22 hat-tricks in his career, which include one in the famous FIFA World Cup 2022 final as well. The youngster, who is often compared with Cristiano Ronaldo, has scored 14 hat-tricks for PSG and three for France. The rest came for AS Monaco (2) and Real Madrid (3).

#6 Erling Haaland | 25

Norwegian Erling Haaland is a beast when it comes to scoring goals within the 'D box'. He would always see him at the right place at the right time, scoring some great acrobatic goals.

Haaland rose to fame with German club Borussia Dortmund and then unleashed his absolute best for Premier League club Manchester City. In his first season in the Premier League, he broke the record for the most goals in a season in the tournament (36).

In 329 matches, he has scored 24 hat-tricks and can only get better from here on. 11 of his hat-tricks came for Manchester City, among which 8 came in the Premier League, in only two seasons. 

Read Also | Football facts: Son-father footballer duo to play for national teams

#5 Harry Kane | 27

Harry Kane is the only English player on our list of the top 12 players with most hat tricks in football in 21st century. With 27 hat tricks in his career till now, Harry Kane is fifth on our list currently.

Read Also | Harry Kane becomes the fastest footballer to score 50 Bundesliga goals

The Tottenham Hotspur legend, who left Premier League with the second most goals in the competition's history, is now breaking records in the Bundesliga as well.

Kane scored 14 hat-tricks for Spurs and has already scored 8 hat-tricks for FC Bayern Munich in just two seasons.

Read Also | Last 10 European Golden Shoe winners List

#4 Luis Suarez | 30

Uruguayan legend Luis Suarez, who dominated European football first for Ajax and Liverpool and then for FC Barcelona, creating the famous M-S-N trio with Lionel Messi and Neymar, scored 30 hat-tricks in his career.

Suarez is currently playing for Inter Miami and has scored 505 goals so far in his career, among which 69 came for Uruguay. 

Twelve of his total 30 career hat-tricks came for FC Barcelona and 9 for Ajax during his early days.

Read Also | MSN vs BBC: Rivalry of football's greatest trio in stats

#3 Robert Lewandowski | 34

If we do not count Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski of Poland has been the greatest footballer of this generation. It is harsh that he always gets compared to those two and has not recieve the appreciation he should get.

He was even unlucky not to win the 2020 Ballon d'Or, which was cancelled due to COVID-19. Apart from Messi and Cristiano, he is the only player to score over 100 Champions League goals.

Read Also | Highest scoring footballers of the 21st century

Lewandowski scored 34 hat-tricks in his career so far, and 20 of them came for FC Bayern Munich, where he won 8 Bundesliga and one Champions League titles. With 6 UCL hat-tricks, he is the player with the second most hat-tricks in the competition's history, only behind Lionel Messi. 

#2 Lionel Messi | 59

Now you will have to bear with me a bit because the list will get bigger.

Lionel Messi, who has won the most trophies in football history, won the most Ballon d'Or awards, scored the second most four or more goals in football (8), and also has the record for most goal contributions in football history, scoring 59 hat-tricks in his career so far.

Messi also has the record of scoring the most La Liga (36) hat-tricks, which is more than other player's whole career.

The Argentine has scored 48 hat-tricks for FC Barcelona, which is also a record. Messi till now has scored 10 international hat-tricks, the most for Argentina and joint-most in international football history.

Moreover, out of Messi's 59 hat-tricks, only 12 included a penalty, which makes him the player with the most non-penalty hat-tricks as well. 

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo | 66

Here comes the greatest goal scorer in football history, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese legend has scored the most hat-tricks in football in the 21st century. And, if you do not count the unverified record for Pele, he has the most hat-tricks in football history.

Most goals in club history, most goals in international football, most Champions League goals, joint-most Champions League hat-tricks (10), most league hat-tricks (45) - these are a few of the records set by the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star.

Ronaldo, till now, has scored 66 career hat-tricks, among which 44 came for Real Madrid, a record for the Los Blancos. Moreover, he has scored four or more goals in a game a record 11 times, scoring 4 goals in a game nine times and 5 goals twice.

However, compared with Lionel Messi, 29 of Ronaldo's 66 career hat-tricks included a penalty.

Some players are famous for scoring goals, while some are famous for creating. However, sometimes football teams are blessed with such players who can do both things.

There are players with incredible goal-scoring skills as well as creative skills, and these players are rare. They bring so much value to the team that they become irreplaceable. In this article, we look at the players who have had the most goal contributions since 2001.

Keep in mind that this stat is made from the Top 5 Leagues in Europe and National & International competitions. 

Read Also: Players With the Most Assists In Football History

Players with the most goal contributions (2001-2010)

Two decades earlier than the present, the table looks well shuffled with no names popping off more than twice. However, little did we know that the 2009 season was just the start of the little magician's dominance in world football.

His impact on Pep Guardiola's Barcelona team was simply incomparable.

Thierry Henry is the only other player besides Messi who managed to be the top contributor twice in consecutive seasons. He was part of the golden generation of Arsenal, who won the Premier League title undefeated.

Read Also | Highest scoring footballers of the 21st century

Players with the most goal contributions (2011-2023)

Clearly, in the two charts, Lionel Messi is simply the most dominant player in the world.

He has appeared a record 9 times in the list, more than any player during this time period. However, Luis Suarez was the only player who sneaked into the table during the prime time of Messi and Ronaldo.

Read Also | Top 10 players with the Most goals in a single season

Lionel Messi's 2012 season still remains a record for the most goals scored in a calendar year (91). Erling Haaland had a fantastic 2022-23 season with Manchester City as he won the European treble and scored 52 goals.

In 2024, Harry Kane's transfer to FC Bayern Munich came in handy for him as he finished with 56 goal contributions in that season. The 2024-25 season saw Raphinha emerge at the top of the list with 59 goal contributions for FC Barcelona and Brazil. 

The 21st century has been a golden age for football, filled with breathtaking talents and goal-scoring giants. It gave us the legends whose legacy can never be matched, and moments to cherish for the longest time. 

The footballers indeed took this sport to another level, shaping the modern era with passion and brilliance. Join us as we count down the highest-scoring footballers in the 21st century, celebrating their remarkable journey.

13. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (408 goals) | Netherlands

• Goals: 408
• Matches: 738
• Position: Forward

Securing the 13th position is Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar with 408 goals in 738 matches. He made his international debut in 2006 and was widely known for his lethal finishing. He reached the 2010 World Cup Final, where they ended up as runners-up.

Huntelaar won multiple Dutch Cups and Eredivisie titles for Ajax. He had a rollercoaster-like club journey, with his stints for AC Milan and Real Madrid. He later became a fan favourite for FC Schalke 04, where he was the Bundesliga's top scorer in 2011-12.

Breakdown of Huntelaar's goals:

Read Also: 11 players who have won the most trophies in football history.

12. Samuel Eto'o (424 goals) | Cameroon

• Goals: 424
• Matches: 872
• Position: Forward

Cameroon's iconic striker and all-time leading goal-scorer, Samuel Eto'o, holds the 12th spot with 424 goals in 872 matches, after his international debut in 1997.

From winning an Olympic gold medal in 2000 to leading the Indomitable Lions to back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations (2000, 2002) and winning 3 La Liga titles and 2 Champions League titles (2006, 2009) for Barcelona, he has done it all.

He then moved to Inter Milan and achieved a historic treble in 2010, winning Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and another Champions League under Jose Mourinho. Samuel is the only player to win back-to-back trebles with different clubs.

Breakdown of Samuel's goals:

11. David Villa (426 goals) | Spain

• Goals: 426
• Matches: 827
• Position: Forward

The former Spanish footballer, David Villa, holds the 10th position with 426 goals in 827 matches. He made his international debut in 2005 and has been unstoppable ever since. He was a crucial part of Spain's 2010 World Cup triumph, where his 5 goals made him a joint top scorer.

Villa also found immense success in his club career, where he won numerous titles for Barcelona, including the UEFA Champions League in 2011 and 2 La Liga titles. He also won another La Liga title with Atletico Madrid.

Additionally, he holds the record of being Spain's all-time top scorer, which is unmatched even years after his retirement (in 2019).

Breakdown of Villa's goals:

Read Also: Trophies won by Spain in International Football (Men's)

10. Sergio Aguero (426 goals) | Argentina

• Goals: 426
• Matches: 786
• Position: Forward

Sergio Aguero is an impressive Argentinian footballer who made his international debut in 2006, scoring 426 goals in 786 matches.

He won the 2021 Copa America with the national team, but unfortunately missed the chance to be a part of the World Cup-winning squad of 2022.

He became an icon for Manchester City, transforming into the leading goal-scorer, who played a key part in securing their first Premier League title in 44 years in 2012.

After that famous victory, he never looked back and went on to win 6 Premier League titles, 6 League Cups, and one FA Cup. He also holds the most Premier League hat-tricks (12 times).

Breakdown of Aguero's goals:

Read Also: Football facts: Players with the most Champions League finals without winning it ever.

9. Neymar Jr. (442 goals) | Brazil

• Goals: 442
• Matches: 731
• Position: Forward

Neymar is the only Brazilian footballer to make it to the top 10 of this list, with 442 goals in 731 matches. After his international debut in 2010, he quickly became the face of the national team.

He is now Brazil's all-time leading scorer, surpassing legendary Pele's long-standing record.

Neymar led Brazil to win an Olympic gold medal in 2016 and won the Confederations Cup in 2013. He also did brilliantly at club level, playing for Barcelona and PSG, and later moving to Al-Hilal and Santos.

Neymar is hands down the most exciting and effective attacker of his generation, who is equally fun to watch!

Read Also | Football facts: Brazil fails without Neymar! These stats prove that.

Breakdown of Neymar's goals:

8. Edinson Cavani (456 goals) | Uruguay

• Goals: 456
• Matches: 865
• Position: Forward

The Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani, who debuted internationally in 2008, scored 456 goals in 865 matches, which earned him the deserved spot here. He played a key role in Uruguay's 2011 Copa America win.

His scoring rate and passion made him the leading goal-scorer for Paris Saint-Germain (a record later surpassed by Kylian Mbappe). During his time at PSG, he won a collection of trophies, including six Ligue 1 titles, four French Cups, and five French League Cups.

Cavani also had successful spells at Napoli, Manchester United, and Valencia.

Breakdown of Cavani's goals:

7. Harry Kane (461) | England

• Goals: 461
• Matches: 714
• Position: Forward

Breaking into the top goalscorers and finally breaking his much-discussed trophy drought is England's captain, Harry Kane, with an impressive 461 goals in 714 appearances.

After his debut in 2015, he quickly established himself due to his all-around striking ability, pinpoint passing, and other skills.

For years, Kane's individual excellence, including winning multiple Premier League Golden Boots, was paired with an absence of team silverware. This narrative finally changed in 2025, after his transfer to Bayern Munich, where he played a pivotal role in their dominant 2024-25 Bundesliga title win.

Breakdown of Kane's goals:

Read Also: Is 2025 the miraculous year in sports history?

6. Karim Benzema (495 goals) | France

• Goals: 495
• Matches: 955
• Position: Forward

France and Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema is currently the sixth in the list of highest scoring footballers in the 21st century. One part of the famous B-B-C trio of Real Madrid, Benzema, is the second-highest goal scorer in Real Madrid's history. 

Till now, in his club career, the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner and five-time UEFA Champions League winner has scored 458 goals in 858 matches. 

For France, before hanging up his international boots, he had scored 37 times in 97 appearances for Les Bleus. 

Read Also | 11 players who have won the most trophies in football history

5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (558 goals) | Sweden

• Goals: 558
• Matches: 949
• Position: Forward

Entering the Top 5 of highest scoring footballers in the 21st century is the Swedish maestro Zlatan Ibrahimovic with 558 goals in 949 matches. He was widely recognised for his boldness, acrobatic finishes and lively personality.

In his 10 years for Sweden (2006-2016), he became the top scorer with 62 goals, most likely to remain unmatched for a long time. He represented his nation in multiple World Cups and European Cups.

Zlatan won league titles with Ajax, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, and PSG. He also had a notable spell at Manchester United, winning the Europa League.

Moving on to his legendary individual records, he won the FIFA Puskas Award in 2013 for his phenomenal overhead kick against England. He is also the only player to score 50 Serie A goals for both Inter Milan and AC Milan.

Breakdown of Zlatan's goals:

4. Luis Suarez (574 goals) | Uruguay

• Goals: 574
• Matches: 972
• Position: Forward

Uruguay's all-time leading goalscorer, Luis Suarez, makes his way to fourth rank with 574 goals in 972 matches. Known for his incredible skills and finishing, he was always a central figure in his nation's success since his debut in 2007.

Suarez won the 2011 Copa America and helped them reach the WTC semi-final in 2010. His club career is equally impressive. After winning the Dutch Cup with Ajax, he moved to Liverpool, becoming a Premier League top-scorer and earning a European Golden Shoe.

His prime time arrived at Barcelona, where he formed a fearsome attacking trio with Messi and Neymar. With Barcelona, he won La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey trophy, as well as the Champions League in 2015.

Read Also | MSN vs BBC: Rivalry of football's greatest trio in stats

Breakdown of Suarez's goals:

3. Robert Lewandowski (695 goals) | Poland

• Goals: 695 goals
• Matches: 981
• Position: Forward

Coming in at no. 3 is the Polish goal-machine, Robert Lewandowski, with 695 goals in 981 matches. He swiftly became his nation's all-time top scorer with the kind of positioning skills and consistency he has.

He made his international debut in 2008 and became one of the most celebrated Polish footballers of this century. He won two Bundesliga titles at Borussia Dortmund and later moved to Bayern Munich, where he cemented his status as one of the greatest strikers.

Lewandowski holds astonishing goal-scoring records, such as surpassing Gerd Muller's record for most goals in a single Bundesliga season (41 goals in 2020-21) and became the tournament's leading foreign scorer.

He also won two consecutive European Golden Shoes and 2 FIFA Best Men's Player awards.

Breakdown of Lewandowski's goals:

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2. Lionel Messi (866 goals) | Argentina

• Goals: 886
• Matches: 1108
• Position: Forward 

Probably the most anticipated name on the list, Argentina's golden boy, Lionel Messi, holds the 2nd position with a staggering 866 goals in 1108 matches. Having made his international debut in 2005, he had a career full of greatness, which shaped the modern era of football.

From Copa America glory to the 2022 World Cup triumph, which made the dreams of millions come true, there is not a single title left for him to fill his cabinet. He spent the majority of his career at the club level at Barcelona, becoming their all-time leading scorer.

Messi's unimaginable dribbling and scoring prowess earned him eight Ballon d'Or awards (which is the most by any player) and six European Golden Shoes. He also holds the record for most goals in a calendar year (91 in 2012).

It is really difficult to put the legacy of the greatest of all time into words and summarise in a couple of paragraphs!

Read Also | 10 legendary Barcelona players to wear jersey no. 10

Breakdown of Messi's goals:

Read Also: Top 10: Most Free-kick Goals In Football History (Updated)

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (938 goals) | Portugal

• Goals: 938
• Matches: 1281
• Position: Forward

Crowning the list as the highest scoring footballer in the 21st century is Portugal's indomitable Cristiano Ronaldo with 938 goals in 1281 matches. Following his debut in 2003, he was unstoppable and reached heights with his scoring talent.

He led Portugal to their first major international title (UEFA European Championship) in 2016 and followed it with the Nations League in 2019 and 2025. At club level, he won multiple titles with Manchester United, and later moved to Real Madrid, where he became the leading scorer.

Read Also | Every single trophy Cristiano Ronaldo has won in his career

Ronaldo's hunger for goals saw him achieve five Ballon d'Or awards and four European Golden Shoes.

His fitness and dedication to this game help him maintain an elite level of goal scoring in his late 30s, making him one of the greatest in the history of this sport.

Breakdown of Ronaldo's goals: