Who has scored the most goals in football history?

A rundown of who has scored the most goals in football history, how the records are counted, and the players who are closest to the top spot.

Goal records are some of the most argued-over numbers in football. Different sources often give different totals, and the gaps between players can look bigger or smaller depending on how those numbers are counted.

The confusion usually comes down to definition. Many records stick strictly to recognised competitions, while others include friendlies, regional tournaments, or matches that were never formally logged in the same way.

Over long careers, those differences add up. So when people ask who’s scored the most goals in football history, the answer depends on which goals you’re counting.

What counts as an official goal?

An official goal is one scored in a recognised competitive match. That includes domestic leagues, domestic cups, continental competitions, and international fixtures.

Goals scored in exhibition matches, pre-season tours, and informal tournaments are usually excluded. These matches often lack consistent record keeping, and the level of competition can vary widely.

This distinction matters because earlier eras didn’t always separate competitions as cleanly as today. Some matches that looked competitive at the time were never formally classified, which is where disagreements began.

Who has the most official goals in football?

Using widely accepted official leaderboards, Cristiano Ronaldo currently holds the all-time record for the most goals scored in competitive football.

Ronaldo has scored over 900 official goals across club and international football, spanning domestic leagues, European competitions, and international tournaments. His total has been tracked in real time across multiple leagues using modern data standards, making his record relatively straightforward to verify.

Close behind him is Lionel Messi, who has passed 800 official goals across club and international football Like Ronaldo, Messi’s numbers come from well-documented competitions, with detailed match records available across every stage of his career.

By modern definitions, these two sit clearly at the top.

Ronaldo vs Messi: who has more goals?

Using official competition records, Ronaldo currently holds the edge.

Ronaldo’s career has stretched across multiple leagues and international tournaments, with a high volume of appearances over a long period. Messi’s total remains close, shaped by longer spells at individual clubs and fewer league changes.

Both players have benefited from modern football’s structure, where every match is logged, archived, and reviewed. That clarity is a big reason their totals are discussed with more certainty than earlier players.

The gap between them has shifted several times, but the broader point remains the same. They sit in a league of their own when judged by modern standards.

Has any player really scored 1,000 goals?

This is where things get messy.

Several historical players are often credited with scoring over 1,000 goals, most famously Pelé. Pelé himself claimed 1,283 goals during his career, a figure that includes friendlies, exhibition matches, and tour games played across Brazil and abroad.

When only official competitive matches are counted, Pelé’s total sits closer to 760–770 goals, which still places him among the greatest scorers in football history. The larger number isn’t necessarily wrong, but it reflects a broader definition of what counts as a goal.

Other players from earlier eras face similar issues. Inconsistent record keeping, regional competitions, and unofficial matches blur the line between formal and informal football.

Why goal totals differ between sources

Different organisations count goals differently.

Most databases only include top-flight league and international matches, but some include domestic cups and continental competitions. A few extend further, adding regional tournaments or early-career matches that weren’t fully documented.

Earlier football didn’t operate under a single global framework. Leagues varied by country, seasons were shorter, and matches were often organised locally. That makes it harder to apply modern standards retrospectively.

As a result, two sources can look at the same player and arrive at very different totals without either being deliberately misleading.

Watch goal records build in real time with Match Bingo

Goals are the headline moments, but they’re usually the result of calculated plays, attacking moves, and bursts of action that develop across a match.

Match Bingo lets you follow those patterns as they happen. Our live boards track the flow of play, attacking pressure, and key events, giving you more to stay engaged with beyond the final score.

If you enjoy following how goals start to feel inevitable before they arrive, this fits neatly alongside watching the game.

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