Ronaldo Eyes 1000 Goals, Leads 21st-Century Scorers

Football’s eternal quest for goals has seen some incredible talents emerge since the turn of the millennium. Among them, a select few have consistently found the back of the net, etching their names into the sport’s history books. As of June 2025, a definitive list of the top 10 goalscorers of the 21st century, combining both club and international strikes, reveals some familiar faces and one truly astonishing pursuit of a landmark.

Topping the charts is none other than Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues his relentless pursuit of 1000 career goals. With an astounding 938 goals to his name, the 40-year-old Portuguese superstar, currently at Al-Nassr, needs just 62 more to reach the unprecedented milestone.

His sustained hunger for goals defies age, proving he remains a formidable force.
Hot on his heels, but still a considerable distance behind, is Lionel Messi. The 37-year-old Argentine magician boasts an incredible 865 goals. Beyond his prolific scoring, Messi’s unparalleled playmaking and dribbling abilities cement his status as arguably the most complete player of his generation.

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The third spot is held by Robert Lewandowski, whose consistency is nothing short of remarkable. The Polish forward has racked up 694 goals, scoring over 20 goals for 14 consecutive seasons at club level. He concluded the 2024-25 season with 42 goals for Barcelona and remains Poland’s all-time leading scorer with 85 international goals.

Uruguayan veteran Luis Suarez comes in at fourth with 575 goals. Still active for Inter Miami at 38, Suarez continues to showcase his scoring prowess, having netted consistently across various leagues. He is also Uruguay’s record international goalscorer.

Fifth place belongs to the evergreen Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who amassed 564 goals before his retirement. His longevity is legendary, with an astonishing 341 of those goals coming after his 30th birthday.
Karim Benzema, with 498 goals, holds the sixth position. While now playing for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, the Frenchman’s most prolific period was with Real Madrid, where he scored 354 goals.

England captain Harry Kane is seventh with 479 goals. At 31, Kane is still in his prime and rapidly climbing this list. His impressive tally includes 82 goals in 91 appearances for Bayern Munich.

Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani is eighth, having scored 458 goals. Still finding the net for Boca Juniors at 38, Cavani’s most productive years were with Napoli and PSG.

Brazilian sensation Neymar sits in ninth place with 450 goals. Despite recent injury woes, the 33-year-old became Brazil’s all-time top scorer in 2023.

Rounding out the top ten is another Brazilian, Hulk, with a surprising 441 goals. The 38-year-old, still strong for Atletico Mineiro, has outscored many more heralded forwards like Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero, proving his quiet but consistent potency in front of goal.

These ten players represent the pinnacle of goal-scoring in the 21st century, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the charge towards an unprecedented milestone that underscores his extraordinary career.