The 10 players with the most goals since the year 2000: Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar…

 

Since 2000, some of football’s greatest strikers, including legends from Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Liverpool, have dominated the goal-scoring charts. These 10 players, combining club and international tallies, stand out as the most prolific forwards of their era. 

Here’s the rundown of the top goal scorers in world football since the millennium.

10. Hulk – 441 goals

Not the first name you’d expect among elite goal scorers, Hulk has quietly built an impressive record. At 38, he’s still thriving at Atlético Mineiro, netting 125 goals in the past four-and-a-half years. With 441 career goals, he outscores icons like Wayne Rooney, Sergio Agüero, and David Villa

9. Neymar – 450 goals

Brazil’s highest-scoring player this century, Neymar edges out Hulk with 450 goals, including 79 for Brazil, surpassing Pelé as the nation’s all-time top scorer in 2023. Injuries have slowed him recently, but at 33, he’s aiming to regain form at Santos for the 2026 World Cup.

see also: One of the world's best' - why Arsenal are signing Zubimendi

8. Edinson Cavani – 458 goals

At 38, Cavani remains a force for Boca Juniors. His prime years at Napoli and PSG account for two-thirds of his 458 goals, cementing his status as a top striker. Competing in the Club World Cup, he’s eager to boost his tally before retiring.

7. Harry Kane – 479 goals

At just 31, Kane is already climbing this list and has surpassed Wayne Rooney’s career total. His 82 goals in 91 games for Bayern Munich show he’s in peak form. With years ahead, Kane’s likely to rocket higher before he’s done.

6. Karim Benzema – 498 goals

Though past his prime, Benzema continues to score for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. His 354 goals in 648 games for Real Madrid defined his career, complemented by 37 goals in 97 France appearances, despite a five-year international hiatus from 2016 to 2020.

5. Zlatan Ibrahimović – 564 goals

Few match Zlatan’s longevity. His 564 goals since 2000 include a staggering 341 scored after turning 30, alongside countless records. Ibrahimović’s larger-than-life career remains a benchmark for enduring excellence

see also: Fluminense want to prove themselves against a Dortmund side with a star brother

4. Luis Suárez – 575 goals

Suárez may have lost a step, but his knack for goals persists. Now 38, he’s scoring for Inter Miami after stints at Nacional and Grêmio. Uruguay’s record scorer with 68 international goals, he’s on track to hit 600 career goals before retiring.

3. Robert Lewandowski – 694 goals

Lewandowski’s consistency is unmatched, with over 20 club goals for 14 straight seasons. In 2024-25, he bagged 42 for Barcelona, his best since leaving Bayern Munich. Poland’s all-time top scorer with 85 goals in 158 caps, he’s still a goal-scoring machine.

2. Lionel Messi – 865 goals

At 37, Messi remains a magician. Beyond his playmaking and dribbling, his 865 goals mark him as one of football’s deadliest finishers. Given his game count, some argue he’s the generation’s top scorer—yet he falls just short of first place.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 938 goals

No surprise here. Ronaldo, at 40, is chasing 1,000 career goals, needing just 62 more. Still relentless at Al-Nassr, he shows no signs of slowing down. We’re betting he’ll hit that historic milestone within two seasons.