The world’s most popular sport, soccer has grasped the hearts and minds of people across the world, particularly when major tournaments such as the World Cup are on. Naturally, scoring goals is the most exciting part of the game. Here are the top goalscorers in the history of soccer who can be credited with making “the beautiful game” the thrilling sport that it is.
Lionel Messi
Since 2003, Lionel Messi has been delighting fans across the world, specifically during his time playing for FC Barcelona and the Argentine national team. Messi has scored 826 goals in 1052 games for club and country, earning a record eight Ballon d’Or awards in the process.
Josef Bican
Back in the 1930s, a little-known Czech player named Josef Bican burst onto the scene. Playing for his national team as well as Slavia Prague, Bican was a goalscoring machine, finding the back of the net around 1,500 times. While only 805 goals were recognized by FIFA, this was still enough to earn him the record that he held onto until just a few years ago.
Cristiano Ronaldo
From Sporting Lisbon in his native Portugal to Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly well-traveled. The Portuguese sensation has scored 879 goals in 1,212 games and is continuing to extend his tally today.