Becoming a top football player often starts during the teenage years, and few clubs rival Barcelona in nurturing young talent. With a legacy stretching back decades, La Masia remains a leading academy. Sportz Point highlights its top 10 players.
La Masia, FC Barcelona’s iconic youth academy, has produced some of football’s most legendary players and set the standard for talent development worldwide. Producing technically brilliant midfielders and unbelievable attackers. Here, we dive into the top 10 players who rose from Barcelona’s famed academy to rule the football world.
Undoubtedly the greatest talent to emerge from Barcelona's youth academy and arguably the best to ever represent the club, Messi joined the La Liga giants in 2001 from Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys, where he had trained since he was six.
Recognizing his extraordinary potential, Barcelona committed to covering his medical treatment after he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. At 16 years, four months, and 23 days old, Messi made his first-team debut on 16 November 2003, entering the field in the 75th minute of a friendly match against José Mourinho's Porto.
His performance, which included creating two scoring opportunities and a shot on target, impressed the technical staff. Following this, he started training daily with Barcelona’s reserve team, Barcelona B and joined the first team for weekly sessions.
From 2008 to 2021, Messi achieved unprecedented success at Barcelona. He led the club to numerous titles, including 10 La Liga titles, 7 Copa del Rey titles, and 4 UEFA Champions League trophies.
His influence on the field was transformative, as he could play across various attacking positions, adapt to different tactical setups, and still deliver fantastic performances. Messi’s goal-scoring record during this time was astonishing; he became Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing legendary figures like César Rodríguez.
One of his most memorable achievements was scoring 91 goals in the 2012 calendar year, breaking the previous record set by Gerd Müller. Messi became the captain of Barcelona in 2018 and remained so till 2021.
Over his 18-year career with Barcelona’s senior team, he made 768 appearances the most in the club's history became their top goal scorer, and earned 7 Ballon d'Or awards.
Xavi Hernandez
Xavi celebrated as the greatest playmaker of his generation and a symbol of Barcelona’s tiki-taka passing style, joined La Masia at age 10. While initially inspired by Barcelona playmaker Pep Guardiola, he also grew up watching English football. Xavi made his La Liga debut on 3October 1998 in Barcelona’s 3–1 victory over Valencia.
Starting with a mix of reserve and senior team appearances, his consistent performance soon earned him a spot as a key player in Louis van Gaal’s title-winning squad, ending his debut season with 26 appearances and the 1999 La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year award.
Xavi assumed the role of Barcelona’s primary playmaker after Guardiola was injured in the 1999–2000 season. He was appointed vice-captain of Barcelona in the 2004–05 season, during which he played a crucial role in helping the team secure both La Liga and the 2004 Supercopa de España titles.
His influence on the field continued to grow, and by the 2008–09 season, Xavi was a central figure in Barcelona’s Champions League success. His exceptional playmaking in the 2009 Champions League Final, where Barcelona defeated Manchester United 2–0, earned him the title of "UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder" for his contributions.
Xavi’s influence extended to La Liga, where he was the top assist provider with 20 assists during the season. His excellence placed him among the top three contenders for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or, where he ultimately finished third, trailing only his Barcelona teammates, Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta.
After club captain Carles Puyol retired, Xavi was appointed as Barcelona's new captain, cementing his legacy within the team. On April 25, 2015, Xavi achieved a historic milestone by making his 500th La Liga appearance, becoming the eighth player in history to reach this number.
His illustrious Barcelona career concluded on June 6, 2015, during the Champions League Final against Juventus, where he entered as a substitute for Andrés Iniesta in the 78th minute. This marked his 767th and final appearance for the club, as Barcelona went on to secure their fifth European Cup.
After coaching in the Middle East, Xavi returned to the Nou Camp in November 2021 as Barcelona’s manager. In his stint as Manager, he helped the club to win the 2022/2023 La Liga title joining the League of Players to win a league title as a player and a coach.
At age 12, Andrés Iniesta was playing for Albacete Balompié in a junior seven-a-side tournament when he caught the attention of scouts from clubs across Spain. His family had connections with Barcelona’s youth team coach, Enrique Orizaola, who persuaded them to consider sending Iniesta to La Masia, Barcelona’s renowned youth academy.
A visit to La Masia with his parents convinced them to enroll Iniesta in the academy, setting him on a path toward the club’s first team. Iniesta joined Barcelona’s senior squad during Radomir Antić’s tenure as head coach. He made his debut on October 29, 2002, in a 1–0 away victory over Club Brugge during the UEFA Champions League group stage.
In the 2004–05 season, Iniesta played in 37 out of 38 league matches—more than any other Barcelona player that season—although 25 of those appearances were as a substitute. He scored twice, helping Barcelona clinch the La Liga title.
When Xavi was sidelined with an injury at the start of the 2005–06 season, Iniesta found himself in a more regular starting role in midfield, where he continued to improve and develop. Following the retirements of Carles Puyol and later Xavi, Iniesta eventually became Barcelona’s captain.
He was named man of the match in the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final, assisting Ivan Rakitić's opening goal in a 3–1 win over Juventus at Berlin's Olympiastadion. This victory made Barcelona the first club in history to win two trebles of domestic league, domestic cup, and European Cup. Iniesta was among the seven players who had been part of both historic treble-winning teams.
Though he signed a lifetime contract with Barcelona, Iniesta announced on April 27, 2018, that he would leave the club at the end of the season. He made his 674th and final appearance on May 20 in a 1–0 home victory over Real Sociedad, as Barcelona celebrated their 25th league title and 30th Copa del Rey win.
Over his career, Iniesta became Spain’s most decorated footballer, amassing 35 trophies, including nine La Liga titles and four Champions League victories. Internationally, Iniesta played a pivotal role in Spain’s 2010 World Cup triumph, famously scoring the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands, securing Spain’s first and only World Cup title.
Carles Puyol
Puyol remains very famous for his World Cup semi-final goal against Germany, which helped them qualify for and win the final in 2010. The legendary Catalonian defender, dedicated his entire career to Barcelona, primarily as a center-back, though he was equally skilled on either side of the defense.
Renowned for his leadership and formidable defensive abilities, Puyol earned the nickname "El Tiburón" ("The Shark") for his fierce presence on the field. In 1998, Barcelona considered a transfer to Málaga due to competition from Frank de Boer and Michael Reiziger, but Puyol chose to stay and earn his place in the team.
Promoted by Louis van Gaal, he debuted in La Liga on October 2, 1999, contributing to a 2–0 win against Real Valladolid. Named captain in 2004 after Luis Enrique's retirement, Puyol led Barcelona with unwavering determination until his retirement in 2014.
Over his illustrious career, he played 593 matches, won 18 major titles—including six La Liga championships and three Champions League trophies—and was named UEFA's "Best European Right-Back" in 2002.
Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fàbregas began his football journey with CE Mataró before joining Barcelona’s La Masia academy at age 10 in 1997. Admiring then-captain Pep Guardiola, Fàbregas dreamed of Barcelona’s first team. However, with limited chances for promotion, he signed with Arsenal’s academy on September 11, 2003.
In the 2004–05 season, Fàbregas began making senior appearances, debuting against Manchester United in the FA Community Shield. When Vieira was injured, he took on a larger role, starting four consecutive Premier League games.
By 2006–07, Fàbregas had established himself as a creative force for Arsenal, finishing the season with 13 assists—second highest in the league. His standout performance earned him the Golden Boy award, a spot on the 2006 UEFA Team of the Year, and Premier League Player of the Month for January 2007.
Though he was a finalist for both the PFA Players' Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards, these went to Cristiano Ronaldo. Arsenal fans voted him Player of the Season in June 2007.
On November 24, 2008, Fàbregas was named Arsenal captain, succeeding William Gallas. Mid-season, however, a knee injury sidelined him for four months, and Arsenal finished without a trophy, placing fourth in the league and reaching the Champions League semifinals.
Barcelona re-signed Fàbregas on August 15, 2011, for €29 million plus bonuses, ending a lengthy transfer saga. His debut season was successful, winning the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup, with 15 goals, 20 assists, and four best midfielder awards.
On June 12, 2014, Chelsea signed Fàbregas on a five-year contract for around €33 million. He won the Premier League in 2017 and the FA Cup in 2018 before leaving in January 2019. After stints at Monaco and Como, Fàbregas retired on July 1, 2024, closing a remarkable career.
Pep Guardiola
Widely regarded as the greatest football manager of all time Pep Guardiola joined La Masia from Gimnàstic de Manresa at age 13. Rising through Barcelona's youth ranks over six years, he made his senior debut in 1990 against Cádiz and quickly became a regular in the 1992/1993 season
At just 20, Guardiola played a pivotal role in Barcelona's La Liga and European Cup victories, even being hailed by Italy’s Guerin Sportivo magazine as the world’s best player under 21. Under Bobby Robson in 1996–97, Guardiola helped Barcelona secure the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, and the European Cup Winners' Cup.
Named captain by new manager Louis van Gaal in 1997, Guardiola led with distinction. However, on April 11, 2001, he announced he would leave Barcelona after 17 years, his final appearance for the club came on June 24, 2001, against Celta Vigo, appearing in 479 games and winning 16 trophies over 12 seasons.
On the international stage, Guardiola debuted for Spain on October 14, 1992, in a friendly against Northern Ireland, and that year captained Spain to a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics.
Guardiola's managerial journey began with Barcelona B in 2007, and by 2008, he took charge of the senior team. Over four seasons, he led them to three La Liga titles, and two Champions Leagues, and achieved the club’s first treble in 2009.
In 2013, he moved to Bayern Munich, winning three Bundesliga titles, a Club World Cup, and two DFB-Pokals over three seasons. Now at Manchester City, Guardiola continues to break records, including setting the longest Champions League winning streak at 26 games (2022-2024), surpassing Manchester United’s previous record of 25 (2007-2009).
Born in Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Víctor Valdés joined Barcelona’s youth setup from Peña Cinco Copas on July 1, 1992. By the 2003–04 season, he had claimed the position of first-choice goalkeeper, and in the 2004–05 season, he was instrumental in Barcelona’s first league title in six years, earning the Zamora Trophy as Spain’s best-performing goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded.
In 2005–06, Valdés played a vital role in Barcelona’s European success, securing the Champions League title. His crucial saves in the final against Arsenal, including two close-range stops against Thierry Henry, helped Barcelona clinch a 2–1 victory at the Stade de France. On June 17, 2007, Valdés equaled Andoni Zubizarreta's record by starting—and never being substituted—in all 38 La Liga games that season.
Valdés set a club record for consecutive clean sheets in European competition, with a shutout against Rangers on November 7, 2007. during his time at Barcelona, he amassed six La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies, and 21 titles in total.
By the 2011–12 season, Valdés had broken Zubizarreta’s records for the most appearances by a goalkeeper in both league and official competitions, cementing his legacy at the club. He retired from football officially in January 2018.
Gerard Pique
Piqué joined La Masia at age 10, where he quickly distinguished himself as a gifted defender with a natural understanding of the game. However, seeking more first-team opportunities, he moved to Manchester United in 2004.
During his time with United, Piqué honed his defensive skills and gained valuable experience, ultimately contributing to the club’s Premier League and Champions League successes in the 2007–08 season. This formative experience set the stage for his return to Barcelona.
Upon his return to Barcelona in 2008, Piqué was welcomed by manager Pep Guardiola, and he quickly proved himself indispensable to the team. Known for his composure, technical skill, and ability to read the game, Piqué became a core component of Barcelona’s defense, fitting seamlessly into the club style.
His contributions helped Barcelona achieve unprecedented success, including the historic treble in the 2008–09 season—winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League in one season. This marked Barcelona’s first treble, and Piqué’s defensive reliability was crucial to the team’s achievement. Piqué would go on to be part of two more historic trebles, in 2014–15, which established Barcelona as the only club to achieve this feat twice.
Throughout his time at Barcelona, Piqué’s trophy cabinet expanded to include six La Liga titles, three UEFA Champions League trophies, six Copa del Rey titles, six Supercopa de España titles, three UEFA Super Cups, and three FIFA Club World Cups.
His defensive consistency and footballing intelligence earned him individual accolades, including being named La Liga’s Best Defender in 2009–10 and multiple selections to the UEFA Team of the Year and the FIFA FIFPro World XI.
Piqué’s international career with Spain was equally remarkable. Forming a formidable partnership with Sergio Ramos, he was a crucial part of Spain’s golden era. In 2010, he helped Spain secure its first FIFA World Cup, anchoring a defense that conceded just two goals in the tournament and set a record for consecutive clean sheets in the knockout stages.
Two years later, he was instrumental in Spain’s Euro 2012 triumph, solidifying their dominance in international football. Over his international career, Piqué earned 102 caps, scoring five goals and proving himself as one of Spain’s most reliable defenders on the global stage.
As Piqué retired in 2022, he left a lasting legacy with 616 appearances for Barcelona, 53 goals, and 30 major trophies—a record that solidifies his place as one of the most decorated players in the club’s history.
Pedro was born on July 28, 1987, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. His football journey began at San Isidro, a local club in Tenerife, where he displayed his technical prowess and versatility as a forward. His talent soon caught the attention of FC Barcelona scouts, and in 2004, at the age of 17, he joined the prestigious La Masia academy.
Pedro’s official debut for Barcelona’s first team came in January 2008 in a Copa del Rey match, and he made his La Liga debut later that season. However, it was during the 2008–09 season that he truly began to shine.
He played a pivotal role as the club achieved an unprecedented treble in the 2008–09 season, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League. Pedro’s adaptability allowed him to thrive in various attacking roles, complementing the skills of Lionel Messi, Xavi, and Andrés Iniesta.
During his time at Barcelona, Pedro won an astounding 20 major trophies, including five La Liga titles, three UEFA Champions League titles, three Copa del Rey titles, and two FIFA Club World Cups.
After over a decade with Barcelona, Pedro transferred to Chelsea in the English Premier League in 2015. During his five-year stint with Chelsea, Pedro added to his trophy cabinet with a Premier League title in the 2016–17 season, an FA Cup in 2018, and a UEFA Europa League title in 2019
Sergio Busquets
Sergio Busquets was born on July 16, 1988, in Sabadell, Spain. Football ran in his family, as his father, Carles Busquets, was a former goalkeeper for Barcelona. Busquets joined La Masia, Barcelona's famed youth academy, in 2005, where he initially struggled to make a name for himself among the academy’s ranks.
However, under the guidance of Barcelona B coach Pep Guardiola, Busquets began to flourish, developing his trademark tactical intelligence and vision. Guardiola, who would later become his first-team coach, saw immense potential in Busquets’ ability to read the game, control tempo, and anticipate opponents' moves.
Busquets made his first-team debut for Barcelona in a 2008 La Liga match against Racing Santander. His performance, marked by calmness, technical skill, and defensive acumen, caught the eye of fans.
Over the years, Busquets became renowned for his "pivot" role, where he excelled in recycling possession, intercepting passes, and dictating play from deep positions.
During his time at Barcelona, Busquets would go on to win a remarkable 32 major trophies, including nine La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, and three UEFA Champions League titles.
His impact extended beyond his statistical contributions; Busquets’ mastery of positional play and pressing transformed Barcelona’s midfield, laying the foundation for the club’s sustained success during his time.
In May 2023, Busquets announced his decision to leave Barcelona, marking the end of an era. After nearly two decades with the club, he departed as one of Barcelona’s most decorated players with 32 trophies to his name.
Cristiano Ronaldo leads the global earnings chart for the third consecutive time. Let’s take a look at the top 10 highest-paid athletes in the world and see how much they are earning.
In 2025, some of the world’s top athletes are earning huge amounts of money through their sports, brand deals and businesses. These athletes come from football, basketball, golf and other popular games. Their earnings include salaries, match winnings and endorsements from big companies. Let’s take a look at the top 10 highest-paid athletes in the world and see how much they are earning.
Kevin Durant’s Suns may not have made the playoffs, but his financial game stayed elite. His total earnings combine a $51.4 million salary with $50 million in off-court earnings through Boardroom Media and investments in Paris Saint-Germain.
He even has a soon-to-debut Netflix docuseries. His tequila brand, real estate moves, and a collaboration with Fanatics round out a sharp portfolio.
9. Shohei Ohtani | $102.5M
Though his Dodgers salary is deferred, Shohei Ohtani still walked away with $2.5 million in earnings plus postseason bonuses. But the reason he made it to this top-earners list is his headlining brand power.
Out of the total $102.5 million, $100 million came from endorsement deals across Japan and the U.S. That includes New Balance, Seiko, Beats by Dre, and a record-breaking Topps trading card sale.
8. Karim Benzema | $104M
The first footballer to enter the top 10, and for the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner, most of Karim Benzema's earnings have come from his hefty salary from his contract with Al-Ittihad, where he earns over $2 million a week, resulting in a $100 million annual salary.
Sponsors like Adidas remain loyal, even as he embraces a quieter lifestyle far from the European spotlight. Rumors now swirl about a possible shift to Major League Soccer as the 2026 World Cup nears.
7. Juan Soto | $114M
Juan Soto shattered expectations after signing a jaw-dropping 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, even by baseball’s high-spending standards. His on-field take hit $109 million. And thanks to the buzz he generated, the Mets’ ticket sales surged following his signing.
At just 26, Juan’s popularity and endorsements by the likes of Call of Duty and top Dominican brands have made him baseball’s financial poster boy, earning $114 million this year.
6. LeBron James | $133.8M
LeBron James has amassed $133.8M, appearing in the sixth position. After more than two decades in the NBA spotlight, LeBron is still making history, not just on the court but also in his bank account.
While his Lakers stint earned him $48.8 million in salary, the larger story is off-court. His production company, SpringHill, is scaling up through a major merger, and he inked a deal to become the first athlete turned Ken doll.
5. Lionel Messi | $135M
Although he is the second-highest paid soccer player, Lionel Messi only ranks as the fifth-highest paid athlete. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner brought home $135 million.
To millions of people, Messi will forever be soccer’s GOAT. Naturally, his arrival in Major League Soccer wasn’t a mere player acquisition for Inter Miami but a transformative event for the league’s global standing. While his $60 million salary is a substantial figure, his endorsements with Adidas and Apple, alongside his own Mas+ beverage, earn him even more, around $75 million.
Dak Prescott, American professional football quarterback who plays for the Dallas Cowboys, earns $137 million this year. This quarterback-turned-financial-play-caller knows how to read a market as well as a defense.
First, Prescott made history with a contract structure that paid him $127 million in salary and bonuses within 12 months. Next were endorsements with Jordan Brand and Lowe’s that added another $10 million to his name. He’s also building a gym empire in Texas via Crunch Fitness partnerships.
3. Tyson Fury | $146M
Boxer Tyson Fury claimed third place with $146 million. Despite losing his world heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk in December, Fury's income has been boosted by partnerships promoting Maltese tourism and his Netflix reality show named “At Home With the Furys.”
2. Stephen Curry | $156M
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry comes 2nd on the list of highest-paid athletes of the year, earning $156 million. Curry became the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career three-pointers in March this year.
Of Curry's $156 million haul, $100 million comes from off-court dealings, including a major extension with Under Armour’s Curry Brand. He’s invested in everything from hydration startups to women’s basketball leagues. On the hardwood, he still drains threes while mentoring future stars at Davidson, where he now serves as an assistant GM.
For the third year in a row, and the fifth time overall, Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s highest-paid athlete. At age 40, the Portuguese soccer superstar is reaching new highs.
Over the past 12 months, counting both his playing salary at Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr and his off-field business endeavors, Ronaldo collected an estimated $275 million before taxes and agent fees - the third-best year by an active athlete ever measured by Forbes. On that all-time list, Ronaldo is surpassed only by boxer Floyd Mayweather, who earned $300 million in 2015 and $285 million in 2018.
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.
Greatest football XI of all-time: Lamine Yamal keeps Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar in his team
Teenage football star Lamine Yamal created his greatest football XI of all time, which had legends like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. and four Spanish team greats.
Lamine Yamal just created his greatest football XI of all time with Real Madrid and Barcelona legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The recently turned 18 year old teenage star has been one of the best footballers in the world currently from two seasons.
The Spaniard had a Ballon d'Or 2025 worthy season with FC Barcelona as he helped the Catalan club regain La Liga and win a domestic treble. Not only that, he was super influential in Spain winning the Euro 2024 as he was named the best young player of the tournament.
The La Masia product has recently signed a groundbreaking contract with FC Barcelona till 2031. Moreover you will be wearing the famous No. 10 jersey of Lionel Messi from 2025-26 season.
Yamal made an appearance on China Media Group's "Total Soccer" program and he was asked to create his greatest football XI of all-time. The youngster made an scintillating attack consisting Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentine great Lionel Messi. Not only that he had four Spain legends in his lineup as most of his XI players are from La Liga giants FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
With more than 400 clean sheets in his entire career Iker Casillas is one of the greatest goalkeepers of the modern football. The Spaniard was not only athletic but was brave in making decisions while pulling up some great saves for Real Madrid and the Spanish national team.
Iker Casillas is the player with second most apperances for Los Blancos and led them to many titles in his career. Not only that as he was as much a key player for Spain as he led the La Roja to their first major trophy in 44 years when they won the Euro 2008. Casillas had only conecced two goals in that entire tournameent.
Casillas won 23 major trophies in his career which includes 3 UEFA Champions League, 2 European Championships, 5 La Liga titles, and a FIFA World Cup.
Level
Team / Category
Appearances
Goals Conceded
Clean Sheets
Club
Real Madrid
725
751
264
FC Porto
156
116
74
Real Madrid B
4
2
2
Club Career Total
885
869
340
International
Total International Career
167
102
93
Total Career
Club + International
1,052
971
433
Right-Back
Dani Alves
Image | FC Barcelona
43 career trophies, the second most in football history, trophies across Europe, 280 goal contributions as a right-back and countless brave tackles, Dani Alves is surely one of the greats of the game.
Although the Brazilian ended his career with bitter sweet experiences and cotroveries, no one can deny his ceredbilty as a footballer.
Alves won 43 trophies in career, which had 3 Champions Leagues with FC Barcelona and 9 League titles across three leagues along with one Olympic title with Brazil.
Here comes the two of the greatest center-backs of the modern era. Both defenders were part of the Golden generation of Spanish football where they won back-to-back three international trophies from 2008 to 2012.
Pique, who won 39 trophies for FC Barcelona, Manchester United and Spain, had a stellar career as a defender. The FC Barcelona legend won four Champions League titles along with 9 La Liga titles, which makes him one of the most successful defenders of all-time.
Pique's stats
Level
Team / Category
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Club
Barcelona
616
53
13
Real Zaragoza
28
3
-
Manchester United
23
2
1
Club Career Total
667
58
14
International
Spain
102
5
2
Total Career
Club + International
769
63
16
Meantime, Ramos who is one of highest scoring defenders in football history is known for his performances in clutch moments. Moreover, he was crucial for Real Madrid as a leader and defender while winning four Champions League for them.
Ramo's stats
Level
Team / Category
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Club
Real Madrid
671
101
40
Sevilla FC
87
10
1
Paris SG
58
6
1
Monterrey
15
5
-
Club Career Total
831
122
42
International
Spain
180
23
8
Total Career
Club + International
1,011
145
50
Left-back
Marcelo
Marcelo, the Brazilian defender is one of the most loved players of the modern era. Quoted by Cristiano Ronaldo as the one of the best players he has played with, the Real Madrid legend won 5 Champions League titles and 6 La Liga, all for the Los Blancos.
Marcelo played 546 games for Real Madrid while having 58 appearences for Brazil.
Level
Team / Category
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Club
Real Madrid
546
38
103
Fluminense
107
11
5
Olympiacos
10
3
-
Club Career Total
663
52
108
International
Brazil
58
6
11
Total Career
Club + International
721
58
119
Attacking mid-field
Zinedine Zidane
Image | Football Espana
Now if we are talking about class, clutch moments, flair and midfield greatness, you will have to have Zinedine Zidane in your playing XI. Lamine Yamal thus had the French and Real Madrid great in his playing XI.
Zidane, the 1998 Ballon d'Or winner with Juventus, helped Franch win the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In total he won 16 major trophies in his career.
Zidane formed a teriffic mid-field in that Galactico team in the mid 2000s with Luis Figo, Ronaldo Nazario, David Beckham and Roberto Carlos. His peformance in big moments influenced Yamal chose over Barcelona legends like Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets in his greatest football XI.
Zidane won only Champions League title, in which he scored in the final, against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002.
Probbaly the greatest showstopper of the modern football, Neymar Jr., formed one of the greatest trios of football alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
The Brazilian's dribbling skill had made him one of the biggest attackers in the world which made PSG sign him for a controversial record fee of £200m. Neymar scored the most goals for his country, Brazil while raking up goals for teams like FC Barcelona, PSG and Santos.
The greatest playmaker in football history, Lionel Messi was a no-brainer in Lamine Yamal's greatest football XI of all-time. With 46 trophies, Messi is the player with most trophies in football history. Moreover, the Agrentine is the player with most goal contributions in football history.
El calendario solidario de la @FundacioFCB 2008 en colaboración con @sport protagonizado por Leo Messi, Lamine Yamal y otros jugadores del primer equipo. 🤩
Una acción social para recaudar fondos para UNICEF y para los programas de protección de la infancia de la Fundación Barça… pic.twitter.com/PHqBhEYGaT
The 8-time Ballon d'Or winner, just like Lamine Yamal himself, was a La Masia product. Not only that, he was the one who had early connection with Yamal, in a once-in-a-generation photos for UNESCO, where Messi was seen holding a toddler Lamine Yamal.
Messi, who has the record of most non-penalty goals in 21st century, scored the most goals for FC Barcelona and Argentina and surely will be there in everyone's all-time football XI.
Level
Team / Category
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Club
Barcelona
778
672
303
Paris SG
75
32
35
Miami
68
58
26
Club Career Total
921
762
364
International
Argentina
193
112
61
Total Career
Club + International
1,114
874
425
Right Wing
Ronaldinho
Image | FC Barcelona
Ronaldinho's presence on the right wing proves how much Lamine Yamal is influenced with Brazilian style of football. Ronaldinho, the 2005 Ballon d'Or winner was one of the most eye-catching footballers of his time.
The former FC Barcelona legend had the flair, style and skill which made even the opponents appreciate him.
However his off-field life shoretned his carrer, which could have become more legendary. He won 11 major trophies including one Champions League and one FIFA World Cup.
The greatest goalscorer of the world with 938 goals and counting for his clubs and country combined, is a must in any World XI. Ronaldo, who started as a winger at Manchester United, became a goal scoring machine at Real Madrid.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has won 36 major trophies in his career, including 5 Champions League titles and one European Championships.
Ronaldo's pace, agression, and will to score goal is an asset for any team and looks like Yamal knows that too.
Level
Team / Category
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Club
Real Madrid
438
450
131
Manchester United
346
145
64
Juventus
134
101
22
Al-Nassr
105
93
19
Sporting CP
31
5
6
Club Career Total
1,060
800
242
International
Portugal
221
138
45
International Career Total
221
138
–
Total Career
1,275
938
287
Striker
Ronaldo Nazario
Image | FC Barcelona
Now, here is the ultimate striker. The finishing skill, goal scoring ability, flair, agression, shooting and the ball control - all of these makes Ronaldo Nazario the ultimate striker.
The two-time Ballon d'Or winner is the youngest winner of the award, when he won it in 1997 while playing for Inter Milan, after a successful 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Ronaldo won 18 major trophies in his career and is the only player on this list two have played for both Ral Madrid and FC Barcelona. However, he is the only player not to win the Champions League which he has compensted by winning two FIFA World Cup titles.
Messi vs Ronaldo: Who has scored the most non-penalty goals?
As Lionel Messi went past Cristiano Ronaldo's record of most non-penalty goals in the 21st century, we present you with a detailed Messi vs Ronaldo comparison of the stat.
If you're a football buff, getting into every Messi vs Ronaldo stat and comparison might be a daily task for you. On Sportz Point, we have tried to cover every Messi vs Roanldo comparison possible for you. Today, we have something special for you.
In this article, we will get to know every detail about the non-penalty goals scored by both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Recently, Lionel Messi has gone past Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of scoring the most non-penalty goals in the 21st century. How many goals did they score? We will get to know about this today.
This is quite easy and simple to understand. We know for a football geek like you, it is a simple answer. But, for everyone new to football, we have got you covered as well.
A non-penalty goal is a goal scored from open play, not from the penalty spot. A penalty is something a footballer scores from 12 yards (11 meters) from the goal line and centred between the touchlines, which is called the penalty spot.
Since there is no definite record of the official goals scored in past, mostly in the 1970s, and before that, we will only consider the stats of the 21st century to answer this one.
As of 21st July, 2025, Lionel Messi has scored the most non-penalty goals in the 21st century. The Argentine has scored 764 non-penalty goals in just 1114 appearances.
Messi vs Ronaldo: Non-penalty goals comparison
Messi after scoring his 764th non-penalty goal. Image | Inter Miami CF on X
Lionel Messi leads by one goal compared to Cristiano Ronaldo when it comes to non-penalty goals scored in football. Messi has scored 764 non-penalty goals in just 1114 appearances, of which 676 came for the clubs he has played for.
Messi has scored 111 non-penalty goals in the Champions League as well.
Ronaldo after his latest goal for Al-Nassr. Image | AlNassrFC on X
Meantime, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored the most goals in the 21st century, has scored 763 non-penalty goals till now in 1281 matches. Ronaldo has scored 646 non-penalty goals in his club career, which is 30 fewer than Messi's record.
However, the Portuguese has a better record than Messi when it comes to the Champions League and international football. But he has played 167 more matches than Messi.
Category
Messi – Goals
Messi – Mins/Goal
Ronaldo – Goals
Ronaldo – Mins/Goal
All-Time Non-Pen Goals
764
120 mins
763
137 mins
All-time Non-Pen goals%
87.5%
-
81.35
-
All Time Club
676
112 mins
646
135 mins
League
474
107 mins
453
130 mins
Champions League
111
123 mins
121
135 mins
Other Club Cups
91
125 mins
72
170 mins
International
88
181 mins
117
151 mins
What percentage of Messi and Ronald's goals came in penalties?
Till now, Messi has converted 110 of the 141 he has taken so far. So, since he has scored 874 goals so far in his career, only 12.5% goals came through penalties.
Meanwhile, as of 21st July, 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 175 penalty goals of the 208 penalties he has taken so far. And if we calculate it with the 938 career goals Ronaldo has, 18.65% goals came through penalties.
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.