Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Lionel Messi (right) are still scoring for fun. But, has the GOAT debate been resolved?
Ronaldo, Manchester United’s icon, has scored 818 goals since his return to Old Trafford.
He is the already the Top international scorer but where does he sit for overall career goals?
In recent years, the incredible Ronaldo has risen up the all time scoring charts and has overtaken Austria-Czech icon Josef Bican.
No one has scored more goals recognised by FIFA than the Portuguese superstar, who has inked his name at the top of history’s scoring charts.
Messi has now overtaken legendary trio Romario, Ferenc Puskas and Pele to move to third in the all-time chart, but Ronaldo is now at the very top.
Now, who are the other top ten goal scorers?
10. Tulio Maravilha
575 goals (total games unknown) – 1988-2019
Brazilian journeyman with a keen eye for goal.
Tulio, who is only recently retired, played for almost 40 clubs during his career.
9, Uwe Seeler
575+ goals (total games unknown) – 1953-1978
Although the German great was prolific in Hamburger, he struggled to make his goals into silverware.
He scored twice in his one and only appearance for Ireland’s Cork Celtic in 1978.
8. Ferenc Deak
576+ goals (total games unknown) – 1940-1957
One of Hungary’s best during their heyday and a legend in his home country if not as much elsewhere in the world.
Amazingly, Deak scored over three goals per match during his time at Szentlorinci A.C.
7. Gerd Muller
734 goals in 793 games – 1962-1981
The striker’s most important goal was the winner in the 1974 World Cup final as Germany beat the Netherlands 2-1 in Munich.
Muller is also Bayern Munich’s record goalscorer and has well over double the second best.
6. Ferenc Puskas
746+ goals in 754+ games – 1943-1966
Puskas, another Hungarian icon is now the recipient of the award for the year’s most beautiful goal.
He was a household name in Budapest, before he became a legend at Real Madrid.
5. Pele
757 goals in 831 games – 1957-1977
A three-time World Cup Winner and one of the greatest ever.
Pele scored nearly one goal per game in 656 games of competitive play for Santos. However, he claims to have scored over 1,000 goals during his entire career.
It is generally accepted that hundreds of these goals were scored during friendly or tour matches. Pele will prove it.
4. Romario
772 goals 994 games – 1985-2007
Brazil’s 1994 World Cup victory was won by Romario, who scored five goals.
He had a great career in a variety of top clubs all over the world.
3. Lionel Messi
784 goals in 992 games – 2003-present
Messi, a true legend, won numerous awards for his achievements at Barcelona. including seven Ballon d’Or awards.
With PSG, the Argentine still has a few years to add on to his incredible record.
He’ll be eager to prove his few doubters wrong and produce the goods in a different league.
2. Josef Bican
805+ goals in 530+ games – 1931-1956
Scoring 395 in 217 games for Slavia Prague, Bican had claimed the honour of being football’s leading goalscorer of all-time for over 60 years.
He has been finally trumped.
FIFA recognized only 805 of the 1,500 goals he scored during his playing career.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
818 goals in 1,132 games – 2001-present
Modern greats for Manchester United and Real Madrid, Juventus, and now the Red Devils.
Ronaldo has won all the games and is still winning strong today. His historic career has seen him surpass Bican by setting the record for the most wins.
Ronaldo’s goal record now stands at an insane 818 goals following his most recent strike against Sheriff Tiraspol – his 701st club goal – and he is not done yet.
