What fans love to see and the ultimate goal on the pitch can be a long-range shot into the top corner, a delicate touch, a through pass, a volley, or a towering header; a goal that secures victory in a football match. The best goal scorers in the history of football are those who have consistently delivered over many years and across various competitions. They showcase their ability time and time again with similar effectiveness. In this article, we - Wintips - will evaluate the top best finisher in football history for you.
Top 10 best finisher in football ever
1. Lionel Messi
Although not a prominent striker, he is a versatile winger known as the "False Nine," capable of playing in attacking midfield. Despite his diminutive stature, Messi's short and sturdy legs enable him to excel in short bursts of acceleration, while his nimble feet help him maintain ball control at high speeds.
The Argentine legend is renowned for his finishing ability, positional awareness, quick reactions, and knack for orchestrating attacks to dismantle opposing defenses. He is often described as a magician, conjuring goals and opportunities seemingly out of thin air. Moreover, he is adept at executing accurate free kicks and penalties. As of September 2023, Messi ranks fifth all-time in direct free-kick goals with 65, the most among currently active players
2. Gerd Müller - Best finisher in football
Considered one of the greatest goal scorers in football history, Gerd Müller was renowned for his exquisite finishing ability, especially within and around the 6-yard box. He utilized explosive acceleration and deceptive changes of pace to attack and get past defenders. At the international level with West Germany, he scored 68 goals in 62 appearances.
At the club level, during his 15-year tenure with Bayern Munich, he netted 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga matches, establishing a record for the league. In 74 club matches in Europe, he scored 65 goals. Averaging a goal per game for West Germany, Müller ranks 21st on the all-time international goal scorers list, despite playing fewer matches than any other player in the top 48.
3. Romario - Best finisher in football
As a renowned striker famous for his adept finishing ability, Romario scored over 700 goals and is one of the few players to have scored at least 100 goals for three different clubs. Regarded as a master of tight spaces in the penalty area, his quick acceleration over short distances (aided by a low center of gravity) helped him evade defenders.
With 55 goals in 70 appearances, he is Brazil's fourth all-time leading goal scorer for the national team—after Pelé, Neymar, and Ronaldo. He ranks third on the all-time goal-scoring list in the Brazilian top-flight league with 155 goals. Romario is the ninth-highest goal scorer in football history, with 784 goals in 1002 official matches.
4. Eusebio
With nicknames like "Black Panther," "Black Pearl," or "O Rei" ("The King"), Eusébio is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time and the greatest star in SL Benfica's history. He was known for his speed, technique, strength, and powerful right-footed shot, making him one of the finest forwards, with 733 goals scored in 745 matches.
Eusébio also holds one of the most impressive individual accolades in history and helped Portugal achieve a third-place finish at the 1966 FIFA World Cup, becoming the tournament's top scorer with 9 goals. He is also Benfica's all-time leading goal scorer, with 473 goals in 440 matches.
5. Josef Bican - Best finisher in football
Josef Bican is one of the highest-scoring footballers of all time, with over 950 goals scored in 624 official matches. He netted 427 goals in 221 appearances for Slavia Praha during his 11-year tenure with the club. Bican was a physically imposing player, proficient with both feet and possessed considerable speed.
During his athletic peak, he was reputed to be able to run 100 meters in 10.8 seconds, comparable to top sprinters of his era. According to UEFA, he is the all-time leading scorer in top European competitions with 518 goals (447 in Czechoslovakia and 71 in Austria), slightly surpassing the legendary Ferenc Puskás.
6. Cristiano Ronaldo - Best finisher in football
Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored over 850 official goals for both club and country, cementing his status as one of the greatest goal scorers of all time. Despite not being a natural-born striker, Ronaldo is a versatile attacking player, capable of playing on both wings as well as through the center. And although predominantly right-footed, he is proficient with both feet.
In terms of tactics, he has undergone several evolutions throughout his career. During his time at Sporting Lisbon and in his early years at Manchester United. He was often deployed as a traditional winger on the right side of midfield. Later, especially at Real Madrid, CR7 transformed into what can be called a "goal-scoring machine. He is undoubtedly one of the finest finishers in the history of football.
7. Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe has been in scintillating form this season. The French player has been Paris Saint-Germain's standout performer for several years now. Mbappe has been a formidable presence on both wings or in the center-forward role. He is incredibly difficult to contain with his agility and explosive pace, making Mbappe one of the most complete strikers today.
Mbappe has also shown significant improvement when it comes to finishing opportunities. The 23-year-old has been able to keep his cool and produce some breathtaking finishes this season. He has scored 31 goals and provided 22 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions for PSG in the ongoing campaign.
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Best finisher in football
Zlatan Ibrahimović is renowned for his acrobatic goals and volleys, technical prowess, and ball control. He's considered one of the greatest strikers of all time and one of the most exceptional players in the world. Having won 34 titles throughout his career. A master of scoring with both his head and feet, his height, elevation.
Despite his towering stature, Ibrahimović possesses an unusual agility for a player of his size, and his physicality and aerial prowess have enabled him to score many goals from acrobatic volleys throughout his career—earning him the nickname "Ibracadabra" in the Italian media.
9. Erling Haaland - Best finisher in football
One of the factors contributing to Haaland's success in recent seasons is his exceptional ability to convert goal-scoring opportunities. Over the past 5 seasons, the Norwegian star has averaged an expected goals (xG) rate of 0.76 per 90 minutes, second only to Robert Lewandowski.
When he left Borussia Dortmund for Manchester City at the age of 20, he scored 74 goals from a total of 54.5 xG in top competitions, exceeding the average conversion rate by more than 36%. If his goal-scoring ratio remains consistent as it was last season, Lionel Messi's milestone of 92 goals in a calendar year could also be under threat at some point.
10. Karim Benzema
As Benzema entered his thirties in 2017, he was experiencing a season where he scored only five goals in 32 La Liga matches and 12 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions. Excluding his first season at Real, where he only managed nine goals in all competitions, these were the worst statistics for Benzema. However, they were in line with the reality that he often played a supporting role, frequently drifting wide to accommodate Cristiano Ronaldo as the main goal-scorer.
Real Madrid ended that season by setting a record of winning the Champions League three times in a row, coinciding with Ronaldo's shocking transfer to Juventus. This marked a turning point in Benzema's career, as he once again adjusted his playing style to replace his former teammate and assume a leadership role at the Bernabeu.
Conclude
Football encompasses more than just goals, but it's undeniable that attacking play is the essence of this sport, the focal point where every child begins to develop. Europe is fortunate to be the hunting ground for most of the world's top talents. They have honed their finishing skills and elevated them to a new level, several times over. We hope you'll be pleased with what the online bookmaker offers website brings to you in today's sports news.
See also: Compilation of the list of football players with most hat tricks in history
