Goal scoring they say is the hardest part of football. Goals decide matches, for without them you are nothing. All the running around and efforts of 22 players on the football field for 90 mins/120mins as the case may be is down to one thing: GOAL.
Every effort in football is constructed around scoring or preventing goals. The dribbling, passing, tackling, defending, and saves are designed toward a goal. It’s the basic objective of the team each time they step onto the pitch to play.
Goal scoring is the fundamental commandment of playing football, its importance cannot be overemphasized. Goal scoring has a telling significance overall aspect of football. Trophy, Victory, and individual awards are all goal bound, this is why strikers or goal scorers have dominated the award for best players.
The players who attract the most praise are the strikers, they are the subjects of big transfer fees and they earn the most wages too. All this in the name of getting the goals. With this, we are going to look at the top 10 goal scorers in the 21st century (2000-present). " indicates active players.
1. CRISTIANO RONALDO (813" goals)
Cristiano Ronaldo is not just the highest goal scorer of this century but of all time. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is also the highest goal scorer in the Uefa Champions League and Men international football.
2. LEO MESSI (762" goals)
Leo Messi is not just regarded as an all-time greatest for winning the most ballon d'Or alone but also for his goals and contributions. The former Barcelona player also has six (6) European golden shoe awards, the most of any player in history.
3. ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI (614" goals)
Robert Lewandowski is the second all-time highest goal scorer in the Bundesliga. The efficient Polish striker shows no sign of slowing down even at his age. His selection into the IFFHS TEAM OF THE DECADE (2009-2019) speaks volumes. He’s a two times FIFA BEST AWARD winner as well as the only footballer to top score in 1st, 2nd, 3rd division and international tournament (UCL).
4. ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC (571" goals)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic had to be the sports world's strongest personality. Ibrahimovic continues to wow even at 40years. He currently plays for AC Milan and might just lead the club to another league title after 12 seasons.
5. LUIZ SUAREZ (520" goals)
Luiz Suarez of all Strikers in this list is the only one that breaks Messi and Ronaldo's duopoly of the highest goal scorer. The Uruguay international was able to pick up Two European golden boots even in Messi and Ronaldo's Prime years.
6. DAVID VILLA (440 goals)
David Villa is one of the best strikers of his generation. He is Spain's highest goal scorer of all time as well as the highest Spanish goal scorer at the world cup.
7. EDINSON CAVANI (426" goals)
El Matador as he’s fondly called is one of the most underrated forwards of his time. He’s a PSG record goalscorer and a scorer of all types of goals.
8. KUN AGUERO (426 goals)
Aguero is Manchester City's all-time Top scorer and also one of the greatest strikers in the English Premier League History. The Argentine has the best goal to game ratio of any striker in premier league history. Man city has erected a statue in his honor.
9. KARIM BENZEMA (424" goals)
Benzema is real Madrid's second highest goal scorer of all time. Like Cavani, Karim Benzema is one of the most underrated strikers of his era. He’s the 3rd highest scorer in Uefa Champions League history and currently tipped as the favorite for 2022 ballon d’or award.
10. ETO FILLS (417 goals)
Samuel Eto Fils is recognized as not just one of the greatest goalscorers from Africa but also one of the greatest ever players. He has won the Africa Player of the year award a record four times as well as receiving the 2005 Bronze award for World Player of the Year.