RONALDO – MESSI : WHAT ELSE !

The World’s Best Goal Scorers in 1st Quarter of XXI Century

Cristiano Ronaldo leads the category of best goal-scorers in the world top football in the 1st Quarter of XXI Century with 916 goals, followed by second-placed Lionel Messi (896). 
Last year, Luis Suarez has reached the landmark of 600 goals, Karim Benzema 500, Kylian Mbappe, Oscar Cardozo and Romelu Lukaku 400.
19 players in the world have scored 400+ goals in XXI century after the end of 2025; 13 of them being active (taken in bold).
For each player who started career in XX century, also his corresponding number is indicated, with a total amount in the next column (Total). 

DL – domestic leagues (national and regional top tiers),
DC – relevant domestic cups,
ICC – international club competitions,
NT – national team.

Tie-breaker: more international goals (ICC + NT).
Period: from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2025 (for the ranking XXI).

	BEST GOAL-SCORERS	XXI	CENTURY		2001-	2025
	WORLD	1st	QUARTER
	Player	Nationality	Career	XXI	XX	Total	DL	DC	ICC	NT
1	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	2002-	957		957	585	57	172	143
2	Lionel Messi	Argentina	2004-	896		896	553	71	157	115
3	Robert Lewandowski	Poland	2006-	685		685	421	61	115	88
4	Luis Suárez	Uruguay	2005-	600		600	419	48	64	69
5	Zlatan Ibrahimović	Sweden	1999-2023	558	3	561	393	46	57	62
6	Karim Benzema	France	2005-	510		510	315	53	105	37
7	Ali Ashfaq	Maldives	2001-2023	476		476	293	95	30	58
8	Harry Kane	England	2011-	475		475	294	31	72	78
9	Edinson Cavani	Uruguay	2005-	465		465	284	62	61	58
10	Neymar	Brazil	2009-	450		450	268	43	60	79
11	Edin Džeko	Bosnia and H	2003-	447		447	277	31	67	72
12	Sergio Agüero	Argentina	2003-2021	426		426	282	40	63	41
13	Eran Zahavi	Israel	2006-	426		426	292	50	49	35
14	Aleksandar Đurić	Singapore	1994-2014	425	36	461	304	57	37	27
15	Kylian Mbappé	France	2015-	411		411	240	49	67	55
16	Samuel Eto’O	Cameroon	1997-2019	410	13	423	282	28	49	51
17	Óscar Cardozo	Paraguay	2004-	405		405	301	32	60	12
18	Romelu Lukaku	Belgium	2009-	404		404	238	26	51	89
19	Fred	Brazil	2003-2022	404		404	307	41	38	18