Harry Kane becomes the fastest footballer to score 50 Bundesliga goals
The English goal-machine has reached the benchmark of 50 goals in just 43 Bundesliga games, surpassing the previous record of Erling Haaland who scored 50 goals in 50 matches.
Harry Kane has touched the benchmark of scoring 50 goals in Bundesliga and he has done it in a very special way. Kane became the fastest-ever player to score 50 Bundesliga goals as he completed the feat in 43 Bundesliga games.
Kane reached the 50-goal tally in Bundesliga after his scintillating hat-trick in Bayern's 3-0 victory over Augsburg in the Bundesliga last night.
The Bayern forward is in formidable form this season, having already scored 20 goals in 17 games across all competitions for Bayern Munich.
Harry Kane joined Bayern Munich in 2023 following his departure from Tottenham. In his first season, Kane scored 36 goals in 32 Bundesliga matches for the German side and registered 8 goals in the UEFA Champions League last season.
Harry Kane finished as the top scorer in both cases and earned the European Golden Shoe Award for his brilliance.
However, Kane is eyeing another Golden Boot win, as he has already registered 20 goals so far this season in 17 games, whereas he has now scored 14 goals in 11 Bundesliga games while also providing 7 assists.
However, Harry Kane has broken Erling Haaland's record of scoring 50 goals in 50 Bundesliga games for Borussia Dortmund, before he opted to move to Manchester City in 2022.
Kane has also scored 5 penalties among the 14 he scored. He spoke to DAZN after the Augsburg game regarding the penalties:
"I work on them a lot, they're a big part of the game. They helped us again today.
"Of course I've missed many at training, but that's the time to miss them."
Kane's dream scoring spree continues as he has already scored three hat-tricks in Bundesliga including the Augsburg match last night, and it will be very interesting to see where Kane's goalscoring tally reaches this season!
Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for most international goals of all time, as part of his enduring pursuit of titles and records. In this article, we'll look at the active football players with the most international goals.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Top 12 players with most hat-tricks in football in the 21st century
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored the most hat-tricks in football in the 21st century. Here are the top 12 players with most hat-tricks in football in the 21st century.
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
Aguero has scored a record 12 Premier League hat-tricks. Image | mancity.com
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.
Competition
Club
Date
Match
Goals
LaLiga
Atlético de Madrid
May 21, 2011
RCD Mallorca 3–4 Atlético de Madrid
3
Premier League
Manchester City
Sep 10, 2011
Man City 3–0 Wigan Athletic
3
FA Cup
Manchester City
Jan 25, 2014
Man City 4–2 Watford FC
3
Premier League
Manchester City
Oct 18, 2014
Man City 4–1 Tottenham Hotspur
4
UEFA Champions League
Manchester City
Nov 25, 2014
Man City 3–2 Bayern Munich
3
Premier League
Manchester City
May 10, 2015
Man City 6–0 Queens Park Rangers
3
International Friendlies
Argentina
Jun 7, 2015
Argentina 5–0 Bolivia
3
Premier League
Manchester City
Oct 3, 2015
Man City 6–1 Newcastle United
5
Premier League
Manchester City
Apr 16, 2016
Chelsea FC 0–3 Man City
3
UEFA Champions League Qualifying
Manchester City
Aug 16, 2016
Steaua Bucharest 0–5 Man City
3
UEFA Champions League
Manchester City
Sep 14, 2016
Man City 4–0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
3
Premier League
Manchester City
Sep 16, 2017
Watford FC 0–6 Man City
3
Premier League
Manchester City
Jan 20, 2018
Man City 3–1 Newcastle United
3
Premier League
Manchester City
Feb 10, 2018
Man City 5–1 Leicester City
4
Premier League
Manchester City
Aug 19, 2018
Man City 6–1 Huddersfield Town
3
Premier League
Manchester City
Feb 3, 2019
Man City 3–1 Arsenal FC
3
Premier League
Manchester City
Feb 10, 2019
Man City 6–0 Chelsea FC
3
Premier League
Manchester City
Jan 12, 2020
Aston Villa 1–6 Man City
3
11. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 18
Huntelaar scored 8 hat-tricks for Schalke. Image | uefa.com
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.
Gomez after scoring his 11th Bundesliga hat-trick. Image | uefa.com
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.
Competition
Club
Date
Match
Goals
1.Bundesliga
VfB Stuttgart
Mar 8, 2008
VfB Stuttgart 6–3 Werder Bremen
3
DFB-Pokal
VfB Stuttgart
Jan 30, 2008
Werder Bremen II 2–3 VfB Stuttgart
3
1.Bundesliga
VfB Stuttgart
Apr 18, 2009
1.FC Köln 0–3 VfB Stuttgart
3
1.Bundesliga
VfB Stuttgart
May 9, 2009
VfB Stuttgart 4–1 Wolfsburg
4
International Friendlies
Germany
Jun 2, 2009
UAE 2–7 Germany
4
1.Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Dec 19, 2010
VfB Stuttgart 3–5 Bayern Munich
3
UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich
Nov 3, 2010
CFR Cluj 0–4 Bayern Munich
3
1.Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Oct 16, 2010
Bayern Munich 3–0 Hannover 96
3
1.Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Jan 22, 2011
Bayern Munich 5–1 Kaiserslautern
3
1.Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Apr 17, 2011
Bayern Munich 5–1 Leverkusen
3
1.Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
May 7, 2011
St. Pauli 1–8 Bayern Munich
3
1.Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Aug 27, 2011
Kaiserslautern 0–3 Bayern Munich
3
1.Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Sep 10, 2011
Bayern Munich 7–0 SC Freiburg
4
UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich
Nov 2, 2011
Bayern Munich 3–2 Napoli
3
1.Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Mar 10, 2012
Bayern Munich 7–1 Hoffenheim
3
UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich
Mar 13, 2012
Bayern Munich 7–0 Basel
4
DFB-Pokal
Bayern Munich
Apr 16, 2013
Bayern Munich 6–1 Wolfsburg
3
1.Bundesliga
VfL Wolfsburg
Apr 2, 2017
Leverkusen 3–3 Wolfsburg
3
#9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 20
Ibra scored 10 hat-tricks for PSG. Image | PSG on X.
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.
Zlatan scored 20 hat-tricks in his career, among which half were for PSG. He scored four hat-tricks for his country, Sweden.
Competition
Club
Date
Match
Goals
Assists
Minutes
World Cup qualification Europe
Sweden
Sep 4, 2004
Malta 0–7 Sweden
4
–
90'
Serie A
Juventus FC
Apr 17, 2005
Juventus 5–2 Lecce
3
–
90'
European Qualifiers
Sweden
Jun 7, 2011
Sweden 5–0 Finland
3
1
66'
International Friendlies
Sweden
Nov 14, 2012
Sweden 4–2 England
4
–
90'
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Dec 11, 2012
Valenciennes 0–4 PSG
3
–
90'
UEFA Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain
Oct 23, 2013
Anderlecht 0–5 PSG
4
–
90'
International Friendlies
Sweden
Aug 14, 2013
Sweden 4–2 Norway
3
–
90'
Coupe de France
Paris Saint-Germain
Jan 8, 2014
Brest 2–5 PSG
3
1
63'
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Feb 23, 2014
Toulouse 2–4 PSG
3
–
90'
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Aug 31, 2014
PSG 5–0 AS Saint-Étienne
3
–
73'
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Mar 20, 2015
PSG 3–1 Lorient
3
1
90'
Coupe de France
Paris Saint-Germain
Apr 8, 2015
PSG 4–1 AS Saint-Étienne
3
–
90'
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Mar 13, 2016
Troyes 0–9 PSG
4
1
90'
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Apr 2, 2016
PSG 4–1 Nice
3
–
90'
UEFA Europa League
Manchester United
Feb 16, 2017
Man Utd 3–0 AS Saint-Étienne
3
1
90'
Major League Soccer
LA Galaxy
Jul 30, 2018
LA Galaxy 4–3 Orlando City
3
1
90'
Major League Soccer
LA Galaxy
Jul 20, 2019
LA Galaxy 3–2 Los Angeles FC
3
–
90'
Major League Soccer
LA Galaxy
Sep 16, 2019
LA Galaxy 7–2 Sporting Kansas City
3
–
90
#8 Neymar | 21
Neymar scored four hat-tricks for Barcelona. Image | fcbarcelona.com
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.
Competition
Club
Date
Match
Goals
Assists
Minutes
Campeonato Paulista
Santos FC
Feb 10, 2012
Botafogo FC 1–4 Santos FC
3
–
90'
Copa Libertadores
Santos FC
Mar 7, 2012
Santos FC 3–1 Internacional
3
–
90'
Campeonato Paulista
Santos FC
Mar 30, 2012
Santos FC 5–0 Guaratinguetá
3
–
90'
Campeonato Paulista (Fase final)
Santos FC
Apr 29, 2012
São Paulo FC 1–3 Santos FC
3
–
90'
International Friendlies
Brazil
Sep 11, 2012
Brazil 8–0 China
3
–
72'
UEFA Champions League
FC Barcelona
Dec 11, 2013
Barcelona 6–1 Celtic
3
1
81'
International Friendlies
Brazil
Mar 5, 2014
South Africa 0–5 Brazil
3
–
90'
International Friendlies
Brazil
Oct 14, 2014
Brazil 4–0 Japan
4
–
90'
LaLiga
FC Barcelona
Sep 27, 2014
Barcelona 6–0 Granada
3
–
90'
Copa do Brasil
Santos FC
Apr 15, 2010
Santos FC 8–1 Guarani
5
–
90'
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Santos FC
Nov 21, 2010
Goiás EC 1–4 Santos FC
3
2
90'
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Santos FC
Oct 29, 2011
Santos FC 4–1 Atlético Paranaense
4
1
90'
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Santos FC
Nov 3, 2012
Cruzeiro 0–4 Santos FC
3
1
90'
Campeonato Paulista
Santos FC
Apr 13, 2013
União Barbarense 0–4 Santos FC
4
–
90'
UEFA Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain
Oct 3, 2018
PSG 6–1 Red Star Belgrade
3
–
82'
UEFA Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain
Dec 9, 2020
PSG 5–1 Başakşehir
3
1
90'
World Cup Qual. South America
Brazil
Oct 14, 2020
Peru 2–4 Brazil
3
2
90'
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Jan 17, 2018
PSG 8–0 Dijon
4
2
90'
LaLiga
FC Barcelona
May 14, 2017
Las Palmas 1–4 Barcelona
3
1
90'
LaLiga
FC Barcelona
Oct 17, 2015
Barcelona 5–2 Rayo Vallecano
4
3
90'
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Apr 9, 2022
Clermont 1–6 PSG
3
1
90'
#7 Kylian Mbappe | 22
Mbappe till now has scored 3 hat-tricks for Real Madrid. Image | Real Madrid on X
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.
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).
Competition
Club
Date
Match
Goals
Coupe de la Ligue
AS Monaco
Dec 14, 2016
AS Monaco 7–0 Stade Rennais FC
3
Ligue 1
AS Monaco
Feb 11, 2017
AS Monaco 5–0 FC Metz
3
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Oct 7, 2018
PSG 5–0 Olympique Lyon
4
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Jan 19, 2019
PSG 9–0 EA Guingamp
3
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Apr 21, 2019
PSG 3–1 AS Monaco
3
UEFA Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain
Oct 22, 2019
Club Brugge 0–5 PSG
3
Coupe de France
Paris Saint-Germain
Mar 4, 2020
Olympique Lyon 1–5 PSG
3
UEFA Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain
Feb 16, 2021
FC Barcelona 1–4 PSG
3
Coupe de France
Paris Saint-Germain
Jan 3, 2022
Vannes OC 0–4 PSG
3
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
May 21, 2022
PSG 5–0 FC Metz
3
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Aug 21, 2022
Lille 1–7 PSG
3
World Cup 2022
France
Dec 18, 2022
Argentina 7–5 pens France
3
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Apr 9, 2022
Clermont Foot 1–6 PSG
3
Coupe de France
Paris Saint-Germain
Jan 23, 2023
Pays de Cassel 0–7 PSG
5
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Nov 11, 2023
Reims 0–3 PSG
3
European Qualifiers
France
Nov 18, 2023
France 14–0 Gibraltar
3
Coupe de France
Paris Saint-Germain
Jan 7, 2024
US Revel 0–9 PSG
3
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Mar 17, 2024
Montpellier 2–6 PSG
3
UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid
Feb 19, 2025
Real Madrid 3–1 Manchester City
3
LaLiga
Real Madrid
Jan 25, 2025
Real Valladolid 0–3 Real Madrid
3
LaLiga
Real Madrid
May 11, 2025
FC Barcelona 4–3 Real Madrid
3
#6 Erling Haaland | 25
In just two seasons, Haaland has already scored 8 Premier League hat-tricks. Image | premierleague.com
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.
Harry Kane has already scored 8 hat-tricks for FC Bayern Munich. Image | FCBayern on X
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.
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.
Suarez scored 12 hat-tricks for FC Barcelona. Image | FC Barcelona on X.
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.
Lewandowski has scored three hat-tricks for FC Barcelona. Image | FC Barcelona on X
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.
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.
Competition
Club/National Team
Date
Match
Goals
Fortuna 1 Liga
Znicz Pruszkow
Sep 19, 2007
Znicz Pruszkow 4–2 GKS Jastrzebie
3
Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund
Oct 1, 2011
Dortmund 4–0 Augsburg
3
DFB-Pokal
Borussia Dortmund
May 12, 2012
Dortmund 5–2 Bayern Munich
3
UEFA Champions League
Borussia Dortmund
Apr 24, 2013
Dortmund 4–1 Real Madrid
4
Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund
Nov 1, 2013
Dortmund 6–1 Stuttgart
3
Euro Qualifiers
Poland
Sep 7, 2014
Gibraltar 0–7 Poland
4
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Sep 22, 2015
Bayern 5–1 Wolfsburg
5
UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich
Sep 29, 2015
Bayern 5–0 Dinamo Zagreb
3
Euro Qualifiers
Poland
Jun 13, 2015
Poland 4–0 Georgia
3
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Aug 26, 2016
Bayern 6–0 Werder Bremen
3
DFB-Pokal
Bayern Munich
Aug 19, 2016
Carl Zeiss Jena 0–5 Bayern
3
World Cup Qualifiers
Poland
Oct 8, 2016
Poland 3–2 Denmark
3
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Feb 25, 2017
Bayern 8–0 Hamburg
3
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Apr 1, 2017
Bayern 6–0 Augsburg
3
World Cup Qualifiers
Poland
Jun 10, 2017
Poland 3–1 Romania
3
World Cup Qualifiers
Poland
Oct 5, 2017
Armenia 1–6 Poland
3
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Mar 10, 2018
Bayern 6–0 Hamburg
3
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Mar 31, 2018
Bayern 6–0 Dortmund
3
DFL-Supercup
Bayern Munich
Aug 12, 2018
Frankfurt 0–5 Bayern
3
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Aug 24, 2019
Schalke 0–3 Bayern
3
Euro Qualifiers
Poland
Oct 10, 2019
Latvia 0–3 Poland
3
UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich
Nov 26, 2019
Red Star Belgrade 0–6 Bayern
4
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Oct 4, 2020
Bayern 4–3 Hertha BSC
4
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Oct 24, 2020
Bayern 5–0 Eintracht Frankfurt
3
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Mar 6, 2021
Bayern 4–2 Dortmund
3
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Mar 20, 2021
Bayern 4–0 Stuttgart
3
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
May 8, 2021
Bayern 6–0 Gladbach
3
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Aug 28, 2021
Bayern 5–0 Hertha
3
UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich
Nov 2, 2021
Bayern 5–2 Benfica
3
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
Jan 15, 2022
Köln 0–4 Bayern
3
UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich
Mar 8, 2022
Bayern 7–1 Salzburg
3
UEFA Champions League
FC Barcelona
Sep 7, 2022
Barcelona 5–1 Viktoria Plzen
3
LaLiga
FC Barcelona
Apr 29, 2024
Barcelona 4–2 Valencia
3
LaLiga
FC Barcelona
Oct 6, 2024
Alavés 0–3 Barcelona
3
#2 Lionel Messi | 59
Messi scored most non-penalty hat-tricks in football history.
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.
Date
Team
Opponent
Score
Competition
Goals
Pens
10/03/2007
Barcelona
Real Madrid
3-3
La Liga
3
0
06/01/2009
Barcelona
Atlético Madrid
3-1
Copa del Rey
3
1
10/01/2010
Barcelona
Tenerife
5-0
La Liga
3
0
14/03/2010
Barcelona
Valencia
3-0
La Liga
3
0
21/03/2010
Barcelona
Real Zaragoza
4-2
La Liga
3
0
06/04/2010
Barcelona
Arsenal
4-1
Champions League
4
0
21/08/2010
Barcelona
Sevilla
4-0
Supercopa de España
3
0
20/11/2010
Barcelona
Almería
8-0
La Liga
3
0
12/01/2011
Barcelona
Real Betis
5-0
Copa del Rey
3
0
05/02/2011
Barcelona
Atlético Madrid
3-0
La Liga
3
0
17/09/2011
Barcelona
Osasuna
8-0
La Liga
3
0
24/09/2011
Barcelona
Atlético Madrid
5-0
La Liga
3
0
29/10/2011
Barcelona
Mallorca
5-0
La Liga
3
1
01/11/2011
Barcelona
Viktoria Plzen
4-0
Champions League
3
1
22/01/2012
Barcelona
Málaga
4-1
La Liga
3
0
19/02/2012
Barcelona
Valencia
5-1
La Liga
4
0
29/02/2012
Argentina
Switzerland
3-1
Friendly
3
1
07/03/2012
Barcelona
Bayer Leverkusen
7-1
Champions League
5
0
20/03/2012
Barcelona
Granada
5-3
La Liga
3
0
02/05/2012
Barcelona
Málaga
4-1
La Liga
3
2
05/05/2012
Barcelona
Espanyol
4-0
La Liga
4
2
09/06/2012
Argentina
Brazil
4-3
Friendly
3
0
20/10/2012
Barcelona
Deportivo La Coruña
5-4
La Liga
3
0
27/01/2013
Barcelona
Osasuna
5-1
La Liga
4
1
15/06/2013
Argentina
Guatemala
4-0
Friendly
3
1
01/09/2013
Barcelona
Valencia
3-2
La Liga
3
0
18/09/2013
Barcelona
Ajax
4-0
Champions League
3
0
16/03/2014
Barcelona
Osasuna
7-0
La Liga
3
0
23/03/2014
Barcelona
Real Madrid
4-3
La Liga
3
2
22/11/2014
Barcelona
Sevilla
5-1
La Liga
3
0
25/11/2014
Barcelona
APOEL
4-0
Champions League
3
0
07/12/2014
Barcelona
Espanyol
5-1
La Liga
3
0
18/01/2015
Barcelona
Deportivo La Coruña
4-0
La Liga
3
0
15/02/2015
Barcelona
Levante
5-0
La Liga
3
1
08/03/2015
Barcelona
Rayo Vallecano
6-1
La Liga
3
1
09/01/2016
Barcelona
Granada
4-0
La Liga
3
0
03/02/2016
Barcelona
Valencia
7-0
Copa del Rey
3
0
03/03/2016
Barcelona
Rayo Vallecano
5-1
La Liga
3
0
11/06/2016
Argentina
Panama
5-0
Copa América
3
0
13/09/2016
Barcelona
Celtic
7-0
Champions League
3
0
19/10/2016
Barcelona
Manchester City
4-0
Champions League
3
0
09/09/2017
Barcelona
Espanyol
5-0
La Liga
3
0
19/09/2017
Barcelona
Eibar
6-1
La Liga
4
1
11/10/2017
Argentina
Ecuador
3-1
World Cup Qualifier
3
0
07/04/2018
Barcelona
Leganés
3-1
La Liga
3
0
29/04/2018
Barcelona
Deportivo La Coruña
4-2
La Liga
3
0
30/05/2018
Argentina
Haiti
4-0
Friendly
3
1
18/09/2018
Barcelona
PSV
4-0
Champions League
3
0
16/12/2018
Barcelona
Levante
5-0
La Liga
3
0
23/02/2019
Barcelona
Sevilla
4-2
La Liga
3
0
17/03/2019
Barcelona
Real Betis
4-1
La Liga
3
0
09/11/2019
Barcelona
Celta Vigo
4-1
La Liga
3
1
07/12/2019
Barcelona
Mallorca
5-2
La Liga
3
0
22/02/2020
Barcelona
Eibar
5-0
La Liga
4
0
10/09/2021
Argentina
Bolivia
3-0
World Cup Qualifier
3
0
05/06/2022
Argentina
Estonia
5-0
Friendly
5
1
28/03/2023
Argentina
Curaçao
7-0
Friendly
3
0
15/10/2024
Argentina
Bolivia
6-0
World Cup Qualifier
3
0
19/10/2024
Inter Miami
New England
6-2
MLS
3
0
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo | 66
Ronaldo scored a record 44 hat-tricks for Real Madrid.
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.
Most goal contributions in every season since 2001 [Updated]
Here are the players with the most goal contributions (goals+assists) in every season in Europe's top 5 leagues and international competitions since 2001. Lionel Messi appears a record 9 times in this list.
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.
Players with the most goal contributions (2001-2010)
Thierry Henry finished as top goal contributor in consecutive seasons in 2003 & 2004
Year
Player
Teams
Goals + Assists
2001
Rivaldo
Barcelona, Brazil
46
2002
Raul
Real Madrid, Spain
42
2003
Thierry Henry
Arsenal, France
60
2004
Thierry Henry
Arsenal, France
55
2005
R. Makay
Bayern, Netherlands
51
2006
Ronaldinho
Barcelona, Brazil
50
2007
F. Totti
AS Roma, Italy
47
2008
L. Toni
Bayern, Italy
50
2009
Lionel Messi
Barcelona, Argentina
56
2010
Lionel Messi
Barcelona, Argentina
58
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.
Players with the most goal contributions (2011-2023)
Messi showing off the 2012 Ballon d'Or. Image | 90Min
Year
Player
Teams
Goals + Assists
2011
Lionel Messi
Barcelona, Argentina
77
2012
Lionel Messi
Barcelona, Argentina
104
2013
Lionel Messi
Barcelona, Argentina
76
2014
C. Ronaldo
Real Madrid, Portugal
68
2015
Lionel Messi
Barcelona, Argentina
88
2016
Luis Suarez
Barcelona, Uruguay
81
2017
Lionel Messi
Barcelona, Argentina
72
2018
Lionel Messi
Barcelona, Argentina
63
2019
Lionel Messi
Barcelona, Argentina
71
2020
R. Lewandowski
Bayern, Poland
65
2021
R. Lewandowski
Bayern, Poland
56
2022
Kylian Mbappe
PSG, France
65
2023
Erling Haaland
Manchester City, Norway
60
2024
Harry Kane
FC Bayern Munich, England
56
2025
Raphinha
FC Barcelona, Brazil
59
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.
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 2024-25, Raphinha finished with 59 goal contributions for FC Barcelona and Brazil.
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.
FIFA Club World Cup: Past Winners, Top Scores, Most Successful teams
From champions to individual dominance, get the ultimate guide to the FIFA Club World Cup's history. Dive into a complete list of past winners, top scorers, most successful teams in this prestigious global tournament.
What does it truly mean to be a world champion club? The FIFA Club World Cup provides the answer, pitting the best against one another in a quest for global dominance.
As the 21st edition of Club World Cup concluded with Chelsea lifting the title after a dominating 3-0 victory over PSG, it is time to look back at the history of this tournament.
This article will explore all the past winners, top scorers, most successful teams, all at once.
FIFA Club World Cup: Past Winners
Chelsea FC celebrating their 2025 FIFA CWC win. Image | AP News
The FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament designed to crown the world's best club team, first took place in 2000. It then paused for several years, from 2001 through 2004, before returning as an annual event.
Now, 2025 marked the beginning of an entirely new era for the Club World Cup, featuring an expanded format and a fresh vision for global club football. Chelsea FC, with an incredibly successful campaign, stood victorious in this format.
Check out the past winners list below:
Year
Host
Winner
Score
Runners-up
2000
Brazil
Corinthians
0-0
(4-3 p)
Vasco da Gama
2005
Japan
Sao Paulo
1-0
Liverpool
2006
Japan
Internacional
1-0
Barcelona
2007
Japan
AC Milan
4-2
Boca Juniors
2008
Japan
Manchester United
1-0
LDU Quito
2009
United Arab Emirates
Barcelona
2-1
Estudiantes
2010
United Arab Emirates
Inter Milan
3-0
TP Mazembe
2011
Japan
Barcelona
4-0
Santos
2012
Japan
Corinthians
1-0
Chelsea
2013
Morocco
Bayern Munich
2-0
Raja CA
2014
Morocco
Real Madrid
2-0
San Lorenzo
2015
Japan
Barcelona
3-0
River Plate
2016
Japan
Real Madrid
4-2
Kashima Antlers
2017
United Arab Emirates
Real Madrid
1-0
Gremio
2018
United Arab Emirates
Real Madrid
4-1
Al-Ain
2019
Qatar
Liverpool
1-0
Flamengo
2020
Qatar
Bayern Munich
1-0
UANL
2021
United Arab Emirates
Chelsea
2-1
Palmeiras
2022
Morocco
Real Madrid
5-3
Al-Hilal
2023
Saudi Arabia
Manchester City
4-0
Fluminense
2025
United States
Chelsea
3-0
Paris Saint-Germain
FIFA Club World Cup: Top Scorers
Cristiano Ronaldo with FIFA CWC Golden Boot in 2016. Image | Eurosport
Here comes the elite list where individual dominance shines:
Player
Position
Teams
Seasons
Goals
Cristiano Ronaldo
Centre-Forward
Manchester United, Real Madrid
4
7
Karim Benzema
Centre-Forward
Real Madrid, Al-Ittihad
6
6
Luis Suarez
Centre-Forward
Barcelona, Inter Miami
2
6
Lionel Messi
Right Winger
Barcelona, Inter Miami
4
6
Gareth Bale
Right Winger
Real Madrid
3
6
Salem Al-Dawsari
Left Winger
Al-Hilal SFC
4
5
Cesar Delgado
Right Winger
CF Monterrey
3
5
Federico Valverde
Central Midfield
Real Madrid
3
5
FIFA Club World Cup: Most Successful Teams
Real Madrid celebrating their 5th CWC win in 2022. Image | ESPN India
Real Madrid holds the tag of most successful team in FIFA Club World Cup history with 5 titles. Check out the other clubs that follow:
Who has scored the most goals in the 21st century? In this article, we present to you the top 13 highest-scoring footballers of the 21st century. Check where Messi and Ronaldo stand.
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
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar celebrating a winning goal in the added time for Netherlands in 2014 World Cup. Image | Facebook
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.
Samuel Eto'o celebrating a goal with a text on his shirt that reads "MERCI MAMAN," which translates to "Thank you Mom" in French. Image | X
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:
Club Matches
Club Goals
Country Matches
Country Goals
754
368
118
56
11. David Villa (426 goals) | Spain
David Villa celebrating a goal for Spain in 2010 FIFA World Cup. Image | Mint
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 forBarcelona, 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).
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).
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!
Cavani celebrating a goal against Portugal in 2018 World Cup. Image | Sky Sports
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:
Club Matches
Club Goals
International Matches
Country Goals
729
398
136
58
7. Harry Kane (461) | England
Harry Kane celebrating a goal for England. Image | ESPN
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.
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.
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.
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:
Club Matches
Club Goals
Country Matches
Country Matches
827
496
122
62
4. Luis Suarez (574 goals) | Uruguay
Luis Suarez celebrates a goal for Uruguay. Image | BBC
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.
Lewandowski celebrating a goal for his nation. Image | The Bridge
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.
Messi kissing the World Cup after their victory over France in 2022. Image | Mint
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!
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.
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.