Who Has Scored the Most Goals in Football History?

By Sarah Miller · June 13, 2048

Josef Bican holds the record for the most goals in football history, with an estimated 805 goals in 530 official matches according to FIFA and RSSSF records.

The All-Time Top Goalscorers in Football History

When discussing the greatest goal scorers in football history, names like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Pelé often dominate modern conversations. However, historical data reveals that Josef Bican, an Austrian-Czech forward who played primarily in the 1930s–1950s, stands at the top with an astonishing tally of over 800 official goals. His scoring rate surpasses even today’s elite forwards, making him the most prolific goalscorer in documented football history.

Why Josef Bican Isn't as Widely Recognized

Lack of global media coverage during his playing era (1930s–1950s)
Few international appearances due to geopolitical restrictions
Goals scored mostly in regional leagues rather than globally televised competitions
Historical record-keeping inconsistencies compared to modern standards

Key Contenders for Most Goals Scored

While Bican leads in total official goals, several players are often cited due to their longevity, global fame, and consistency at the highest levels of club and international football.

Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo: Modern Era Rivals

These two legends have pushed each other to unprecedented scoring heights in the 21st century. Both have surpassed 800 career goals in official competitions, but neither exceeds Bican's verified total.

Pelé: The King of Brazil

Pelé claimed over 1,000 career goals, including friendlies and exhibition matches. However, only 757 of his goals were in official matches recognized by RSSSF and FIFA, placing him below Bican in verified totals.

Player	Nationality	Estimated Official Goals	Career Span	Primary Clubs
Josef Bican	Austrian / Czechoslovak	805	1931–1955	Slavia Prague, Admira Vienna
Cristiano Ronaldo	Portuguese	885+	2002–Present	Man United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al Nassr
Lionel Messi	Argentine	849+	2004–Present	Barcelona, PSG, Inter Miami
Pelé	Brazilian	757	1956–1977	Santos, New York Cosmos
Romario	Brazilian	754	1985–2007	Vasco da Gama, PSV, Barcelona

Table data source:1, 2

The table shows that while Cristiano Ronaldo has likely scored more total goals when including unofficial matches, Josef Bican remains the leader in officially recognized matches per RSSSF and FIFA archives. Bican's average of nearly 1.52 goals per game significantly outpaces modern players, highlighting the extraordinary nature of his achievement despite limited international exposure.

Criteria for Counting Official Goals

To accurately compare goal totals across eras, it's essential to define what constitutes an "official" match:

Domestic league and cup competitions
International club tournaments (e.g., European Cups, Copa Libertadores)
Full senior international matches recognized by FIFA
Excludes friendly matches, exhibition games, and charity events

Organizations like the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) and FIFA maintain rigorous standards for verifying historical statistics, which is why Bican’s record is widely accepted among experts.

FAQs About the Highest Goal Scorers in Football History

Who has scored the most official goals in football history?

Josef Bican holds the record with 805 officially recognized goals in 530 matches, according to RSSSF and FIFA sources.

Has Cristiano Ronaldo scored more goals than anyone else?

Ronaldo has over 885 total goals, including unofficial matches, but only around 800 are considered official—still fewer than Bican’s verified tally.

Why don’t we hear more about Josef Bican?

Bican played before the television era, had limited international exposure due to WWII and Cold War politics, and his achievements occurred outside today’s global media spotlight.

Is Pelé’s 1,000-goal claim accurate?

Pelé reached 1,000 goals including friendlies and promotional matches. In official matches, he scored 757 goals, which is impressive but below Bican’s total.

Who is the highest-scoring active player today?

As of 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-scoring active player with over 885 career goals, continuing to add to his tally in the Saudi Pro League.

How reliable are historical goal records?

Records from the early 20th century can be incomplete, but organizations like RSSSF cross-reference newspapers, match reports, and federation data to verify totals. Bican’s numbers are among the best-documented of his era.