Football is a game of superstars and every goal scored in the game of soccer has the capability to turn the fate of the game in split seconds. This is why a footballer’s stature is measured by his capability to convert close passes into goals. From Ronaldo to Messi, the world has seen many legendary players donning their country’s jersey and handing their hides single-handed victories. One needs to be very fast and agile to breathe through the defences of the opposition and make the ball go past the goal post. Only a perfect combination of power and skill can help a footballer get success in the long run. Thankfully, the world has no dearth of such players.

As far as the current records are concerned, Iran’s Ali Daei is at the top with 109 goals in 149 appearances. 35-year-old modern-day legend Christiano Ronaldo is on the mission to overtake Ali and currently has 109 goals from 149 matches. I am here with the top 10 goal scorers of all time.

Sunil Chhetri, India

Sunil Chhetri most goals in international football

The start striker from India is among the top goal scorers in the world. Chhetri captains the Indian national side as well as Indian Super League team Bengaluru. He is popularly known as Captain Fantastic and has the second-highest number of international goals among the active players. He is the most-capped player as well as the all-time top goal scorer for the Indian national side. Chhetri has 72 goals in 155 appearances. The 36-year-old helped India win the 2007 Nehru Cup, 2009 Nehru Cup, the 2012 Nehru Cup as well as the 2011 SAFF Championship.

Bashar Abdullah, Kuwait

Bashar Abdullah top player of Kuwait

Slightly above Chhetri is former footballer Bashar Abdullah from Kuwait. Abdullah was part of the side that won two Gulf Cups and reached the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup. Abdullah was also a part of the side that reached the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. He is one of the few players who featured in more than 100 matches for Kuwait. Abdullah has 75 goals to his name from 134 matches. The footballer announced his retirement on November 26, 2015.

Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan

Kunishige Kamamoto iconic Japanese player from 60s

The former Japanese footballer has the same number of goals as Bashar Abdullah. The only reason that Kamamoto is above Abdullah on the list is that the former has achieved the feat in just 76 matches which is much less in comparison to Abdullah. Kamamoto remains the leading goal scorer for Japan despite retiring in 1984. Kamamoto made his debut for Japan in a match against Singapore on March 3, 1964. After that, he was selected in the national side for the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and never looked back.

Sándor Kocsis, Hungary

Sándor Kocsis from Hungary

Sándor Kocsis was a footballer who played for Hungary as a striker. Soon after the Hungarian revolution in 1956, Kocsis moved to Spain and became a part of FC Barcelona. Kocsis remained a star player for both Budapest Honvéd and Hungary. While playing for Hungary, he scored 75 goals in 68 appearances that translates into an average of 1.1 goals per game. He was the top goal scorer in the 1954 World Cup with 11 goals. He was also the first player to score two hat tricks in a World Cup.

Pele, Brazil

Pele the legend of football from Brazil

Former Brazilian football legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento or Pele is one of the greatest players to have ever played the game. He was also the best-paid athlete during his playing days. Pele was voted World Player of the Century in 1999. Also, he was elected Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and was included in the Time list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century in the same year. With 541 goals in 560 appearances, Pele is the most successful top division scorer of his times. Pele has 77 international goals from 92 matches.

Hussein Saeed, Iraq

Hussein Saeed from Iraq

Iraq’s former forward Hussein Saeed beats Pele just by one goal. He has 78 goals from 137 appearances. He is regarded as Iraq’s best footballer of the 20th century. Saeed features in 25th place in Asia’s Best Players of the Century list. He is also the highest goal scorer for Iraq. He won two AFC U-19 Championships, two Arabian Gulf Cups, a World Military Cup, and an Asian Games gold medal.

Godfrey Chitalu, Zambia

Godfrey Chitalu from Zambia

Former Zambia footballer Late Godfrey Chitalu is fourth on the list with 79 goals from 111 matches. He is regarded as the greatest Zambian player of all time. Chitalu was selected by CAF as one of the best 200 African footballers of the past 50 years in 2006. According to research, he scored more than 100 goals in all competitions in 1972. He also served as the coach of the Zambian national team after retirement. Chitalu passed away on April 27, 1993, in a plane accident.

Also Read, Greatest Sportsmen of all Time

Ferenc Puskás, Hungary

Ferenc Puskás from Hungary

Hungarian great Ferenc Puskás is the third-highest goal scorer of all time. Ferenc scored 84 goals in 85 international appearances. Apart from Hungary, he also played four international matches for Spain. He scored 514 goals in 529 matches in Hungarian and Spanish domestic leagues. Known as one of the finest of all time, Ferenc became an Olympic champion in 1952 and led his nation to the final of the 1954 World Cup where he was named the tournament’s best player. Apart from this, he also won three European Cups (1959, 1960, 1966) and 10 national championships. He died on November 17, 2006, due to Pneumonia.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal

The Cristiano Ronaldo everyone CR7

Anyone from today’s generation, whether a football lover or not, will know the legend that the Portuguese star is. Ronaldo has ruled the field every time he has stepped over it. With 101 goals from 165 matches, he is second on the list. Regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards and four European Golden Shoes. He has seven league titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues, one UEFA European Championship, and one UEFA Nations League title to his name. Ronaldo holds the records for the most goals (132) and assists (41) in the history of the UEFA Champions League.

Ali Daei, Iran

Ali Daei from Iran

Iran’s Ali Daei sits at the top of the list with 109 goals from 149 appearances. The former Iranian footballer captained the Iranian national side and was known for his ability to hit the ball in the air accurately. He was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2001. He became the first Asian player ever to feature in a UEFA Champions League match. The former great is now enjoying success in the field of business.