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There is no doubt that Ronaldo Nazario is one of the greatest players Brazil has ever produced. He achieved a lot in his career, even at a very young age. But how good was Ronaldo at the age of 21 and how does he compare with the emerging superstars of today?
Scoring goals at will is no mean feat and the players on this list had a knack for consistently finding the back of the net. These are the footballers who took the world by storm from very early on in their careers, just like Ronaldo did.
Surprisingly, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo did not make this list, as they had 51 and 36 goals respectively to their names at the age of 21. The two greats are undoubtedly legends of the game but bloomed slightly late in their illustrious careers.
On that note, let's take a look at the five footballers who scored the most goals by the age of 21:
#5 Sergio Agüero: 84 goals
Sergio Aguero began his footballing journey with Atlético Independiente in Argentina. He later joined Atletico Madrid in 2006 and made the world sit up and take notice.
Aguero won the Europa League with Atletico in the 2009-10 season. He joined Manchester City in 2011 and went on to create Premier League history.
Aguero had 84 goals in 213 appearances when he was 21 years old. The majority of goals came for Atletico Madrid. In total, he has 101 goals for the Spanish outfit. Aguero is also regarded as one of the greatest goalscorers in the Premier League. The Argentinian scored 184 goals in 275 appearances for the Citizens and is fourth on the league's list of all-time leading goalscorers.
Aguero’s stoppage-time winner against Queens Park Rangers in 2011-12 is an iconic moment in the history of the modern game as it helped City win the Premier League after 44 years. It was arguably the most dramatic goal scored in modern-day football. The goal literally snatched the trophy out of Manchester United's hands deep in stoppage time since City won elusive title on goal difference.
The 33-year-old signed for Barcelona last summer, but was unfortunately diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia soon after. Aguero announced his retirement in December, calling time on an incredible career.
#4 Erling Haaland: 113 goals
Erling Haaland has already established himself as one of the most prolific forwards in the game. The Norweigian’s goal tally is quite staggering given that he is just 21 years old. Haaland’s potential is quite incredible, and he just may go on to become the world’s greatest in the coming years.
The youngster has 113 goals to his name in just 164 games. He scored more than half of those goals for Borussia Dortmund. In just 83 appearances across all competitions, the Norwegian has an astonishing 80 goals for BVB.
He has found the back of the net 16 times in 14 Bundesliga games this season, even after missing quite a few games due to injury.
Although Haaland hasn’t been tested in a more competitive league, there is no doubt about the youngster’s ability.
Top clubs across Europe will be looking to get the 21-year-old’s signature in the upcoming summer transfer window.
#3 Kylian Mbappe: 116 goals
Kylian Mbappe may be only 23, but he is undoubtedly one of the greatest strikers in Europe. The Frenchman has already amassed an insane number of goals for Paris Saint-Germain at such a young age.
Mbappe turned 21 in December 2019. The Frenchman had scored 116 goals in 199 appearances for both club and country at such a young age. He was Ligue 1’s leading goalscorer for three seasons running from 2018-19.
Just before his 23rd birthday, Mbappe became the youngest player to score 100 goals for a single team in the French top flight.
Alongside Neymar and Messi, he is part of one of the deadliest attacks in world football. Like Haaland, Mbappe’s insane records are often underappreciated because he plays in a league that is not very competitive.
Nevertheless, Mbappe’s raw talent may well see him become the next big thing in football.
#2 Neymar Jr.: 140 goals
With silky skills and mesmerizing ball control, Neymar is one of the most technically gifted footballers on the planet. Neymar rose to fame at Santos and was quickly picked up by Barcelona in 2013.
By the age of 21, Neymar had scored 140 goals in 227 games. Only the legendary Ronaldo Nazario managed to score more goals.
Neymar was arguably at his peak during his time at Barcelona. The Brazilian formed a formidable partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez and carried Barca to victory on many occasions. Neymar won two La Liga titles, one Champions League, and three Spanish Cups with the Catalans, amongst other accolades.
Neymar joined PSG in 2017 for a world-record transfer fee of €222 million. This remains the most expensive deal in the history of the game. Some argue that Neymar should have stayed with Barca to truly reach his highest potential.
Nevertheless, the Brazilian has been reunited with Leo Messi at PSG and will look to help his side with their first ever Champions League title.
#1 Ronaldo Nazario: 167 goals
Few strikers have been able to replicate the brilliance of Ronaldo Nazario. The Brazilian paved the way for future generations and redefined the role of a striker. “O Fenomeno” is revered all over the world and is a legend of the game.
Ronaldo is one of the few players to have played for two rivals in two different leagues. He spent a year at Barcelona during the 1996-97 season before moving to Inter Milan. Five years later, he joined Real Madrid before joining AC Milan in 2007.
Ronaldo’s goalscoring record of 167 goals in 185 games at the age of 21 is just ridiculous. The Brazilian won his first Ballon d’Or in 1997 when he was the same age and is the youngest recipient of the prestigious award.
Ronaldo went on to win the coveted prize for a second time in 2002. Surprisingly, the Brazilian could never win the Champions League. However, the two-time World Cup winner has won pretty much every other trophy one can dream of.
