Football is the most-watched sport in the world. People watch it with passion and support their favourite teams from the heart. Fans who follow the game precisely, love interesting football facts both about teams and players. So, in this article, we'll bring you football facts about players who have won the UCL, Premier League and the World Cup in their career.

Winning all three above-mentioned titles isn't everyone's cup of tea. Legends of the game who played in the Premier League failed to achieve all the titles. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and many other PL legends couldn't win all three.

There are only 6 players who have achieved this incredible feat:

1. Fabien Barthez | Manchester United, Marseille, France

Legendary goalkeeper Fabien Barthez had an extraordinary career. He enjoyed success everywhere he played. He won the UEFA Champions League in the year 1992 with Marseille. Barthez performed exceptionally and helped his team win the Champions League. He conceded just 4 goals and kept 7 clean sheets in 10 games that season.

The Frenchman was his nation's first-choice goalkeeper during their World Cup triumph in 1998. The world-cup-winning goalkeeper holds the joint record of keeping the highest no. of clean sheets (10) along with Peter Shilton.
Fabien Barthez then went on to win the Premier League twice(2000,2004) with Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson to complete the set.

Also Read: 5 memorable performances by Indian football teams in Asian competitions

2. Juliano Belletti | Chelsea, Barcelona, Brazil

Juliano Belletti is one of the most underrated players in football. Perhaps he was underrated because of the overwhelming stars present in Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning campaign. He won the World Cup in 2002 with Brazil. However, one of the most interesting football facts is he only played 5 minutes in the tournament and he still has a winner's medal

His Champions League triumph with FC Barcelona was different. He featured 10 times in the Blaugrana jersey in the competition. Belletti scored the winning goal in the UCL final for Barcelona in 2006.

Belletti won the premier league with Chelsea in the 2009/10 season to complete the achievement.

3. Pedro Rodriguez | Chelsea, Barcelona, Spain

Pedro Rodriguez, the Barcelona legend has won all 3 titles. He played a major part under Pep Guardiola's Barcelona in their title-winning run in 2008-12. He won 3 Champions League titles with Barcelona; two under Pep and one under Luis Enrique. 

Pedro played a very important role in the WorldCup winning run of Spain in 2010. He made the winner assist in the quarter-final and featured in the starting xi of the final against the Netherlands. 

He then moved to Chelsea after his successful career in Barcelona. He played a vital role in Antonio Conte's 2016/17 title win, scoring 19 goals and assists.

Also Read: Most Champions League titles won by Football Clubs

4. Gerard Pique | Manchester United, Barcelona, Spain

Gerard Pique has won it all. He won the premier league with Manchester United in the 2007/08 season. He appeared briefly under Sir Alex Ferguson's squad to win the Premier League medal. 

Pique won the Champions League with Barcelona under Pep. His major trophies came with Barcelona along with 3 UCL titles. He was one of the core players in the squad and played a very important role in the team's defence. 

He was also a part of Spain's World Cup-winning side in 2010. The team relied upon his defensive abilities. He played every single minute in the 2010 WorldCup and was one of the most important players in the squad.

5. Thierry Henry | Arsenal, Barcelona, France

Henry is one of the greatest players ever to step foot in the Premier League. He won the title with Arsenal under Wenger in 2001 and 2004. He was also part of the famous invincible squad that won the PL without a defeat. 

Before his PL achievements, he had already won the World Cup in 1998. He was an integral part of the France World Cup-winning squad alongside Zidane and others. 

Later in his career, he helped Barcelona win the Champions League under Pep. He scored 5 goals and assisted 3 during their triumph in 2008-09.

Also read: Football Facts: Son-Father Football Pair Who Played For Same Club

6. N'Golo Kante | Chelsea/Leicester City, Chelsea, France

The latest addition to this list, N'Golo Kante, also happens to be the only player to have won the league with two teams. He did the unthinkable to win the premier league with Leicester City. Kante was the backbone of Antonio Conte's league-winning run in 2016/17 as well. 

Recently, he won the Champions League title with Chelsea for the first time and was the best player of Chelsea day in and out.
N'Golo Kante was the heart-beat of the Worldcup winning team of France in 2018. He helped France win their first World Cup since 1998 under Deschamps.

7. Julian Alvarez | Manchester City, Argentina

Julian Alvarez, one of the best young players in the world currently, is the most recent player to win the trio of Premier League, UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup.

Alvarez, playing for Manchester City, won the Premier League title twice in 2022-23 and 2023-24. He won the Champions League for City in the 2022-23, where they won the treble. 

And, his successful 2022-23 season had the best spark when he lifted the FIFA World Cup 2022 with Argentina and scored some crucial goals for La Albiceleste. 

In the world of football, few clubs stand out like Chelsea FC. Their trophy cabinet tells a story of incredible success, proving that they have truly won it all!

With their recent UEFA Conference League 4-1 victory over Real Betis, Chelsea completed a historic sweep of all major UEFA titles, topping up with their 2nd FIFA Club World Cup title, all in 2025.

Here is trophy cabinet of Chelsea FC that defines their successful journey in the football world. Take a look.

European Royalty: Conquering the Continent

Chelsea have battled across the continent's most prestigious stages and won every major UEFA club trophy, a feat few clubs can claim.

Their crowning achivements including 2 UEFA Champions League titles, notable defeating Bayern Munich [1-1 (4-3 pens)] in 2012 and Manchester City (1-0) in 2021.

Beyond the Champions League, Chelsea also lifted the UEFA Europa League twice (2013, 2019), and the now-defunct UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1971, famously against Real Madrid in the replay, and also in 1998.

Additionally, two UEFA Super Cup victories (1998, 2021) further highlight their continental dominance.

The collection was completed with their 2025 UEFA Conference League triumph, where Chelsea FC beat Real Betis 4-1 in the final.

The domestic dominance of Chelsea FC

Beyond their European conquests, they have also established as masters of England by securing highest domestic honors.

The Blues clinched the First Division/Premier League title and impress six times (1955, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2015, 2017) along with eight FA Cup victories (1970, 1997, 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018). This makes them the competition's most successful team.

Their domestic dominance also extends to League Cup, which they have won five times in the following years: 1965, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2015.

Completing the Set: Global and Historic Honors

Chelsea's trophy cabinet truly lives upto the "won it all" status by having a collection of unique, historical, and global titles.

The FIFA Club World Cup win over Palmeiras (2-1) in 2021, made them only London club to win the Champions League as well as the FIFA Club World Cup. More recently, they added their 2nd CWC title after a dominating 3-0 victory over PSG in 2025.

Further adding to their phenomenal collection are four Charity/Community Shield triumphs (1955, 2000, 2005, 2009), which mark their traditional early-season dominance.

As we move down to the final count, Chelsea also holds two Full Members' Club Victories (1986, 1990).

A look at Chelsea's Trophy Cabinet:

Free kicks or set pieces are one of the most effective methods to score a goal. However, it is also the hardest thing in football. But be it from outside the box or 30 yards from the box, free-kicks are one of the most beautiful things to watch in football when done correctly.

In this article, today we will list the player with the most free-kick goals in football history. 

Who has scored the most free-kick goals?

This is a regular question asked in football quizzes. To give your answer, it is Juninho Pernambucano from Brazil who has scored the most free-kick goals. He has scored 77 free-kick goals in his career.

Most Free-Kick Goals: Messi or Ronaldo?

Whenever one discusses any football record, you can not leave Messi and Ronaldo out of it. At least, the fans can not leave it out. So, who has scored the most free-kick goals? Messi or Ronaldo?

Lionel Messi has overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of the most free-kick goals scored. Messi now has 69 free-kick goals, whereas Cristiano has 64 free-kick goals.

Read Also: Messi vs Ronaldo: Longest goal-scoring streak

If we break down the records of both Messi and Ronaldo, Messi has only 5 Champions League goals from the dead ball, and Ronaldo has 12. Messi has scored 58 free-kick goals in his club career, while Ronaldo has 53 against his name.

Read Also: 10 Most FA Cup Winners List: FA Cup in detail

Most Free-kick goals in the Premier League

The Premier League is said to be one of the toughest places to play football. Many greats have failed in the Premier League; however, many have flourished in the league as a legend of the game.

David Beckham has scored the most goals by a free-kick in Premier League history. He has scored as many as 18 times from the dead ball in his Premier League career.

Here is the list of players with the most free-kick goals in the Premier League-

1. David Beckham - 18 goals
2. James Ward-Prowse - 17 goals
3. Cristiano Ronaldo - 12 goals
4. Thierry Henry - 12 goals
5. Gianfranco Zola - 12 goals

Read Also: Most Free-Kick Goals In Premier League

Top 10: Most Free-kick Goals In Football History

#1 Juninho Pernambucano - 77 free-kick goals

Known as the magnificent 7, Juninho was the best when it came to scoring from a dead-ball situation. The former Olympique Lyonnais legend and midfielder scored as many as 77 goals from set-pieces. Juninho is considered the greatest free-kick taker of all time.

He was also the inventor of the knuckle-ball technique shoots as well.

#2 Pele - 70 free-kick goals

The king of football, Pele, has scored 70 goals from set pieces. Pele could bend the ball both ways with fierce power.

Moreover, his immense game knowledge to out-think the goalkeeper helped him net the ball more often than not. The Brazilian striker's 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, which include friendlies, are recognised as a Guinness World Record.

#3 Lionel Messi: 69 Free-kick goals

There is hardly any top 10 attacking list or record in football where you will not find the Argentine maestro, Lionel Messi. Although before 2014, Messi was not considered prolific from the dead ball, he has just proved everyone wrong with his free-kick record since then.

Till now, the Argentinian legend has scored 69 free-kick goals. 58 of those have come for the clubs he has played and 11 for Argentina.

More than that, Messi now has scored a free-kick in every 16.1 match, which speaks volumes for his accuracy from the dead-ball position.

El mejor de todos los tiempos 🎯😮‍💨 #Messi pic.twitter.com/51pkfmbAVW

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 13, 2025

#4 Víctor Legrotaglie - 66 free-kick goals

The Argentine from the 1970s is considered to be the greatest player in Mendoza football. Along with his stunning shooting ability, Victor was known for his 12 Olympic Goals for Argentina as well. There is a stadium named after him in Argentina.

#5 Ronaldinho- 66 free-kick goals

The magician from Brazil was brilliant from any position. Ronaldinho had everything as a footballer. Hence, having the skill to net the ball from a distance was also in his armoury. The Brazilian legend scored 66 goals from set-pieces in his career.

Also Read: Top 10 highest scoring midfielders in the 21st century: Football facts

#6 David Beckham: 65 Free-kick goals

The famous phrase, "Bend it like Beckham", suggests how good Beckham was when it came to scoring from a free-kick. Beckham scored 65 goals from set-pieces in his career. His free-kick to take England to the 2002 FIFA World Cup is still cherished as one of the best moments in English football.

Read Also: Erling Haaland: Top 10 fastest to 20 UEFA Champions League goals

#7 Cristiano Ronaldo - 64 free-kick goals

With his latest free-kick goal in the Saudi Pro League 2024 against Al-Fayha FC, Ronaldo has now moved to the seventh position in the most free-kick goals list. The Portuguese legend now has 64 free-kick goals against his name. With this free-kick goal, Ronaldo now has scored a free-kick goal every season since 2003-04.

Ronaldo till now has scored 53 free-kick goals for the clubs he has featured for and 11 for his national team, Portugal. He has now scored a free-kick in every 20.0 games.

#8 Diego Maradona- 62 free-kick goals

The legend of Argentine football is one of the best in the history of the game. Maradona scored nearly 20% of his career goals with free-kicks. His free-kick against Juventus for Napoli is known as the 'Divine Free-Kick'. Diego scored 62 goals from set pieces in his career.

#9 Zico - 62 free-kick goals

Brazilian legend Zico scored 62 free-kick goals in his career. He was very accurate in his shooting skills. Zico is considered one of the world's best players of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The attacking midfielder was very accurate with his kicks. Along with his accuracy, his languid run-up was very famous in his era.

Read Also: Defenders who have won the Ballon d'Or award

#10 Ronald Koeman- 60 goals

The former Barcelona player and manager is known as one of the highest-scoring defenders of all time. The Dutch defensive midfielder also had his share of success with Ajax.

Koeman has scored nearly 25% of his goals with free-kicks. He is one of the high-scoring defenders in his era. Koeman scored 215 goals in his career and is one of the highest-scoring defenders ever.

#11 Rogerio Ceni - 59 goals

To the shock of everyone, Ceni was a goalkeeper and he has scored 59 goals from dead-ball situations in his career. Ceni is the highest-scoring goalkeeper in the history of the game. He has scored 131 goals in his career.

Except for one goal, all of them came from penalties and free-kicks. The Brazilian played for 25 years, most of that for São Paulo.

Read Also: Goals by Goalkeepers: Top 5 Highest scoring goalkeepers

12. Marcelinho - 59 goals

Marcelinho is nicknamed "Pé-de-Anjo" for his accuracy with free-kicks. The attacking midfielder from Brazil has collected more trophies with Corinthians than any other player in their history. However, Marcelinho failed to feature in any World Cup matches for Brazil. Marcelinho has 505 goals in his career.

Note: States are accurate as of 13th July, 2025.

The ultimate dream for any footballing nation is to compete on the biggest stage like the World Cup, and for Indian women's football team, the dream feels closer now.

On July 5, 2025, India secured AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification with a 2-1 victory over Thailand. The sensational midfielder from Bengal, Sangita Basfore scored both the goals to seal this historic win for the nation!

This crucial win, added to their strong performances againsy Mongolia, Timor-Leste, and Iraq, marked their return to the Asian Cup after 22 years. This success has now fueled the high hopes and big dream of reaching the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Now the question is: How can Indian Women's Football team qualify for the 2027 FIFA World Cup? Let's explore the details below.

Read Also: Best 10 Women's Footballers in the World Right Now

Why does AFC Asian Cup qualification matter?

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the regional body for football in Asia, operating under FIFA. Crucially, the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 isn't just a continental championship; it's Asia's direct qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.

For 2027, Asia gets six direct World Cup spots and two additional play-off chances. This means performing well in this tournament is absolutely vital for India's World Cup dreams.

They will have to fight for the World Cup spot against 11 nations (7 other qualifying nations from 2025, the host Australia, and the top 3 teams from the previous 2022 edition).

Teams qualified alongside India in 2025 Asian Cup qualifiers:

1. Bangladesh
2. Phillipines
3. Vietnam
4. Chinese Taipei
5. North Korea
6. Uzbekistan
7. TBD

The Top 3 teams of 2022 edition:

1. China (Champions)
2. South Korea (Runners-up)
3. Japan (Third place)

Read Also: Best Indian Football Stadiums – Ranked by Capacity

India's qualification roadmap for the 2027 FIFA World Cup

To reach the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, India's performance at the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 is everything.

Here's how they can make it possible:

• Reach the semi-finals: This is the clearest path for qualification as all four semi-finalists in the Asian Cup will automatically be eligible to qualify for WC.
• In case they don't reach semi-finals: If India reaches the quarter-finals but loses, there's still a chance. The losing teams will play additional matches against each other for the remaining two direct World Cup spots and the two play-off berths.

In short, India must aim to be among the top six teams in the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 to have a direct shot at the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.

A game like football is filled with passion, skill, and intense moments. In a fast paced sport like this, player discipline and sportsmanship in the field of play matters a lot. We have witnessed players crossing the line multiple times and get a Yellow Card for it.

Sometimes, things get too far and even leads to a sanction of Red Card. These cards are direct consequences of actions that are too serious for a game.

But what exactly is it and who has the most red cards in football history? We will answer all of it for you here.

Understanding the Red Card

A red card is one of the most severe penalties a player can receive during a match. It is a physical card that the referee holds up to show a player as to warrant their removal from the game.

Once a player receives the card, they must leave the game immediately and cannot be replaced by another teammate. This marks a disadvantage for the team as they has to play with one less player for the rest of the match.

It also leads to suspension as the red-carded player faces a ban from playing in future matches. The length of the ban depends on severity of the offense.

Read Also: Highest scoring footballers of the 21st century

When is a Red Card awarded?

Red cards are given for serious offenses. These can include:

• Serious foul play: for example- a two-footed tackle from behind
• Violent conduct such as physical aggression towards match officials, opponent, or others.
• Any act of spitting (at an opponent or other person)
• Denying an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO)
• Using offensive, insulting, or abusive language or gestures
• Receiving a second Yellow Card in the same match

Who has the most Red Cards in Football?

The highest count of red cards received by a player is 46 in the history of football. We have prepared an accurate list of Top 10 players who received it the most times. This includes some popular names from around the globe.

Get ready to read them all:

10. Fernando Amorebiata (19 red cards) | Venezuela

• Apperances: 398
• Red Cards: 19
• Yellow Cards: 142

The former Venezuelan centre-back, Fernando Amorebiata, holds the 10th position with 19 red cards in his career. Known for his physical defensive style, and an imposing height of 6'4, his presence in the backline for clubs like Athletic Bilbao was always felt.

He left his mark as a feared defender, who often intimidated the opponents, a little too forcefully, which led to this number of red cards.

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

9. Matteo Contini (20 red cards) | Italy

• Appearances: 534
• Red Cards: 20
• Yellow Cards: 162

The Italian defender Matteo Contini had an aggressive and commited approach to winning, that often got him at the centre of heated moments. Throughout his career with various Italian clubs like Parma and AC Milan, he received 20 red cards.

From elbowing Gonzalo Higuain in a match against Real Madrid, to other fouls that tested the patience of referees, Matteo became one among the infamous list of red cards.

8. Felipe Melo (20 red cards) | Brazil

• Appearances: 804
• Red Cards: 20
• Yellow Cards: 258

The former Brazilian midfielder, Felipe Melo, is widely known for not just his defensive contributions, but mostly for his fiery temper. His determination to win and going to extremes for that led to 20 red cards throughout his career.

Melo received a red card and a three-game ban for an aerial kung-fu kick against Lazio's Lucas Biglia in an intense clash. His violent stamping on Arjen Robben also got him one, along with many other fouls.

His streak of fouls led to intense criticism in Brazil, which worsened as Melo got into a fight with the fans. He is also the player with highest number of yellow cards (258) in this list.

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

7. Rafael Marquez (21 red cards) | Mexico

• Appearances: 633
• Red Cards: 21
• Yellow Cards: 150

One of the best Mexican footballers, Rafael Marquez, hold the 7th position with 21 red cards in 633 appearances. He got them while playing for his nation, as well as for Barcelona, back in his club career.

Despite his calmness on field, Marquez was involved in several extreme fouls, which includes leaving a high boot on an opponent's chest, a deliberate aerial head-butt on Cobi Jones, and many more such incidents.

6. Paolo Montero (21 red cards) | Uruguay

• Appearances: 436
• Red Cards: 21
• Yellow Cards: 70

The former Uruguayan defender, Paolo Montero, holds the unwanted record of receiving most no. of red cards in the history of Serie A. He received multiple while playing for Juventus and struggled with disciplinary issues in a particular period.

Montero got 21 red cards in total, which places him in the 6th rank in here.

5. Alexis Ruano Delgado (22 red cards) | Spain

• Appearances: 428
• Red Cards: 22
• Yellow Cards: 135

Alexis Ruano Delgado, the Spanish defender, was another strong presence in the central defense. Throughout his career in La Liga, he got involved in several damaging encounters, which led to 22 red cards and placed him at the top 5 of most red cards in football history.

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

4. Cyril Rool (25 red cards) | France

• Apperances: 443
• Red Cards: 25
• Yellow Cards: 177

French midfielder Cyril Rool was one of the most infamously aggressive players of his generation. His playing style was full of strong tackles and a hot temper. He accumulated 25 red cards in his career.

Rool was highly criticised for his obscene gesture opponents' bench of Monaco, which earned him a red card in 2003.

3. Edgar Davids (25 red cards) | Netherlands

• Appearances: 581
• Red Cards: 25
• Yellow Cards: 106

The iconic Dutch midfielder, Edgar Davids, enters he top 3 of most red cards in football with a count of 25. Known as "The Pitbull" for his ferocious tackling, he often got involved in confrontations.

His brilliant career is inversely proportional with the kind of disciplinary record he had (106 yellow cards, 25 red cards).

2. Sergio Ramos (30 red cards) | Spain

• Appearances: 825
• Red Cards: 30
• Yellow Cards: 244

The Spanish defender, Sergio Ramos, is a living legend known for his leadership, skillset, and his notoriously high number of red cards. His fierce and competitive nature often led to taking out his frustration on opponents.

Ramos has been sent off multiple times against Barcelona in El Classicos. His attempts to stop Lionel Messi from scoring was once labelled as "criminal tackle" due to its intensity. With 30 red cards, he is currently the most red-carded player in top-tier European football history.

Read Also: Football teams with most international trophies

1. Gerardo Bedoya (46 red cards) | Colombia

• Appearances: 319
• Red Cards: 46
• Yellow Cards: 118

The Colombian defensive midfielder, Gerardo Bedoya holds the most red cards in football by a big margin. His aggressive presence and tendency of going physical, accumulated a total 46 red cards, which will be unmatched for a long time.

Bedoya was sent off the field many times, along with multiple bans. His major offence got him suspended from 15 matches straight. He was also known as world's "dirtiest" footballer, for his records of red cards and fouls.

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.

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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:

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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: