The race to become football’s all-time leading goalscorer has lasted for decades. However, there is no single official list because different organisations use different methods to count goals. FIFA does not publish an all-time goalscoring ranking. Instead, football historians often rely on statistics from organisations such as the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) and the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
This article follows the latest IFFHS rankings for top-level official competitions, updated to 27 June 2026. As of that date, Cristiano Ronaldo leads the list, while Lionel Messi remains the closest active challenger. Below, you’ll find the latest Top 20 rankings, learn how the IFFHS counts official goals and compare the records of Ronaldo and Messi.
Who Is the Highest Goal Scorer in Football History?
Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest goal scorer in football history based on the latest IFFHS rankings for top-level official competitions.
By 27 June 2026, Ronaldo had scored 975 official goals for club and country. He reached the milestone after scoring in league matches, domestic cups, continental competitions and international football across more than two decades.
Anyone searching for who is the highest goal scorer in the world, who is highest goal scorer in the world or who has the most goals in football history will find Ronaldo at the top of the latest IFFHS rankings.
Different websites may show different totals because they use different methods. Some count regional competitions, wartime matches or exhibition games, while others exclude them. FIFA does not maintain an official all-time list, which is why published rankings sometimes vary. A detailed breakdown of leading goalscorers in one of football’s most competitive leagues can be found in the EPL all-time top scorers record.
Top 20 Highest Goal Scorers in Football History (Updated June 2026)
| Rank | Player | Country | Official Goals | Career Status |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 975 | Active |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 917 | Active |
| 3 | Pelé | Brazil | 762 | Retired |
| 4 | Romário | Brazil | 756 | Retired |
| 5 | Ferenc Puskás | Hungary/Spain | 725 | Retired |
| 6 | Josef Bican | Austria/Czechoslovakia | 722 | Retired |
| 7 | Robert Lewandowski | Poland | 697 | Active |
| 8 | Jimmy Jones | Northern Ireland | 639 | Retired |
| 9 | Gerd Müller | West Germany | 634 | Retired |
| 10 | Joe Bambrick | Northern Ireland | 626 | Retired |
| 11 | Abe Lenstra | Netherlands | 624 | Retired |
| 12 | Luis Suárez | Uruguay | 606 | Active |
| 13 | Eusébio | Portugal | 578 | Retired |
| 14 | Glenn Ferguson | Northern Ireland | 563 | Retired |
| 15 | Zlatan Ibrahimović | Sweden | 561 | Retired |
| 16 | Imre Schlosser | Hungary | 553 | Retired |
| 16 | Fernando Peyroteo | Portugal | 553 | Retired |
| 18 | Uwe Seeler | West Germany | 552 | Retired |
| 19 | Jimmy McGrory | Scotland | 550 | Retired |
| 20 | Alfredo Di Stéfano | Argentina/Spain | 537 | Retired |
*Figures follow the IFFHS rankings for top-level official competitions as of 27 June 2026.
Top 10 Highest Goal Scorer In Football History
Cristiano Ronaldo
CR7 remains the top goal scorer in football history with 975 official goals. Cristiano Ronaldo remains the top goal scorer in football history with 975 official goals. In 2024, he became the first player to score 900 official career goals. He has also stated that he hopes to become the first footballer to reach the 1,000-goal milestone. His record includes goals for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al Nassr and Portugal. He also holds the men’s international scoring record and continues to add to his tally.
Lionel Messi
For readers asking how many goals has Messi scored, the Argentine had scored 917 official goals by 27 June 2026. He scored 672 goals for Barcelona before adding to his total with Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and Argentina. Messi remains the closest active player to Ronaldo. Messi also captained Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and followed it with another major international title at the 2024 Copa América.
Pelé
Pelé scored 762 goals in top-level official competitions. He remains the only player to win three FIFA World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970). Although his famous tally exceeds 1,000 goals, the IFFHS excludes exhibition matches and friendlies. Pelé scored his famous 1,000th career goal for Santos from the penalty spot against Vasco da Gama at the Maracanã on 19 November 1969. However, the IFFHS official rankings count only 762 goals in top-level competitions. Guinness World Records credits Pelé with 1,279 career goals because it includes friendly and exhibition matches. The IFFHS, however, recognises 762 goals in top-level official competitions.
Romário
Romário finished with 756 official goals. His career took him across Brazil, Europe and the Middle East, making him one of the greatest finishers of his generation. Romário also played a key role in Brazil’s 1994 FIFA World Cup triumph and won the tournament’s Golden Ball.
Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás scored 725 official goals for Hungary, Real Madrid and other clubs. His powerful left foot helped him become one of football’s greatest forwards. FIFA honours his legacy through the FIFA Puskás Award, presented each year for the best goal scored in world football.
Josef Bican
Josef Bican scored 722 goals under the IFFHS methodology. Other organisations credit him with higher totals because they include additional competitions.
Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski has scored 697 official goals. His record with Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Poland has established him as one of the greatest modern goalscorers.
Jimmy Jones
Jimmy Jones scored 639 goals, mainly for Glenavon. His remarkable scoring record still ranks among the best in football history.
Gerd Müller
Gerd Müller finished with 634 official goals. His strike rate for Bayern Munich and West Germany remains one of the highest ever recorded. He also scored the winning goal in the 1974 FIFA World Cup final as West Germany defeated the Netherlands.
Joe Bambrick
Joe Bambrick scored 626 official goals, most of them for Linfield. He also became one of Northern Ireland’s greatest international forwards.
Players Ranked 11–20
Abe Lenstra, Luis Suárez, Eusébio, Glenn Ferguson, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Imre Schlosser, Fernando Peyroteo, Uwe Seeler, Jimmy McGrory and Alfredo Di Stéfano complete the current top 20. Jimmy McGrory remains the highest goalscorer in British top-flight football, scoring 550 official goals during his career with Celtic. While retired players have fixed totals, active players such as Messi, Lewandowski and Suárez can still improve their records.
How the IFFHS Counts Official Football Goals
The IFFHS counts goals scored in top-level official competitions for clubs and senior national teams. This method creates a consistent way to compare players from different eras.
Official goals include:
- Domestic league matches
- Domestic cup competitions
- Continental club tournaments, such as the UEFA Champions League, Copa Libertadores and AFC Champions League
- Senior international matches, including FIFA World Cup games, continental championships and official qualifiers
The IFFHS does not count goals scored in youth football, reserve matches, testimonial games or exhibition matches. Most club friendlies are also excluded.
This approach differs from other organisations. FIFA does not publish an official all-time goalscoring list, while the RSSSF uses a broader method that includes more competitions. As a result, some players have different career totals depending on the source.
A good example is Josef Bican. The IFFHS credits him with 722 goals in top-level competitions, while other organisations publish higher totals after including wartime matches, regional tournaments or lower-level competitions.
Pelé is another example. His famous tally of more than 1,000 goals includes many exhibition and friendly matches. Under the IFFHS method, his recognised total is 762 goals.
For this reason, different websites may show different rankings. This article follows the IFFHS list published on 27 June 2026.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi Goals Comparison
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated world football for almost 20 years. Both have broken countless records and continue to set new milestones.
Career Statistics
| Statistic | Cristiano Ronaldo | Lionel Messi |
| Official goals (IFFHS) | 975 | 917 |
| League goals | 600 | 565 |
| Domestic cup goals | 57 | 71 |
| Continental goals | 173 | 158 |
| International goals | 145 | 123 |
| Career span | 2002–present | 2004–present |
Official Goals
Cristiano Ronaldo leads the all-time list with 975 goals in top-level official competitions. He became the first player recognised by the IFFHS to reach that mark.
Lionel Messi ranks second with 917 goals. He remains the only active player within 100 goals of Ronaldo.
Club Goals
Ronaldo has scored for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al Nassr.
Messi has represented Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. His 672 goals for Barcelona remain the most goals scored for a single club by any player.
International Goals
Ronaldo has scored 145 goals for Portugal, the highest total in men’s international football.
Messi has scored 123 goals for Argentina. He is Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer and has scored in FIFA World Cups, Copa América tournaments and World Cup qualifiers.
What the Numbers Show
Ronaldo leads the all-time scoring chart and holds the international goals record. His longevity and consistency have helped him stay ahead of every other player.
Messi ranks second and remains one of the most efficient goalscorers in football history. His record at Barcelona and his success with Argentina strengthen his place among the greatest players ever.
Although different organisations publish different career totals, both players stand well clear of every other active footballer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the highest goal scorer in football history?
Cristiano Ronaldo. He has 975 official goals as of June 2026 under IFFHS top-level records.
Who has the most goals in football history?
Cristiano Ronaldo, with 975 official goals in senior competitive football.
Who is the highest goal scorer in the world?
Cristiano Ronaldo. He leads with 975 official goals.
How many goals has Messi scored?
Lionel Messi has 917 official goals by June 2026 across club and international football.
How many official goals has Cristiano Ronaldo scored?
975 official goals in top-level senior competitions as of June 2026.
Who has more official goals, Messi or Ronaldo?
Cristiano Ronaldo. He has 975, Messi has 917.
Who scored over 1,000 career goals?
No player has 1,000 official goals. Pelé is often linked with 1,000+ including friendlies, but official records show 762. Ronaldo is closest with 975.
Which player has the most international goals?
Cristiano Ronaldo, with 145 goals for Portugal.
Who is the highest goal scorer in club football?
Cristiano Ronaldo overall in club football. Messi holds the record for most goals for a single club with 672 for Barcelona.
Conclusion
Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest goal scorer in football history according to the latest IFFHS rankings for top-level official competitions. As of 27 June 2026, he has scored 975 goals for club and country.
Lionel Messi follows in second place with 917 goals, while Pelé, Romário, Ferenc Puskás and Josef Bican complete the top six.
No single organisation keeps an official worldwide goalscoring record. That is why totals can vary between the IFFHS, RSSSF and other historical databases. This article follows the latest IFFHS rankings to provide a consistent comparison.
The race is not over. Ronaldo, Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Luis Suárez remain active, so the rankings will continue to change. Check back for the latest updates to the all-time list of the highest goal scorers in football history.
