Top 5 Fastest players to score 250 career goals in the 21st century: Who tops the list?
In this article, explore the footballers who have ensured their places in the record books as the Fastest players to score 250 career goals in the 21st century.
The Norwegian goal-machine powered a header into the net to score City's only goal in the game, which took him to reach the milestone of 250 senior club goals.
The 24-year-old striker is now on par with the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have named themselves as one of the fastest footballers to achieve such a feat.
However, where does the Norwegian striker find himself among the fastest players to achieve this impressive milestone? In this article, Sportz Point finds the answer by exploring the Top 5 Fastest players to score 250 career goals in the 21st century.
Top 5 Fastest players to score 250 career goals in the 21st century
5. Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo
Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo are both considered one of the finest goalscorers to ever play football, as their numbers surely back the statement.
Lewandowski, the current FC Barcelona forward, completed his milestone of 250 senior club goals while playing his 451st game in senior club football.
Before ascending to greatness with a long-standing career withBayern Munich, Lewandowski played for Znicz Pruszcow, Lech Poznan, and Borussia Dortmund, accumulating a total of 165 goals while playing for these three clubs. As of now, Lewandowski has scored 598 goals in 803 appearances in his senior club career.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese great, is on the same par with Lewandowski as he also took 451 games to reach the 250-goal milestone.
Starting his senior career with Sporting CP, Ronaldo played for Manchester United before joining Real Madrid, where he completed the milestone and went on to etch himself as one of the greatest footballers ever born. The current Al-Nassr forward has a remarkable 780 club goals in 1037 games.
4. Harry Kane
Harry Kane took 431 games to reach the 250-goal milestone in senior club football as he achieved this feat while playing for his beloved Tottenham Hotspur.
The current Bayern forward and England international spent some short loan stints at Norwich, Millwall, Leicester City, and Leyton Orient before permanently joining Tottenham in 2013. Since then, the 31-year-old forward has registered 366 goals in 572 appearances as of now, proving himself as one of the most lethal goalscorers of this generation.
3. Kylian Mbappe
Considered to be the footballer to inherit the legacies of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe only made 332 appearances to reach 250 senior club goals.
The French youngster broke the headlines while playing for AS Monaco, as he made a blockbuster move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. Mbappe has already bagged 312 goals in just 417 games- a staggering figure for a 26-year-old player.
Now that he is playing for Real Madrid, despite having a slow start, it can be surely said that the goalscoring milestones are not safe, as Kylian Mbappe will chase after those.
Arguably the greatest of all time, Lionel Messi truly lived up to the hype as the ultimate wonder-kid by reaching the 250-goal mark in only 327 appearances.
Playing for FC Barcelona since his youth days, the Argentinian quickly established himself as a world-class player at a young age. At that point, he also bagged 100 assists along with his 250 goals. Messi not only emerged as one of the greatest footballers of this generation but also won the Ballon d’Or twice at that time.
Currently donning the Inter Miami shirt, Messi has 738 senior club goals in 892appearances to his name.
1. Erling Haaland
After scoring against Arsenal on Sunday, Erling Haaland registered his 250th goal in senior club football after making only 313 appearances for Bryne, Molde, Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund, and Manchester City.
Haaland topping the chart with such all-time greats on the list is surprising but for the Norwegian goal-machine. Since joining City in the summer of 2022, Haaland has broken numerous records and received several personal honors, including two Premier League Golden Boots in both of his full campaigns to date.
With such an immense record at his disposal, no one knows where Erling Haaland will stop as the 24-year-old has a long career ahead of him, and he will surely continue to dominate the charts as one of the best goalscorers of this generation.
Levante vs FC Barcelona, La Liga 2025-26 Recap: Barcelona script a 3-2 comeback win against spirited Levante
Read the highlights of the Levante vs FC Barcelona, La Liga 2025-26 match at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium in Valencia as the defending champions managed a narrow 3-2 comeback win over the hosts.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE blog coverage of the highly anticipated La Liga clash between Levante and FC Barcelona for the 2025-26 season.
I’m Barnali Debnath, bringing you minute-by-minute updates, expert commentary, and all the latest news from this exciting encounter.
Both teams are eager to make a strong statement early in the campaign, with Levante aiming to leverage their home advantage and Barcelona looking to assert their dominance with their star-studded lineup.
Stay tuned here for live scores, tactical insights, key moments, and post-match analysis as the drama unfolds on the pitch.
Whether you’re a die-hard supporter or a neutral fan, this is your go-to spot for comprehensive coverage of Levante vs FC Barcelona!
LIVE Updates
Aug 23, 2025, 7:29 PM
FINAL Score
Aug 23, 2025, 9:36 PM
Full time | Levante 2-3 Barcelona
Barcelona managed a narrow win despite a spirited performance from Levante.
Despite going down 0-2 at halftime, they won 3-2 with a late own goal from Elguezabal.
Pedri and Ferran scored the other goals for the Catalan club. Full points for Hansi Flick and his team.
⌛Full-time | Levante 2-3 FC Barcelona
Barcelona managed a narrow win despite a spirited performance from Levante.
Despite going down 0-2 at halftime, they won 3-2 with a late own goal from Elguezabal.
In a counterattack Romero found Morales, nearly one-on-one, but Balde came in running to make the tackle and win the ball.
Aug 23, 2025, 8:21 PM
45+3' | Yellow card
Yellow card for Martinez for a foul on Lamine Yamal, just outside the box.
Aug 23, 2025, 8:19 PM
45' | Raphinha misses the target
Balde's cross from the left found Raphina inside the box.
However, his header missed the target by few inches.
Aug 23, 2025, 8:18 PM
45' | 3 minutes added
3 minutes of the injury time.
Aug 23, 2025, 8:17 PM
44' | Yellow card
Yellow card for Balde for dissent.
Aug 23, 2025, 8:15 PM
41' | Huge chance for Levante
De La Fuente's header goes wide. He had made a timely run to meet the ball from the lofted free-kick. Huge chance.
Aug 23, 2025, 8:13 PM
40' | Weak shot from Lamine
Lamine Yamal plays a quick one-two and then goes for a shot with his left foot. Normally, you expect him to do better here but his weak shot goes straight to Cunat.
Aug 23, 2025, 8:11 PM
37' | Ferran hits the crossbar
A chaos inside the box by Levante defender and Pedri found Ferran inside the box.
Although he was nearly one-on-one against Cunat, he hit the crossbar.
Aug 23, 2025, 8:09 PM
35' | Save from Cunat
After lots of passes and plays, Pedri decided to make a quick turn and take a shot from the edge of the box.
But, it went straight to Cunat.
Aug 23, 2025, 8:04 PM
Colling break
Aug 23, 2025, 8:04 PM
30' | Chance for Morales
The 38-year-old striker had timed his run perfectly. But Marc Casado won the ball back from him inside the box.
Aug 23, 2025, 8:01 PM
27' | Save from Cunat
Rashford, Balde and Ferran played a very quick move with Ferran side-footing the ball from inside the box.
But it was eventually an easy save from Cunat.
Aug 23, 2025, 8:00 PM
27' | Yamal looks for Ferran
Yamal looks for Ferran with a through ball. However, it was too quick for Ferran to recieve it.
Aug 23, 2025, 7:58 PM
24' | Corner for FC Barcelona
Manu Sanchez is doing a great job of marking Lamine. But, Lamine was able to enter the box. Though his effort was deflected away for a corner.
Aug 23, 2025, 7:54 PM
20' | Yamal looks for Ferran
Lamine puts a great cross from the right, looking for Ferran. However, he could not meet the ball and Cunat made an easy save.
Aug 23, 2025, 7:53 PM
They deserve it
📸 - LOOK AT THESE LITTLE LEVANTE FANS, THEY ARE IN FRONT AGAINST THE LA LIGA CHAMPIONS!
GOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL ROMEROOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN BARCELONA HAVE GONE BEHIND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/X5OKS05qXE
15' | RRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOMMMMMEEERRRRROOOO | LEV 1-0 BAR
No offside this time, and Ivan Romero scores for Levante.
Toljan tapped the cross from the left, and Romero first played the dummy and then went for the goal to beat Joan Garcia.
Levante 0-1 Barcelona
Aug 23, 2025, 7:46 PM
13' | This could have gone anywhere
Balde's shot from the edge of the box was deflected and it could have gone anywhere. It goes for a corner.
Aug 23, 2025, 7:46 PM
12' | Save from Cunat
Marcus Rashford tries his luck with a lofted shot from the left. But Cunat was cautious and made the save.
Aug 23, 2025, 7:45 PM
12' | Offside again
I think you will have to hear this term all over the next 90 minutes. Barcelona are playing in the midfield, actually.
Aug 23, 2025, 7:43 PM
10' | Lamine does his trick
On the left, inside the box, he nearly dribbled past three defenders before he was blocked, and Barcelona won the corner.
Aug 23, 2025, 7:42 PM
8' | Goal but offside
Morales scores for Levante but he is offside by a mile.
Aug 23, 2025, 7:41 PM
7' | Levante holding a 5-4-1 position
Except for Morales, everyone is keeping their position, and Levante's shape is 5-4-1, and they would look to score in a counterattack.
Aug 23, 2025, 7:39 PM
6' | Raphina misses the target
Raphinha, who is playing a bit central tonight, takes a shot from outside the box. He skied the ball up in the air while doing that.
Aug 23, 2025, 7:39 PM
5' | Save from Cunat
Rashford, on the left, from close range, wanted to score from the byline. However, Cunat, who is the main goalkeeper of Spain U-21 team, made the save.
Aug 23, 2025, 7:37 PM
4' | Yamal looks for Rashford
Do not know if he was looking for Rashford or if he was going for the goal, but Lamine could not get a proper connection. The deflection allowed Barcelona have thier first corner.
Aug 23, 2025, 7:36 PM
2' | Barcelona keeping a very high line
From the start, Barcelona has kept a very high line. Ivan Romaro was caught offside.
Aug 23, 2025, 7:33 PM
1' | Kick-off
Here we go! Barcelona in green start the proceedings in Valencia.
Starting XI: P. Cuñat, J. Toljan, Adri, U. Elguezabal, J. Cabello, M. Sánchez, R. Brugué, P. Martínez, O. Rey, J. L. Morales, I. Romero
Subs: Alejandro Primo, Diego Pampín, Nacho Pérez, Matias Moreno, Sergio Lozano, Carlos Álvarez, Iker Losada, Víctor García, Carlos Espí, Paco Cortés
Aug 23, 2025, 6:48 PM
Lineups | FC Barcelona
Starting XI: J. García, E. García, R. Araújo, P. Cubarsí, A. Balde, M. Casadó, Pedri, L. Yamal, Raphinha, M. Rashford, F. Torres
Subs: Diego Kochen, Iñaki Peña, Andreas Christensen, Jofre Torrents, Jules Koundé, Dani Olmo, Pablo Gavi, Fermín López, Toni Fernández, Dro Fernández, Robert Lewandowski
As the most popular sport, football is watched and played by people all over the country, ranging from professional leagues, to youth teams, and even families in their yards. But how much do you really know about your favourite footballers? Do you know many famous footballers actually don't use their real names in their professional careers?
Many footballers' real names are distinctly different from what are effectively stage names they use for their professional careers. Many figures even choose to go by relatively shorter names to make it easier for people all over the world to remember them by.
Let’s go ahead and dive into some real names of famous footballers you probably don't know.
Dele Alli's full name is Bamidele Jermaine Alli. He does not use his full name professionally and instead goes by "Dele Alli". Dele Alli used to be a big name in the round leather game some years back. When he was 20, he was already considered as English football’s biggest rising star.
2. Raphinha
Real Name- Raphael Dias Belloli
Raphinha's full name is 'Raphael Dias Belloli'. He does not use his full name professionally and instead goes by Raphinha. Raphinha is known for his skills in dribbling, pace, and creativity on the field. He currently plays as a winger for Leeds United in the English Premier League.
3. Moises Caicedo
Real Name- Moisés Isaac Caicedo Corozo
Caicedo's real name is 'Moisés Isaac Caicedo Corozo'. He is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for the English club Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion and for the national team of Ecuador. He is a versatile player with ability to control the tempo of the game.
4. Cole Palmer
Real Name- Cole Jermaine Palmer
Cole Palmer's full name is 'Cole Jermaine Palmer'. He is regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders in the world. The English footballer plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Premier League club Chelsea and the England national team.
Kaka is arguably one of the defining footballers of his generation. The Brazilian was the last player to win a Ballon d'Or before the decade-long duopoly between Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Kaka has several major honours to his name, including a FIFA World Cup, a UEFA Champions League, and an endless list of individual awards.
6. Van Gaal
Real Name- Aloysius Paulus Maria van Gaal
Van Gaal's full name is Aloysius Paulus Maria 'Louis' van Gaal. To some, He's one of the best managers of the past two decades, willing to sacrifice style for substance and flair for formality. To others, he’s an unnerving disciplinarian, an expert at alienating his players and fans. Whatever side of the fence you fall, few will doubt that Louis van Gaal is one of the most pragmatic managers in the modern game.
7. Fikayo Tomori
Real Name- Oluwafikayomi Oluwadamilola Tomori
Oluwafikayomi Oluwadamilola "Fikayo" Tomori is an English professional footballer known for his defensive skill as a center-back, currently playing for Serie A club AC Milan and the England national team.
8. Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Name- Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Cristiano Ronaldo aka Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro is still plying his trade in the professional game for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. However, he is already considered one of the greatest players of all time. Ronaldo has won five Ballon d'Or awards in his illustrious career, which is a record only bettered by a certain Argentine forward.
Bukayo Ayoyinka Temidayo Saka is an English professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Premier League club Arsenal and the England national team. He is often hailed as one of the greatest football players in the world.
10. Lamine Yamal
Real Name- Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana, also known as Lamine Yamal, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right winger for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team.
11. Pepe
Real Name- Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira
Former Real Madrid star Pepe is quite commonly regarded as one of the best and most aggressive defenders of his time. The centre-back is still playing European football at the age of 38, and put in a string of magnificent displays in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League. The Portuguese rolled back the years against Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus with a breathtaking showing to knock them out of the UCL.
Real Madrid vs Osasuna, La Liga 2025/26 Reacp: Real Madrid win by 1-0; Mbappe with the goal
Get the highlights of the Real Madrid vs Osasuna, La Liga 2025/26 match at the Santiago Bernabeu as Kylian Mbappe's goal from the penalty spot gave Real Madrid a 1-0 win.
Hello and welcome to Sportz Point's another LIVE blog.
Tonight we have the Real Madrid vs Osasuna match in La Liga 2025/26 as the 36-time Spanish champions look for a perfect start to the season under new coach Xabi Alonso.
Real Madrid, last season's runners-up in the league, did not have a great season overall under Carlo Ancelotti and will look for a fresh start this season.
In the meantime, Osasuna missed Champions League qualification despite finishing well last season. They will hope for a top-five finish this season, and doing well against a team like Real Madrid will do wonders for them.
This is Barnali Debnath, who will bring you all the LIVE updates of the match, including the build and post-match analysis. So, stay tuned and enjoy the coverage.
LIVE Updates
Aug 19, 2025, 7:04 PM
LIVE Score
Aug 19, 2025, 9:11 PM
Thank You
Thank you for staying up with us throughout the coverage. I hope you enjoyed the match.
Good night. See you in the next match.
Aug 19, 2025, 9:01 PM
Full time | RAM 1-0 OSA
Job done for Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso.
Three points to start the season. Mbappe with the goal from the spot.
Osasuna would not be disappointed either, as they have been able to avoid a big defeat at the Bernabeu. The red card at the end could have been avoided as well.
Real Madrid 1-0 Osasuna.
⏳Full time: Real Madrid 1-0 Osasuna
Kylian Mbappe's lone goal from the penalty spot hands Real Madrid an easy 1-0 win over Osasuna.
No changes from either team as Osasuna get us away in the second half.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:54 PM
Half-time | RMA 0-0 OSA
Target achieved for Osasuna as they have been able to head into the tunnel without conceding a goal.
They defended deep and worked hard to frustrate the Los Blancos.
Mbappe had a few chances, Vinicius too, Huijsen took a few shots, while Militao also was on target once. But, still, they have not been able to break the shackles.
Real Madrid 0-0 Osasuna at halftime.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:50 PM
45+1' | Block from Bretones
Bretones makes a good block as Mbappe's spectacular acrobatic attempt from close range was negotiated well.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:49 PM
45' | Vini asks for a penalty
Boyomo had pushed down Vinicius inside the box as he went for the ball.
But the push was not that hard to call as a penalty.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:48 PM
43' | Huijsen takes another shot
Huijsen takes another chance as there were no Real Madrid players inside the box.
He took the chance but was not on target.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:45 PM
40' | Chance for Osusana
For the first time in the match, Osasuna had the chance to go for the goal.
Militao's clearance was not good, and it fell right for Budimir to go for the goal.
However, from the edge of the box, a bit left, he missed the target.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:44 PM
Who's making the first mistake?
Aug 19, 2025, 7:43 PM
38' | Vinicius misses the target
Vinicius has now taken Mbappe's spot and went for a shot from left, towards the far post.
He missed the shot completely.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:42 PM
37' | Budimir does the defending
The Osasuna striker does the defending as Trent looked for Mbappe with a lobbed free-kick.
Real Madrid are now looking to shoot from outside the box.
Eder Militao, from 30 meters, went for a long shot. It bounced and was swinging as well. A good dive and save from Herrera
Aug 19, 2025, 7:30 PM
25' | Timid from Mbappe
Vini's cutback from the byline found Mbappe. However, his turning left-footed attempt was not good enough to beat Herrera.
It was not a good save, but it was safe.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:27 PM
21' | No goals so far
Real Madrid have looked to try a few different things with Huijsen coming a bit forward, Mbappe switching to the left and other things.
But, Osasuna have been solid, brave and aggressive in defence.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:24 PM
17' | Save from Herrera
Huijsen's right-footed volley from outside the box has been dealt well by Herrera.
The ball was going away from him and had bounced in front of him. But a well strechted dive helped him to make the save.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:20 PM
15' | Strong challenge from Boyomo
A perfectly timed challenge from Boyomo as he won the ball from Kylian Mbappe, who has swiftly changed the side and then tried to make a way through the defenders.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:18 PM
The home side!
Aug 19, 2025, 7:17 PM
11' | 'Park the Bus' already?
Not sure yet, but surely it is all defensive from the Osasuna team. They are looking to frustrate the Los Blancos and go goalless in the first 20 minutes.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:12 PM
7' | Missed target from Carreras
Enough of waiting for Carreras. He goes for the goal from the left of the box with a left-footed shot. He missed the far post by a meter.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:11 PM
6' | Madrid waiting for the mistake
It is not three, but five people in defence for Osasuna. Madrid are keeping the ball and waiting for a mistake from the opponent.
Aug 19, 2025, 7:09 PM
3' | Good start from Osasuna
Osasuna have looked to defend from the start. Although they have a high line, they have been able to stop Vinicius from making a move on the left. The have kept the back-four intact quite well.
Real Madrid XI T. Courtois, T. Alexander-Arnold, É. Militão, D. Huijsen, Á. Carreras, F. Valverde (c), A. Tchouaméni, A. Güler, B. Díaz, K. Mbappé, Vinícius Jr.
Subs: Andriy Lunin, Sergio Mestre, Daniel Carvajal, David Alaba, Raúl Asencio, Fran García, Dani Ceballos, Franco Mastantuono, Thiago Pitarch, Rodrygo, Gonzalo García
Real Madrid are undefeated against Osasuna since January 2011. They have won seven of their 10 matches against Osuasuna, while drawing thrice.
Competition
Date
Home Team
Away Team
Result
La Liga
Sat 15.02.2025
CA Osasuna (9)
Real Madrid (1)
1:1
La Liga
Sat 09.11.2024
Real Madrid (2)
CA Osasuna (5)
4:0
La Liga
Sat 16.03.2024
CA Osasuna (10)
Real Madrid (1)
2:4
La Liga
Sat 07.10.2023
Real Madrid (1)
CA Osasuna (9)
4:0
Copa del Rey Final
Sun 07.05.2023
Real Madrid
CA Osasuna
2:1
Aug 19, 2025, 4:13 PM
Team News: CA Osasuna
Osasuna do not have any injury issues. Striker Ante Budimir and playmaker Aimar Oroz will be their key players in this match.
Aug 19, 2025, 4:11 PM
Team News: Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham, who has gone through an operation, will miss the match, along with Eduardo Camavinga, who has an ankle sprain.
Antonio Rudiger will miss this match due to a card suspension.
Aug 19, 2025, 4:08 PM
Real Madrid vs Osasuna: H2H stats
Total
Real Madrid
Draw
Osasuna
86
53
20
13
Aug 19, 2025, 4:07 PM
How to watch the match?
Football fans from India can watch the Real Madrid vs Osasuna, La Liga 2025/26 match on FanCode. No television broadcast available in India for this match.
You can follow our LIVE blog for all the updates of the match.
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.
Whenever a new transfer window arrives, with more money coming into the game, we see more spending and expensive buys from clubs around the world. However, along with experienced and proven footballers, football clubs always tend to buy new, exciting teenage footballers, even before they become stars.
Today, in this article, we will list the 20 most expensive teenagers in football transfer history.
20 Most expensive teenagers in football transfer history
Please note that the fee is based on Transfermarkt's data and is accurate as of August 7, 2025.
20. Javier Saviola – River Plate to FC Barcelona – 2001 – €35.90m (Age 19)
Image | FC Barcelona
Javier Saviola's transfer to FC Barcelona from River Plate was the record fee for any teenager till it was later broken by Wayne Rooney. After scoring 24 goals in 41 matches, besides his 11 assists for River Plate, while winning the Argentine league in consecutive years, Saviola became the star FC Barcelona were looking for.
However, the transfer did not work that well for both him and the club as he was loaned out many times and went to play for Real Madrid in future as well.Saviola was recently the assistant manager of the Barcelona U19 team as well.
19. Josko Gvardiol – Dinamo Zagreb to RB Leipzig – 2021 – €36.8m (Age 19)
Image | transfermarkt.com
A Croatian defensive prodigy, Gvardiol impressed with his versatility and speed by playing as a ball-playing centre-back and left-back. His performances for Dinamo Zagreb and Croatia’s national team stirred RB Leipzig to break their transfer record.
Along with skill, Josko Gvardiol's physical strength and tactical intelligence made Leipzig pay €36.8m for the defender in 2021.
Two years later, Leipzig sold Gavrdiol to Manchester City for a whopping €90.00m.
18. Wayne Rooney – Everton to Manchester United – 2004 – €37m (Age 18)
Rooney with the fan who wanted United to buy him. Image | manchesterunited.com
One of England’sgreatest ever talents, Rooney was signed for a then-record fee for a teenager. His all-around attacking prowess, vision, and finishing skill justified the huge investment.
In the 2003/04 season for Everton, Rooney had already scored nine goals in the Premier League as a teenager, which made Sir Alex Ferguson sign the youngster for a record €37m.
Rooney became Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals in 559 official games, winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.
17. Luke Shaw – Southampton to Manchester United – 2014/15 – €37.5m (Age 18)
Image | MUFC on X
A highly rated left-back, Shaw was signed for his blend of strong defensive skills and speed. He was seen as the next big defender from England after John Terry, as he had done quite well at Southampton and England U-21s then.
Luke Shaw was bought by Manchester United in 2014 with a transfer fee of €37.5 million, making him one of the most expensive teenage footballers ever.
Despite serious injury setbacks, he has developed into a dependable member of United’s backline since then and continues to be a member of Ruben Amorim's team.
16. Yankuba Minteh – Newcastle United to Brighton – 2024 – €38.8m (Age 19)
Image | Brighton
A direct, pacey Gambian forward, Yankuba Minteh, earned his big move as Brighton always invests in young, aggressive talents to shape their Premier League competitiveness and future development.
Newcastle United were the first to sign him, but sent him on loan to Feyenoord, where he scored 11 goals and had five assists. Brighton then signed him permanently in the 2024/25 season, for €38.8m, making him one of the most expensive teenagers in football transfer history.
Last season, he had 12 goal contributions for Brighton in the Premier League.
Dejan after signing for Juventus. Image | Juventus
Dejan Kulusevski, the Swedish winger, scored 10 goals and assisted 9 times in Serie A in the 2019-20 season, leading Juventus to pay a premium to have him in the Winter transfer window.
Although he was brought to Turin with a €39m transfer fee from Atalanta BC, he was soon loaned out to Parma and Tottenham Hotspur. In 2023, he was eventually bought by Spurs with a transfer fee of €30.00 million.
14. Fabio Silva – Porto to Wolves – 2020/21 – €40m (Age 18)
Image | Wolves
Portuguese striker Fabio Silva came with impressive youth goal-scoring records for FC Porto U19 and the FC Porto team from the 2018-2020 season. Seeing his talent, Wolves paid a significant fee of €40m, hoping that his technical finishing and physicality would translate well into Premier League success.
However, he was soon loaned to various clubs. Last season, he joined the team after spending a season at UD Las Palmas on loan.
13. Vitor Roque – Athletico Paranaense to FC Barcelona – 2024 – €40m (Age 19)
Image | FC Barcelona
Barcelona acquired Roque to bolster their attack during a rebuilding phase. Known for his goal instinct, technical skill, and agile movement, Roque had scored 21 goals in 45 games for the Brazilian club Paranaense to attract a €40m bid from the Catalan club.
However, after only 2 goals in 16 games for the Spanish, he was sent back on loan to Real Betis and eventually signed for Palmeiras last season.
12. Archie Gray – Leeds United to Tottenham Hotspur – 2024 – €41.25m (Age 19)
Image | Spurs News
A promising English defensive midfielder, Archie Gray, made a high-profile resume after winning the U21 Euros and doing well for Leeds United.
This helped Tottenham sign him for €41.25m in 2024 as they continued to focus on developing young home-grown talent.
Archie played 28 Premier League and 11 Europa League games for Spurs in his first season at the club.
11. Jorrel Hato – Ajax to Chelsea – 2025 – €44.18m (Age 19)
Image | Chelsea FC
Dutch defender Jorrel Hato, who came through Ajax’s ranks, secured a big move to Chelsea. With Enzo Maresca and Chelsea’s long-term strategic vision for rebuilding their defence, Hato was supposed to be the next big thing for the Blues.
The left-back has a knack for scoring and contributing to goals as well. He had eight goal contributions in the 2024/25 Eredivisie for Ajax.
10. Franco Mastantuono – River Plate to Real Madrid - 2025 - €45m (Age 18)
Image | Fabrizio Romano/X
With a €45 million coming on 14th August 2025, Argentine U21 star Franco Mastantuono is all set to be the most expensive teenager in the football transfer window of the 2025/26 season.
The right-winger had a successful 2024/25 season with River Plate, scoring seven times in 22 games along with four assists, which led him to make his senior debut for Argentina as well.
9. Vinicius Jr. – Flamengo to Real Madrid – 2018 – €45m (Age 18)
Image | Real Madrid on X
Real Madrid and Brazilian youngsters have always been a love affair made in heaven. After scoring 10 goals and assisting four times in 32 goals for Flamengo in the 2017-18 season, Vinicius Jr.’s electrifying pace, dribbling, and flair made him a valued acquisition for Real Madrid.
Vinicius was brought to Real Madrid for €45m, which made him one of the most expensive teenagers in world football of the last decade.
Despite a slow start, he developed into a key player, helping Madrid win three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies.
8. Rodrygo – Santos to Real Madrid – 2019 – €45m (Age 18)
Image | Real Madrid on X
As I was saying, Real Madrid and Brazilian teenage stars stand in a love affair made in heaven.
Following Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo was signed to strengthen Real Madrid’s attack with a versatile winger capable of playing across the frontline. Rodrygo had already done well for Santos in the previous season, which caught the eyes of Los Blancos, and soon he was signed for €45m
Since then, he has won three La Liga titles and two Champions League titles with the club, while scoring 68 crucial goals and providing 51 assists.
7. Endrick – Palmeiras to Real Madrid – 2024 – €47.5m (Age 18)
Image | Real Madrid on X
Now it would be boring for you if I repeated the same thing. Butwhat can I do if we have three back-to-back, same transfer patterns on our list of the most expensive teenagers in football transfer history?
Hailed as one of Brazil’s brightest prospects, Endrick’s prolific youth scoring and sharp finishing caught the eye of Real Madrid.
Endrick was brought to Bernabeu by Carlo Ancelotti after he helped Palmeiras win the Brazilian league in successive previous seasons.
6. Anthony Martial – Monaco to Manchester United – 2015 – €60m (Age 19)
🗓️ On this day in 2015...
Anthony Martial introduced himself to Old Trafford with THAT goal against Liverpool on his #MUFC debut 🥲🫶pic.twitter.com/2pbOF0B6F3
Martial’s dazzling speed, dribbling, and flair from France made Manchester United break their teenage transfer record. After a great season with AS Monaco, where he scored 12 goals and provided five assists, United broke every record to bring him to Old Trafford.
He had an immediate impact with 17 Premier League goals in his debut season, though injuries and form fluctuations have tempered his career since.
5. Leny Yoro – Lille to Manchester United – 2024 – €62m (Age 18)
Image | Fabrizio Romano on X
Manchester United invested heavily in Leny Yoro’s defensive attributes, physicality, and maturity beyond his years.Yoro was signed by United under Erik ten Hag for €62m, a record transfer fee for a teenage defender.
He still continues to be one of the pillars of the United defence under new boss Ruben Amorim.
4. Romeo Lavia – Southampton to Chelsea – 2023 – €62.1m (Age 19)
Image | Chelsea FC
Belgian midfielder Romeo Lavia’s combination of technical skill, tactical intelligence, and defensive contributions enticed Chelsea to pay a club-record fee of €62.1m for a teenager.
Lavia was first discovered by Manchester City, where he flourished for the Manchester City U-21 and U-23 teams. Then, he did well for Southampton to be able to attract a large bid from Chelsea.
3. Matthijs de Ligt – Ajax to Juventus – 2019 – €85.5m (Age 19)
Image | Ajax
Matthijs De Ligt captained a young Ajax side to the 2018/19 Champions League semifinals and even scored a decisive goal for them in the quarter-finals. Juventus rewarded him with one of the highest fees ever for a teenage defender when he was bought for a record fee for a teenage defender, €85.5m.
After spending seasons with Juventus and FC Bayern Munich, the defender signed for Manchester United in 2024, under former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag.
2. Joao Felix – Benfica to Atletico Madrid – 2019 – €127.2m (Age 19)
Image | X
Touted as a generational talent, Joao Felix was signed as a creative attacking replacement for Antoine Griezmann by Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a club record €127.2 million.
Felix had scored 20 goals in 43 games for Benfica, along with 11 assists, before joining the Spanish club. However, he could not justify the price tag and soon found himself playing for different clubs.
At 25, he has now signed for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr FC.
In the 2016/17 season, Mbappe scored 28 goals and had 14 assists in 46 games for Monaco, which had set him up as one of the greatest footballing talents on earth. Among those 28 goals, 6 were in the Champions League in just 9 games.
Monaco have agreed to loan Kylian Mbappe to PSG with an option to sign him for €180m next summer. Medical tomorrow. (Source: L'Equipe) pic.twitter.com/cXSjQRva3K