Here we are sharing the World’s Best Top Goal Scorer by Decade records and Statistics by individual players all over the World from Club matches to International matches. Soccer is one of the most entertaining sports in the world and FIFA is the international governing body of association football.
The all-time hot topic of debate in the football world is who the top footballer World’s Best Top Goal Scorer by Decade between Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi’s. Aleksandar Đurić is the leading scorer of 2001–2010, Ronaldo from 2011–2020 and Kylian Mbappé from 2021–2030. All the data was posted on the IFFHS’ official website after the analysis.
Aleksandar Đurić have represented 3 different clubs. He was the world’s Best Top Goal Scorer of the First Decade. One of the Best and all-time top scorers of FIFA International and Clubs Matches. Kylian Mbappé is the world’s Best Top Goal Scorer by Decade from 2021 to 2023 where Erling Haaland is in 2nd position.
In 2025, Ronaldo will become 1st player to reach 930 career goals and Lionel Messi is in 2nd position last 30 years in the soccer World.
World’s Best Top Goal Scorer by Decade
Table of Contents
2001–2010
| Player | Clubs | Total Goals | International | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aleksandar Đurić | Geylang United, Singapore Armed Forces, Tampines Rovers | 327 | 16 | 311 |
| Washington | Ponte Preta Fenerbahçe Athletico Paranaense Tokyo Verdy Urawa Red Diamonds Fluminense São Paulo | 283 | 3 | 381 |
| Thierry Henry | Arsenal Barcelona New York Red Bulls | 281 | 43 | 238 |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy | PSV Eindhoven Manchester United Real Madrid Hamburger SV | 275 | 33 | 242 |
| Samuel Eto’o | Mallorca Barcelona Inter Milan | 271 | 44 | 227 |
2011–2020
List of the top 5 Best Players from 2011 to 2020 below –
| Player | Clubs | Total Goals | International | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cristiano Ronaldo | PSG Real Madrid | 550 | 77 | 473 |
| Lionel Messi | Borussia Dortmund Manchester City | 549 | 56 | 381 |
| Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich Spain Barcelona | 417 | 54 | 363 |
| Zlatan Ibrahimović | Tottenham Hotspur Bayern Munich | 340 | 37 | 303 |
| Luis Suárez | Juventus Manchester United Al Nassr | 335 | 47 | 288 |
2021–2030
List of the top 5 Best Players from 2021 to 2025 below –
| Player | Clubs | Total Goals | International | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid Italy Juventus | 198 | 32 | 166 |
| Erling Haaland | Barcelona | 194 | 32 | 162 |
| Robert Lewandowski | Borussia Dortmund Germany Bayern Munich | 181 | 21 | 160 |
| Harry Kane | Milan France Paris Saint-Germain England Manchester United United States LA Galaxy | 177 | 37 | 140 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Liverpool Spain Barcelona Spain Atlético Madrid | 160 | 33 | 127 |
World’s Best National Goal-Scorers of the 20th Century (2001-2024)
Here is the list of the best national goal-scorers of the 20th century.
- Cristiano Ronaldo – 557
- Lionel Messi – 518
- Luis Suárez – 409
- Robert Lewandowski – 402
- Zlatan Ibrahimović – 393
Top Scorers by Decade
1950s – Ferenc Puskás (Hungary & Real Madrid)
- Goals: 240+
- Known for: Unreal goal average, part of Hungary’s golden team.
1960s – Eusébio (Portugal & Benfica)
- Goals: 300+
- Achievement: Ballon d’Or winner, 1966 World Cup Golden Boot.
1970s – Gerd Müller (Germany & Bayern Munich)
- Goals: 400+
- Highlights: World Cup winner, goal machine with a crazy conversion rate.
1980s – Diego Maradona (Argentina & Napoli)
- Goals: 200+
- Specialty: Game control and iconic World Cup 1986 run.
1990s – Romário (Brazil)
- Goals: 300+
- Achievements: 1994 World Cup winner, known for his finishing touch.
2000s – Thierry Henry / Ronaldinho / Shevchenko (tight race)
- Goals: 250–280
- Context: This era saw multiple world-class forwards dominating.
2010s – Cristiano Ronaldo
- Goals: 550+
- Clubs: Real Madrid, Manchester United
- Achievements: 4 Ballon d’Ors in the decade, Champions League dominance.
2020s (so far) – Lionel Messi
- Goals: 150+ (till 2024)
- Still active: He continues to score with Inter Miami & Argentina.
Interesting Fact
- Ronaldo is the only player to be top scorer in multiple decades (late 2000s, 2010s).
- Messi is still catching up in the 2020s and could take the lead soon.
