Sunil Chhetri, Messi, & Ronaldo: Who Has Scored More International Goals? Check Here

Sunil Chhetri, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the three most prolific goalscorers in international men’s football matches.

Since its debut in 2005, the amulet captain of the Indian national team, Chhetri, has been the cornerstone of Indian football. He has accumulated 94 goals in 150 appearances over the last two decades, making him the best scorer and most popular player in India.

Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers, with an extraordinary international career in Argentina. Since its debut in 2005, Messi has won 189 blocks and 112 goals, leading Argentina to wins in the US Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The iconic striker from Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo, has set many records on the international stage. Since its debut in 2003, Ronaldo has made 216 appearances and scored 135 goals, surpassing Iran’s previous record.

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List of the highest international goal scorers in men’s football

Cristiano Ronaldo has been a consistent goal score for Portugal since its international debut in 2003, with an impressive 10 hat tricks, the most in international football matches.

Messi, with 112 international goals, is second on the list of all-time high-scorers, trailing only Ronaldo. Meanwhile, Indian football idol Sunil Chhetri is ranked fourth on the historic international goal list.

Chhetri has been shaping Indian football journeys over the past decade, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest sports figures in the United States.

This prestigious list also displays great men of history. Iran’s Ali Daei is the first player to reach 100 international goals, Hungary’s Ferenc Puskás scored 84 goals in just 89 games, but remains a legendary name in football history.

Location

Player

nation

Target

Appearance

1

Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal

135

217

2

Lionel Messi

Argentina

112

191

3

Ali Daei

Iran

108

148

4

Sunil Chhetri

India

94

151

5

Mokhtar Dahari

Malaysia

89

142

6

Ali Mabkhout

United Arab Emirates

85

115

7

Romelu Lukaku

Belgium

85

120

8

Ferenc Puskas

Hungary

84

89

9

Robert Lewandowski

Poland

84

156

10

Godfrey Chitalu

Zambia

79

111

11

Neymar

Brazil

79

128

Top 5 international goalscorers in men’s football history

International football has witnessed several prolific goal scorers who have left indelible results in the sport. Here is an in-depth study of the top five players leading the historic international goal list:

1. CristianoRonaldo (Portugal): 135 goals

Source: uefa.com

Portugal’s iconic striker Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for the most international goals of men’s football. Since his debut against Kazakhstan on August 20, 2003, Ronaldo has accumulated 135 goals in 217 games.

His first international goal was against Greece in 2004 at UEFA EURO. He has achieved many milestones in his outstanding career, including scoring ten international hat-tricks and scoring four goals in two games.

In addition to international competitions, Ronaldo is also the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League, with 140 goals and he has the most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League (14) and FIFA Club World Cup (7).

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina): 112 goals

Source: FIFPRO

Argentine master Lionel Messi is second in the list of international goalscoring rates in history. Since its international debut in 2005, Messi has scored 112 goals in 191 games.

His vision, dribbling skills and target scoring abilities have played a role in Argentina’s success, including their food victory and the 2022 FIFA World Cup championship.

Messi’s leadership and outstanding talent not only bring glory to his national team, but also inspires countless aspiring football players around the world.

3. AliDaei (Iran) – 108 goals

Source: Time of Israel

Ali Daei is a legend in Asian football and is the first player to surpass 100 goals in an international competition.

Daei, who represented Iran from 1993 to 2006, scored 108 goals in 148 appearances, demonstrated his amazing ability and made him a powerful opponent. His contributions have left an enduring legacy of Iranian football and inspired future players in the region.

4. SunilChhetri (India) – 94 goals

Source: Matrubhumi English

The amulet captain of the Indian national team, Sunil Chhetri, has been a key figure in promoting Indian football on the global stage.

Since debuting in 2005, Chhetri has scored 94 goals in 151 games, making him one of the most prolific scorers in international football.

His dedication and enthusiasm not only brought many victories to India, but also inspired a new generation of football enthusiasts in the country.

5. MokhtarDahari (Malaysia) – 89 goals

Source: MyHometown

Mokhtar Dahari, affectionately known as “Super Mokh”, is a Malaysian football legend known for his ability to score goals.

During his international career from 1972 to 1985, Dahari scored 89 goals in 142 games, leading to numerous regional successes in Malaysia and cementing his legacy as one of Asia’s greatest strikers. His contributions have had a lasting impact on Malaysian football and inspired future generations of players.

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