Football has always been amazing since the day it came forward to the world. Since then it has produced a countless number of world-class players who have taken the game to the next level. These legendary players' influence has kept the spirit of the sport alive. From the likes of Josef Bican to Pele and the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo, the game has also produced some top goal scorers of each decade in football.

The likes of Bican, Di Stefano, Pele, Muller, Sanchez, and Henry were one of the most outstanding football players of their generation, subsequently as a result of their skill, techniques, and super ability to poach in goals.

So let us have a look at the Top goal scorers of each decade in football:

#8. Josef Bican- 1940s - 470 Goals

Austrian legend Josef Bican began his professional career at Rapid Vienna in 1931. After 4 season's at Rapid, he joined local rivals, Admira Wien. He won four league titles during his time in the Austrian club. He then joined Slavia Praha in 1937, where he stayed until 1948, and became the club's all-time top goalscorer. During the 1940s he amassed a total of 470 goals.

#7. Alfredo Di Stefano - 1950s - 301 Goals

One of the best Argentine footballers of his era, Di Stefano was and still is a Real Madrid legend. Nicknamed "Saeta Rubia" ("Blond Arrow") he was a powerful, quick, skillful, and prolific forward, with great stamina, tactical versatility, creativity, and vision, who could play almost anywhere on the pitch. Alfredo Di Stefano started his career with River Plate and later in his career, he joined Real Madrid, where he had the best time of his career. During the 1950s he amassed a total of 301 goals.

#6. Pele - 1960s - 403 Goals

Brazilian superstar Pele started off his career with Santos where he spent most of his career. In terms of his international career, he won three FIFA World Cups: 1958, 1962, and 1970, making him the only player to do so. Pelé is the all-time leading goalscorer for Brazil with 77 goals in 92 games. At club level, he is Santos' all-time top goalscorer with 643 goals from 659 games. During his 1960s he bagged in a total of 403 goals.

#5. Gerd Muller - 1970s - 452 Goals

Gerd Muller is known for his clinical finishing, especially inside the penalty box. Muller is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalscorers in the history of the sport. At the international level with West Germany, he scored 68 goals in 62 appearances. During his 1970s he scored 452 Goals.

#4. Hugo Sanchez - 1980s - 315 Goals

The Mexican legend was known for his spectacular strikes and volleys. Hugo Sanchez started his career with UNAM in Mexico were showed his potential to be a great footballer. In 1981, he moved to Spain to play for Atlético Madrid, playing for the Colchoneros for four years before moving to cross-town rivals Real Madrid, where he would spend the best years of his career, winning numerous titles and accolades. He amassed a total of 315 goals during the 1980s.

#3. Romario - 1990s - 340 Goals

Romario currently serves as a politician in Brazil, but he was also a prolific striker renowned for his clinical finishing, having scored over 750 goals, he is considered one of the greatest players of all time. Romario started his career with the Brazilian team, Vasco da Gama before he moved to PSV Eindhoven, where he had his best playing days. After that, he went on to play for various clubs, scoring goals and has turned out to be the greatest of all time. He scored 340 goals during his time in the 1990s.

#2. Thierry Henry - 2000s - 313 Goals

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry currently serves as the assistant coach for the Belgian National Team. One of the greatest players in the Premier League and an Arsenal legend, Henry started his career with Monaco. But after he joined Arsenal he became a prolific striker and Arsenal's all-time leading scorer with 228 goals in all competitions. He won the Premier League Golden Boot a record four times, won three FA Cups and two Premier League titles with the club, including one during an unbeaten season dubbed The Invincibles. He amassed a total of 313 goals during the 2000s and is 2nd in our top goal scorers list.

#1. Lionel Messi - 2010s - 522 Goals

One of the best players in the whole world, Lionel Messi tops the top goal scorers list with 522 goals during the 2010s. The Argentine magician started his career with Barcelona FC and since then he never looked back. Not to mention his achievements he has 7 Ballon d'Or to his name. A prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker, Messi holds the records for most goals in La Liga (474), a La Liga and European league season (50), most hat-tricks in La Liga (36) and the UEFA Champions League (8), and most assists in La Liga (192), a La Liga season (21) and the Copa América (17). He also holds the record for most international goals by a South American male (80). Messi has scored over 750 senior career goals for club and country and has the most goals by a player for a single club.

The European Golden Shoe is one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, given annually to the leading goal scorer from the top European leagues. Over the past decade, some of football’s biggest superstars have dominated this recognition, showcasing their incredible talent and consistency in front of goal.

In this article from Sportz Point, discover the last 10 European Golden Shoe winners list, featuring stars like Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane, and legendary players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Luis Suarez.

Last 10 European Golden Shoe winners List:

Harry Kane | 2024-25 season | Bayern Munich:

Harry Kane is among the greatest strikers to crave his name in the European Golden Shoe winners list. Despite the Bayern forward's failure to win any silverware, he won one of the most prestigious individual awards the Golden Shoe, this award shows his goal-scoring prowess. The Englishmen won the award for scoring 36 goals in the 2024-25 season.

 Erling Haaland | 2022-23 | Manchester City:

Earling Haaland scored 36 goals in the Premier League 2022-23 season to win the prestigious individual award and cemented his name among the top players to win the European Golden Shoe winners list. In that season Earling Haaland and company won their maiden UEFA Champions League title and completed a treble for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.

 Robert Lewandowski | 2021-22 and 2020-21 | Bayern Munich:

Robert Lewandowski won the Golden Shoe Award in the 2021-22 season, as he cemented his name as one of the two players to win the European Golden Shoe multiple times in the list. His goals were more than enough to declare him a Ballon d'Or winner, but he was overshadowed by Karim Benzema in that season. 

In the 2020-21 season, Robert Lewandowski won his first Golden Shoe Award. In that season Robert Lewandowski and his company won a treble for Bayern Munich under Julian Nagelsmann, but he failed to win the Ballon d'Or award as Lionel Messi won the Copa America.

Ciro Immobile | 2019-20 | Lazio:

Immobile scored 36 league goals for Lazio in 2019-20 to win the prestigious individual award and cemented his name among the top players to win the European Golden Shoe winners list. Despite scoring 36 league goals for Lazio but did not get the chance to claim a Ballon d’Or rank as the award was cancelled that year due to Covid.

Lionel Messi | 2018-19, 2017-18, and 2016-17 | FC Barcelona:

Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski are the only players to crave their names multiple times in the European Golden Shoe winners list. In the 2018-19 season, Messi became the last player to win the Golden Shoe and Ballon d'Or in one season. Messi was the only player, who was dragging Ernesto Valverde's managed Barcelona side to the treble and scored 36 goals.

In the 2017-18 season, Messi scored 34 league goals and won his second European Golden Shoe, despite delivering a stinker performance in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In the 2016-17 season, Messi scored more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d'Or that season, but Messi won the European Golden Shoe and became the first player to win the Golden Shoe thrice in the list.

Luis Suarez | 2015-16 | FC Barcelona:

Luis Suarez was a goalscoring machine in 2015-16, as he even managed to outgun the likes of Messi and Ronaldo. The Uruguayan scored 40 goals in La Liga alone, and he became the one and only player to win an individual award in Messi and Ronaldo's era. His goalscoring prowess is the reason, he is on the European Golden Shoe winners list. 

Cristiano Ronaldo | 2014-15 | Real Madrid:

Surprisingly, 2014-15 was the last time that Ronaldo ever won the European Golden Shoe. He enjoyed an excellent individual season, scoring 48 league goals for Real Madrid, but was ultimately overshadowed by Barcelona and Messi who won the treble that year. His excellent goal-scoring skills are the reason he is on the European Golden Shoe winners list. 

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It is a childhood dream for everyone to represent their country in a global tournament like FIFA World Cup. But imagine, you are actually a young lad, and yet you are playing the tournament and winning it. For some lucky but no doubt exceptionally talented players, this became a reality. 

In this article from Sportz Point, discover the 5 youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup, including legends like Pele and Ronaldo Nazario, who made history at an early age.

5 youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup:

5. Thierry Henry | 20 Years | France:

Before Kylian Mbappe became a familiar name, there was Thierry Henry in a star-studded French team including the biggest stars like Zinedine Zidane, Lillian Thuram, and Patrick Viera led by Didier Deschamps. Henry at the age of just 20, burst into the limelight with France, winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and craved his name among the youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup.

However, Henry did not make an appearance against Brazil, where France won 3-0. He had already played his role, scoring thrice in six matches. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Henry was one of the guaranteed starters in the squad.

4. Kylian Mbappe | 19 Years | France:

With astonishing speed and agility, it feels like he is in a sports car on a football field. Kylian Mbappe announced himself at the age of 19. Mbappe became the youngest player to score in the FIFA World Cup final since Pele in 1958, bringing back the title to France after 20 years.

He was one of the most important players for France throughout the season. In the round of 16, Mbappe managed to score a brace in five minutes, knocking out Lionel Messi's Argentina 4-3. Mbappe craved his name among the youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup.

3. Giuseppe Bergomi | 18 Years | Italy:

Giuseppe Bergomi was selected by the Italian national team coach Enzo Bearzot in the 1982 FIFA World Cup squad. He started the tournament on the bench and during the group stage did a great job marking Socrates and Serginho against Brazil in a memorable 3-2 win. Bergomi impressed everyone with his maturity in the Semi-final and the Final.

Giuseppe Bergomi was a FIFA World Cup winner just over a year after making his first appearance in the senior match. Bergomi is one of the youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup. 

2. Ronaldo Nazario | 17 Years | Brazil:

Ronaldo Nazario "The Phenomenon" was a generational talent. If not for a catalog of serious knee injuries, he would probably be known as the greatest ever to play football. In 1994, a 17-year-old Ronaldo was part of the World Cup-winning Brazil team in the United States. However, he only made it to the bench and did not play a single minute. Ronaldo Nazario placed second in this list of the youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup.

Ronaldo scored a staggering 115 goals in 134 games between 1994 and 1999 during two brilliant spells at Barcelona (37 goals, 34 games) and PSV (46 goals in 42 games). By 23, he had scored over 200 goals for club and country.

1. Pele | 17 Years | Brazil:

Pele is the most well-known footballer in the history of the sport and possibly the greatest attacking player of the 20th century. The Brazilian legend was just 17 years and 249 days old in 1958 when Brazil outdid Sweden by 5-2 in the final at the Rashunda Stadium in Solna, Sweden. Pele scored a brace, winning Brazil their first-ever World Cup. 

Pele is the youngest player to win the FIFA World Cup on this list. Brazil’s 5-2 triumph over France in the semi-finals saw Pele become the youngest scorer of a hat-trick in World Cup history. He also won the World Cup in 1962 in Chile. Later on, he went on to claim his third World Cup trophy after eight years in Mexico. He is the only player to have won 3 World Cup trophies.

Lionel Messi has been dropped from the Argentina squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL Qualifiers encounters against Uruguay and Brazil during the March international break.

Lionel Scaloni announced a 26-member squad on March 17th, excluding the World Cup-winning captain., sparking debates among the Albiceleste fans.

However, reports suggested that Messi might have sustained an injury during the Major League Soccer game for Inter Miami, making it impossible for him to attend the national fixture.

Sportz Point breaks down why Lionel Messi will not play against Uruguay and later against Brazil.

Why is Lionel Messi not playing?

The 37-year-old Argentine forward sustained a low-grade injury in the adductor muscle during Inter Miami's MLS encounter against Atalanta United on March 16th, Sunday. 

🚨⚠️ Understand Leo Messi completed a scan in the morning after the game vs Atlanta United last night.

The scan confirmed that Messi suffered from a small muscle injury in the adductor area and he won’t be available to play for Argentina. pic.twitter.com/x7v6kAukyv

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 17, 2025

Although Lionel Messi opened the scoring and led Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory, it has been revealed that he has suffered an injury that might keep him out of international duties.

Inter Miami issued an official statement on March 18th, stating Messi's injury updates. The statement reads:

Inter Miami CF has provided an injury update presented by Baptist Health for captain Leo Messi.

Messi underwent an MRI this morning to assess the extent of the discomfort in his adductor region, which he experienced during last night’s match against Atlanta United.

The examination’s findings confirmed the presence of a low-grade injury in the adductor muscle. His clinical progress and response to treatment will determine his availability for competition.

The Argentina captain himself posted a story on Instagram which contains a photo of him in the national shirt, and he conveyed his disappointment in a short statement.

It's a shame to miss these two very special matches with the national team against Uruguay and Brazil. As always, I wanted to be there, but at the last minute, a minor injury forced me to take a break before playing again left me out. From here, I'll be cheering and supporting you like any other fan. Go Argentina!

These statements confirm that he's not expected to be sidelined for long but will miss the upcoming matches with Uruguay on March 22nd and Brazil on March 26th.

✍️ Lionel Messi makes his own statement on the injury via his Instagram account:

Noteworthy is him saying that the injury is “not significant” but that it will force him to stop playing “for a time.”#InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/LtraelUO7G

— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) March 17, 2025

When will Messi return to play Argentina?

However, Messi will have to wait until before donning the national crest again. In the June international break, when Argentina will travel to play against Chile on June 4th and will take on Colombia on June 9th.

The Spanish League, or Laliga, is the second most-viewed football league in the world. It is regarded as one of the top five elite European leagues and has legendary clubs. Many football legends played in this league but only a few of them managed to play for a long duration and hold the record of most matches in Laliga. Here is the list of the top 11 players with the most matches in Laliga.

Top 11 players with the most matches in Laliga history:

11. Lionel Messi | FC Barcelona | 520 Matches

One of the greatest players to ever grace this sport, Lionel Messi ranks 11th in the most matches in Laliga history's list with 520 appearances.

The Argentine forward came to Spain at a very young age and played for FC Barcelona since he was a teenager. The Catalan talisman also holds the record for the most goals in Laliga, with 474 strikes.

Read Also: Lionel Messi Stats: Goals in every calendar year by Messi

10. Antoine Griezmann | FC Barcelona, Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid | 520 Matches

Antoine Griezmann has now played 520 matches in Laliga, making him one of the players with the most matches in Laliga history.

The French international has been a pivotal player for both Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad, including his short spell in FC Barcelona. Although a player like this has never been crowned with a Laliga title, his dedication to the game has made him one of the greatest players in the league.

Read Also: Most Goals in a La Liga season - Lionel Messi leads the list

9. Manolo Sanchis | Real Madrid CF | 523 Matches

Manolo Sanchis was a Centre-back and represented Real Madrid in 523 matches, making him one of the players with the most matches in Laliga. The legendary defender won the league a total of eight times and also has two Spanish Cups in his cabinet.

8. Sergio Ramos | Real Madrid CF, Sevilla | 536 Matches

Sergio Ramos has made 536 appearances in Laliga, making him the eighth player in this list of the most matches in Laliga history.

The legendary Spanish Centre-back represented Sevilla and then Real Madrid in the competition multiple times. The former Spaniard won four UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid.

Read Also: Top 5 Defenders with the Most Champions League goals

7. Paco Buyo | Real Madrid, Sevilla, RCD Mallorca, RCD Coruna | 542 Matches

Paco Buyo is one of only two goalkeepers on the list who has played the most matches in Laliga history. He made 542 appearances in Laliga, turning out mostly for Real Madrid. Buyo has a special place in the club's history and won the league title six times with Real Madrid.

6. Eusebio | Real Valladolid, Celta Vigo, FC Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid | 543 Matches

Eusebio is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders, and he played his career's most matches in Laliga. The Spanish midfielder played 543 matches in Laliga, representing four clubs. Eusebio is a FC Barcelona legend, having won four titles with them. He retired from his professional career in 2002 and has since become a manager.

5. Loren Juarros | Real Sociedad, Real Burgos, Athletic Bilbao | 546 Matches

Loren Juarros is a former Spanish footballer and is known for his longevity in Laliga, having played 546 matches in the competition. Primarily a defender, he spent most of his career at Real Sociedad becoming a club legend.

His impressive appearance tally places him among the players with the most matches in Laliga. After retiring, Lorren transitioned into a sporting director role, contributing to Real Sociedad's player recruitment and development plan.

4. Raul | Real Madrid CF | 550 Matches

Raul was one of the most lethal strikers the sport has ever seen. A club legend for Real Madrid, he made over 550 matches and cemented his in the most matches in Laliga history list.

The Spaniard scored 228 goals as well during that time. He won six La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League titles with the club. Currently, he is the manager of Real Madrid Castilla.

3. Raul Garcia | Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, CA Osasuna | 609 Matches

Raul Garcia has carved his place in football history by becoming one of the players with the most matches in Laliga, totaling an incredible 609 appearances.

The Spanish midfielder is known for his versatility and leadership. He played for CA Osasuna, Atletico Madrid, and Athletic Bilbao, leaving a lasting impact at each club. His longevity and consistency made him a key figure in Spanish football.

2. Andoni Zubizarreta | Valencia, Athletic Bilbao, Deportivo Alaves, FC Barcelona | 622 Matches

Andoni Zubizarreta made 622 appearances and is the player with the second-most matches in Laliga. The Goalkeeper extensively for Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, Deportivo Alaves, and FC Barcelona.

He won the league a total of six times, four with FC Barcelona and two with Athletic Bilbao. Zubizarreta retired from the sport in 1998. 

1. Joaquin | Real Betis, Malaga CF, and Valencia | 622 Matches

Joaquin holds the record for the most matches in Laliga, with 622 appearances throughout his career. The Spanish winger, known for his time at Real Betis, Valencia, and Malaga CF, surpassed the previous record of 622 matches held by Andoni Zubizarreta.

Lionel Messi has been ruling the football world with with an amazing career that has earned him multiple honors, including eight Ballon d’Or awards, six European Golden Shoes, ten La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League wins, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

The Argentine superstar is still with his childhood club Barcelona. Although he has not changed clubs in his football career, this football magician has changed his hairstyle many times. Along with his brilliant footballing abilities, his haircuts have always been the epitome of discussion. 

So let's take a look at some of the best Lionel Messi hairstyles.

Iconic Lionel Messi hairstyles | Top 15 list

15. Taper Fade with Crew Cut

Messi's taper fade is a bit more prominent here than in other images, perhaps because it does not start until his temple area. 

This is the haircut Messi looks his best in, simply because it complements his face shape and bone structure the best. 

A well-shaped beard framed the jaw and make it appear more square, while tall and tight haircuts elongated the face and made it appear less round.

14. Blonde Quiff with Tapered Sides

Lionel Messi may not be rocking this cool hair color anymore, but it is still one of the best Lionel Messi hairstyles we've seen from him over the years.

Moreover, snowy-white, cold, platinum-blonde shades have been extremely popular for the last couple of years. Especially, when paired with a thick beard and dark natural roots.

Messi normally sports his natural hair color, a dark chocolate brown on the field, but by the look in this photo, the platinum vibe gave him all sorts of good luck too.

13. Messy Bangs

This look from Leo Messi is a signature footballer haircut. You've got the short sides and long layers on top, finished off by the messy (pun-intended) curtain bangs. 

It's a cool haircut for athletes because it can be left unstyled and won't create distraction around the face. But, if you add a few products to the bangs, like hair wax and gel, you can get an easy, slicked-back look.

12. Messy Long Hair

As Messi grew older, his playing style evolved, and so did his hairstyle. From the rough and untamed haircuts of his teenage years to the more polished and considered looks of his maturity, Lionel Messi hairstyles became a reflection of his evolving personality and confidence. 

During the early years of his senior career, we witnessed Messi experiment with longer hair, embracing a bit of untidiness and rebellion, perhaps mirroring his emerging superstar status.

11. Short Pompadour

Messi bounces back and forth from clean-shaved to bearded, and this is one of the best hairstyles to go with if you also tend to experiment with your facial hair. It is long enough to frame the face but short enough to look presentable.

This Lionel Messi Haircut is a great option for men of all ages, too. We've seen guys pull of haircuts like these from fifteen years old to sixty years old.

10. Modern Mullet with Middle Part

Have you checked out old young Messi haircuts? This will come as a huge déjà vu moment. If you are a Messi fan, you must check out this young haircut pic of the legend, with mid-parted hair and wavy shoulder length brushed up hair.

It is lovely, smart yet unique and vintage with vibrant vibes. This is a timeless haircut if you would love to check it out. It suits men with huge foreheads or those with thick hair.

9. Quiff with Mid Taper Fade and Highlights

Another simple yet unique and charming haircut of Messi that we loved the most. He has combined the mullet-quiff look with blonde colour and brushed-up style to bring seamless and vibrant vibes. It is youthful, hot and perfect to exude the timeless look too.

Men who love to have a modern and contemporary haircut yet new and experimental can try this out. This hairstyle needs fine and straight hair too.

8. Short Mullet with Choppy Fringe

Not many often see mullet and choppy fringe going together. But our Messi has an eye for glam quotient, and when he turned up with a short mullet with choppy fringe, the world was shocked.

However, we love how simple, minimal, yet stylish this haircut is. This is perfect for those who would prefer a comfy hairstyle. 

7. Mid Fade

After his platinum days, Messi went back to his natural hair color and has been wearing a version of this haircut ever since. Here, he's got a mid fade and medium-length haircut with quite a bit of volume on top.

Messi was blessed with thick, coarse, and straight hair, meaning he can get away with not adding products or using a minimal amount of products for styling.

6. Short Sides Long Top

This is another classic Messi haircut, that's somewhere between a pompadour and a quiff. Both hairstyles require a bit more structure than Messi is working within this image, but he could easily achieve them by styling them back, rather than leaving it spiked to the front.

Any hair type and face shape can pull off this Messi haircut because it does not require much volume or styling. 

5. Brushed Back Long Hair with Headband

Messi would often secure his youthful brushed-back style with a headband to keep his long hair under control. The hairband keeps the front sections in place and away from the eyes to minimize distraction.

Messi keeps the length relatively uniform but weaves light layers through his locks for dimension and effortless movement.

4. Dyed Blonde Hair

Messi shocked fans in 2016 when he dyed his hair bright blonde for the Copa America tournament. This bold, bleached look commanded attention as it contrasted heavily against his dark roots and full, orange-tinged beard.

The cut featured light layers that were expertly point-cut for extra dimension and movement, letting the breeze whip through his locks as he zipped around the pitch.

3. Full Beard

Along with a textured top, Messi rocked a handsome full beard during the UEFA Champions League game against Olympiacos. The beard was carefully groomed and connected to his sides for a seamless, blended appearance.

A dash of pomade through the front and crown gave the locks texture that worked against the clean, buzzed sides for a multi-dimensional finish.

2. Voluminous Comb Over with Low Taper

Messi’s voluminous, debonair comb over looked chic on and off the pitch. Chocolate brown strands give the hair subtle dimension, offering a modern appearance that blends with the player’s full beard.

The low taper provides visual contrast against the clean-cut top that pulls the style together. This combination makes Messi’s eyes and jawline the stars of the show.

1. Mid Taper Fade on the Sides and Back

Messi’s World Cup 2022 haircut was a mid taper fade on the sides and back with thick volume on top and a spiky fringe. The Argentinian superstar brought his talent, leadership and impeccable style to the tournament.

The trimmed beard effortlessly blended into the tight taper, creating incredible contrast. To copy his style, use a strong-hold pomade or gel to keep your hair up during soccer games.