Top 75 goal scorers in international football

Top 75 goal scorers in international football: Elite goal scorers are hard to find even for the top clubs willing to spend millions. For managers of national teams, identifying a top striker can make or break the next decade of the nation’s fate on the international stage.

Finding the back of the net while carrying an entire nation’s hopes on your back is an arduous task. Very few footballers manage to do so on a consistent basis. Here is a list of the footballers who have managed to score 50 international goals. We will also take a closer look at the top five international goal scorers.

5. Sunil Chettri

The 3rd highest goal scorer in international football currently and the 5th of all time is India’s Captain Fantastic. Although not a household name outside the Indian subcontinent, the striker is nothing short of a demigod among Indian football fanatics. The 38-year-old has scored 86 goals in just 135 matches representing the Blue Tigers. This puts his goals per match ratio at 0.64. This incredible tally is higher than modern greats such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Neymar.

It would be interesting to see if the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Ali Mabkhout, Robert Lewandowski and Neymar would surpass the Indian. Especially, given the fact Chettri is nearing the twilight of his career.

4. Mokhtar Dahari

Mohd Mokhtar bin Dahari commonly known as Mokhtar Dahari is arguably the greatest footballer Asia has produced. However, just like Chettri, the Malaysian is relatively unknown outside of South East Asia. Nicknamed as Supermokh, the forward revolutionised the game in his part of the world.

Dahari scored 89 goals in 142 games for the Malaysian national side. He did so at a rate of 0.63 goals per match. Supermokh passed away at the young age of 37. He was forced to retire even earlier due to health issues. If his health had supported him, there is little to no doubt he would have featured higher in this list.

3. Lionel Messi

Considered by many as the greatest footballer of all time. Certainly, the only footballer in the list with the biggest prize in international football, the FIFA World Cup within the top 10. The Argentine has scored 102 goals in 174 matches for La Albiceleste. This tally is almost certain to increase by the end of his career. To further add to it, the Inter Miami employee is the youngest player in the top five scorers. And only Ali Mabkhout and Robert Lewandowski are younger in the top 10 list.

However, Leo Messi has the poorest goal to match ratio among the top 8 international goal scorers. The former PSG man has recorded a tally of 0.59 goals per match.

2. Ali Daei

For about 18 years, Iran’s star striker, remained the top goal scorer in international football. The 6 feet 4 inch striker, has scored 109 goals in 148 matches for Team Melli. This puts his goal to match ratio at 0.74. This is by-far the highest by any player that falls within the top five rankings of international goal scorers in football.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

Topping the list is none other than arguably the purest goal scorer the world of football has ever witnessed. The striker from Madeira has scored 122 goals in 197 international games for the Portuguese national team. And that at a match to goal ratio of 0.59.

Ronaldo is also the first and only footballer to have scored in five different versions of the World Cup. It is safe to say this record will remain intact for at least the next decade.

The reason Cristiano Ronaldo’s seemingly unbeatable record might be beaten in the next decade is largely due to the presence of Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman has scored 38 goals in 68 matches at the age of 24. Also a potential threat is in the form of Haaland, who has almost scored at a rate of a goal every match. However, be it the next decade or the next century, all records are meant to be broke and so is this list.