‘I do not play football, I score goals’
Brazil’s 3rd highest goal scorer of all time, Dadá Maravilha immortalised the importance of goals with this statement. Goals in football are unquestionably the most exhilarating affair about the game for a spectator. As viewers and supporters, a lot of our time has been spent on worshipping players who have led teams to glory by scoring consistently and giving the team an advantage in the game.
Some forwards have truly been special to the game. They’ve not just become club legends but are also the face of the league that they have been part of. These players have spent a lot of their career in the same league and have broken many records during their time. However, the one record that is cherished and hailed the most is the top scorer of the league.
Sportskeeda brings to you the all-time top scorers of the top 5 European Leagues
French First Division: Delio Onnis – 299 goals
A pure ‘fox in the box’ striker, Delio Onnis continues to be the all-time Ligue 1 top goal scorer with 299 goals in 280 matches. The Argentine is one of Monaco’s greatest player and was known for his predatory instincts which allowed him to score 223 goals for the club. His killer eye and ability on the ball allowed him to be extremely efficient in front of the goal which is very evident from his goalscoring rate.
One season after he was declared the top scorer of the Ligue 1, Monaco were relegated. Several clubs lined up to sign the striker but Onnis did not pay attention to any of the offers. The Argentine delivered yet again in the 2nd division with 30 goals and became a hero in the eyes of the Monaco fans.
(Video Courtesy: sporting61 YouTube Channel)
Unfortunately, his stay at Monaco was cut short and the player was forced to leave in 1980 due to a rift with the club president.
Onnis was the top scorer of the league for five seasons, three of which came in consecutive seasons, however, his club career did not end on a high note as he could win the Ligue 1 title only once in his entire playing career.
Italy First Division: Silvio Piola – 290 goals
Silvio Piola is often considered as one of the greats of Italian football to have played the beautiful game. Piola played a crucial role in Italy’s 1983 World Cup win as he scored a brace in the final between Italy and Hungary which ended 4-2.
(Video Courtesy: MmS 1900 YouTube Channel)
Piola holds the record for the highest goals scored in the Italian first league with 290 goals, a record that still stands 63 years later. The player holds the honour of being the all-time top scorer of three different clubs Pro Vercelli, Lazio and Novara. Despite some brilliant performances, the Italian could never manage to win the league and ended up as the runner-up with Lazio and Juventus.
The player who is widely recognised as an all-time great has his name on two Italian stadiums in Novara and Vercelli which were renamed after his death. In 2011, Piola was posthumously inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame.
English First Division: Jimmy Greaves – 357 goals
Jimmy Greaves holds the honour of not just being the highest goalscorer for Tottenham Hotspur but also the top goalscorer of the English First Division. The Spurs legend started his career at Chelsea and spent four seasons with the Blues. In 1961, the player then moved to AC Milan but the move was largely unsuccessful and Greaves was sold that very season to Tottenham.
(Video Courtesy: MontAsir 619 YouTube Channel)
Greaves’ goalscoring ability was majorly down to his calm and relaxed attitude in front of the goal which allowed him to finish with great confidence. The 5’8” player had amazing acceleration and was quite a dribbler.
The Englishman reached great heights during his time at Tottenham and finished as the English First Division’s top scorer a mammoth six times. In 2016, Jimmy Greaves was inducted into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame.
German First Division: Gerd Muller – 365 Goals
‘Der Bomber’ as Gerd Muller was lovingly called is one of the greatest goalscorers of all times. The German striker spent almost his entire career with Bayern Munich and it was here that he became the all-time highest Bundesliga goalscorer.
(Video Courtesy: Goalss YouTube Channel)
Muller was known for his clinical finishing and impeccable positioning. A lot of the German’s goals were not because of fancy skills and dribbles but due to his efficient positioning which allowed him to finish from around the 6-yard box.
The German scored 365 goals in 427 matches in the Bundesliga which continues to be the Bundesliga record more than 40 years later. Muller's goalscoring rate was marvellous and the player had a crucial role during Bayern Munich's golden age which saw them win four Bundesliga titles, four DFB Pokal Cups and three European Cups as well.
Spanish First Division – Lionel Messi – 331 Goals and counting
One of the greatest players to have stepped on the field, the Argentine has left everyone behind when it comes to goalscoring. The player has been an absolute menace to deal with and foxes his opponents with considerable ease. The Argentine is not just a brilliant goalscorer but an incredibly talented playmaker. Messi’s creative abilities have often been shadowed because of his ability to score some absolute belters. There is no doubt that his presence on the field is something we still cherish.
Lionel Messi is the only player on this list who is still playing the game. The forward broke Zarra’s previous record (251) in some style as he captivated viewers around the world with his sensational performance. The Argentine scored a splendid hat-trick against Sevilla back in 2014 to write his name in the record books. The Argentine has been the La Liga top scorer for three seasons and the top assist provider as many times.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has not only notched up several individual awards but has largely been successful at the team level as well with eight La Liga titles and four Champions League titles.
There is no doubt that he will go down in history as the greatest player to have donned the Barcelona jersey.
