Top 35 Male International Football Goalscorers in History
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi now hold the two highest spots for the most goals scored in men's international football.
International football offers a unique challenge compared to club play. Some stars shine brighter on the international stage, while others find it tougher to replicate their club success. Given the limited number of international matches, opportunities to leave a lasting mark are fewer than at club level.
Still, certain players have made unforgettable impacts for their countries. Stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Romelu Lukaku have become legends in their nations' histories. Here is a detailed look at the top 35 goal scorers in men’s international football.
35th to 21st
The lower end of the list includes several well-known modern players. At 35th, Kuwait's Jasem Al-Huwaidi has 63 goals, while Serbia's Aleksandar Mitrovic and Thailand's Teerasil Dangda share 64 goals each. Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba trails behind Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, who has netted 69 times so far.
Near the top 30 is former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane, who scored 68 goals for the Republic of Ireland, tying with Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz and German icon Gerd Muller. They trail Egyptian Hossam Hassan and Uruguayan star Luis Suarez, both on 69. Following them, three players sit on 70 goals: Stern John, Piyapong Pue-on, and Abdul Kadir.
Players ranked 23rd to 21st each have 71 goals. Miroslav Klose, Germany’s top scorer and FIFA World Cup all-time leader with 16 goals across four tournaments (2002-2014), shares this tally with Thai forward Kiatisuk Senamuang and Malawi’s Kinnah Phiri.
20th to 11th
This group features some less familiar names alongside legends. Kinnah Phiri earned his 71 goals in fewer appearances than Klose and Senamuang. Just ahead is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s record goalscorer, Edin Dzeko, with 73 goals, one more than Saudi Arabia’s Majed Abdullah over 117 games.
Three players with 75 goals follow: Bashar Abdullah (Kuwait), Kunishige Kamamoto (Japan), and Sandor Kocsis (Hungary). Then comes the legendary Pele, widely regarded among the greatest ever, with 77 international goals. Just above him are Hussein Saeed Mohammed, Godfrey Chitalu, and Neymar, each scoring 79 goals. Zambia’s Chitalu and Brazil’s Neymar tie with the man in 10th place.
Top 10
The elite group starts with England’s leading scorer, Harry Kane, who opens this section. He is narrowly behind Hungarian cult hero Ferenc Puskas, who scored 84 goals internationally.
Robert Lewandowski leads Poland’s charts with 88 goals, recently overtaking the United Arab Emirates’ Ali Mabkhout, who has 85. Belgium’s all-time top scorer, Romelu Lukaku, holds 90 goals. Malaysian Mokhtar Dahari follows closely with 89, though he played more matches.
Sunil Chhetri from India and Iran’s Ali Daei are next with 95 and 108 goals respectively. Daei held the international scoring record for years before being surpassed by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi scored his 111th international goal during Argentina’s 3-0 win over Venezuela in the 2022 World Cup, now totaling 116 goals for his country. Still, he trails behind his long-time rival.
Cristiano Ronaldo, often hailed as one of football’s best teenagers, has yet to score in Euro 2024 but remains the top international scorer ever with 143 goals for Portugal. His pursuit of 1,000 career goals might push him to unprecedented heights.
Top 30 Goalscorers in Men's International Football History
- Rank: 1 Player: Cristiano Ronaldo Country: Portugal Goals: 143
- Rank: 2 Player: Lionel Messi Country: Argentina Goals: 116
- Rank: 3 Player: Ali Daei Country: Iran Goals: 108
- Rank: 4 Player: Sunil Chhetri Country: India Goals: 95
- Rank: 5 Player: Romelu Lukaku Country: Belgium Goals: 90
- Rank: 6 Player: Mokhtar Dahari Country: Malaysia Goals: 89
- Rank: 7 Player: Robert Lewandowski Country: Poland Goals: 88
- Rank: 8 Player: Ali Mabkhout Country: United Arab Emirates Goals: 85
- Rank: 9 Player: Ferenc Puskas Country: Hungary Goals: 84
- Rank: 10 Player: Harry Kane Country: England Goals: 79
- Rank: 11 Player: Neymar Country: Brazil Goals: 79
- Rank: 12 Player: Godfrey Chitalu Country: Zambia Goals: 79
- Rank: 13 Player: Hussein Saeed Mohammed Country: Iraq Goals: 78
- Rank: 14 Player: Pele Country: Brazil Goals: 77
- Rank: 15 Player: Sandor Kocsis Country: Hungary Goals: 75
- Rank: 16 Player: Kunishige Kamamoto Country: Japan Goals: 75
- Rank: 17 Player: Bashar Abdullah Country: Kuwait Goals: 75
- Rank: 18 Player: Edin Dzeko Country: Bosnia & Herzegovina Goals: 73
- Rank: 19 Player: Majed Abdullah Country: Saudi Arabia Goals: 72
- Rank: 20 Player: Kinnah Phiri Country: Malawi Goals: 71
- Rank: 21 Player: Miroslav Klose Country: Germany Goals: 71
- Rank: 22 Player: Kiatisuk Senamuang Country: Thailand Goals: 71
- Rank: 23 Player: Piyapong Pue-on Country: Thailand Goals: 70
- Rank: 24 Player: Abdul Kadir Country: Indonesia Goals: 70
- Rank: 25 Player: Stern John Country: Trinidad and Tobago Goals: 70
- Rank: 26 Player: Luis Suarez Country: Uruguay Goals: 69
- Rank: 27 Player: Hossam Hassan Country: Egypt Goals: 69
- Rank: 28 Player: Gerd Muller Country: Germany Goals: 68
- Rank: 29 Player: Carlos Ruiz Country: Guatemala Goals: 68
- Rank: 30 Player: Robbie Keane Country: Republic of Ireland Goals: 68
