Cristiano Ronaldo is rightly considered one of the greatest goalscorers in football history, approaching an astonishing 1000 goals for club and country. However, the sheer number of goals does not fully capture his overall attacking impact on the pitch.
When taking into account both goals and assists, we get a more accurate picture of who has contributed most to the creation and finishing of attacks since 2000. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and other incredible forwards dominate this list, with 27-year-old Kylian Mbappe already making his mark among the elite.
Top 13 highest-scoring players since 2000
13. Samuel Eto’o — 564 points (426 goals, 138 assists)
The Cameroonian forward made history in African and global football, winning the Champions League with Barcelona in both 2006 and 2009, before replicating that triumph with Inter in 2010.
12. Thomas Muller — 583 points (313 goals, 270 assists)
The German maestro has spent 17 years at Bayern Munich, renowned for his superb reading of spaces and his high efficiency in both finishing and playmaking. He is currently plying his trade in MLS with Vancouver Whitecaps.
11. Kylian Mbappe — 606 points (446 goals, 160 assists)
At just 27 years old, the French star has already surpassed 600 career goal involvements. Having risen from Monaco to become a megastar at PSG and a target for Real Madrid, he has plenty of time ahead to climb further up the ranks.
10. Mohamed Salah — 614 points (410 goals, 204 assists)
The Egyptian sensation has shown remarkable consistency, establishing himself as one of the most prolific forwards in modern football at Liverpool.
9. Thierry Henry — 647 points (411 goals, 236 assists)
The Arsenal legend and French international combined lethal finishing with exceptional vision, remaining the archetypal forward of his era.
8. Harry Kane — 659 points (541 goals, 118 assists)
The England captain made his name at Tottenham, and since moving to Bayern in 2023, he has maintained an incredible scoring rate while winning coveted trophies.
7. Neymar — 687 points (462 goals, 225 assists)
The Brazilian magician dazzled for Barcelona and PSG. After a spell with Saudi club Al-Hilal and battling injuries, he returned to his roots at Santos in 2025.
6. Karim Benzema — 721 points (524 goals, 197 assists)
For a long time, the Frenchman lived in Ronaldo's shadow at Real Madrid, but after the Portuguese departed, Benzema proved his credentials as a leading striker of the era, steering the club to immense success.
5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic — 752 points (567 goals, 185 assists)
The Swedish forward blended physical power with unique acrobatic technique, achieving success with Juventus, Inter, Milan, Barcelona, Manchester United, and PSG before retiring in 2023.
4. Luis Suarez — 869 points (614 goals, 255 assists)
The Uruguayan forward instilled fear in opponents while at Liverpool and Barcelona, forming a legendary trio with Messi and Neymar. He continues to entertain fans with his goalscoring in Inter Miami.
3. Robert Lewandowski — 883 points (727 goals, 156 assists)
The Polish sharpshooter netted prolifically for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona, and he has recently joined MLS side Chicago Fire.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo — 1242 points (981 goals, 261 assists)
At 41 years old, the Portuguese forward continues to chase new heights with Al-Nassr. Ronaldo leads the charts in total goals, but in terms of combined contributions, he trails behind his long-time rival.
1. Lionel Messi — 1361 points (919 goals, 418 assists)
Messi tops the rankings thanks to his phenomenal balance between goalscoring and playmaking genius. Those 418 assists give the Argentine a massive edge over Ronaldo in total scoring points. The star of Inter Miami continues to rewrite the record books, standing as the sole leader in world football in the 21st century.
