Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 900 goals for club and country. However, he is not the highest goal scorer in world football.
The rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has dominated football for the past decade and a half as both players have won numerous trophies, bagged goals, assists, and individual accolades.
Ronaldo and Messi's records have established them as some of the best players in the round leather game.
Their goal-scoring feats are particularly impressive as Ronaldo boasts of scoring 900 goals, while Messi isn't far behind with 839.
However, according to the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF), these two contemporary giants might not hold the top spots for most career goals.
The reason? Unrecorded data.
The limitations of record-keeping in the past have potentially obscured the achievements of earlier players. The RSSSF, dedicated to collecting and maintaining historical football data, has ranked Ronaldo and Messi as fourth and fifth, respectively, with three other players surpassing their goal tallies.
Let's delve into the top three:
1. Ronnie Rooke
This name might not ring a bell compared to modern-day superstars. However, Rooke was a prolific forward who played for English clubs like Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and Fulham between 1929 and 1961. Over his career, he reportedly scored over 900 goals in 1030 appearances.
2. Josef Bican
Unlike Rooke, Bican is a recognised legend. Often compared to Brazilian greats like Pelé and Romario, Bican is estimated by the RSSSF to have scored over 700 goals, with some estimates reaching 950.
3. Erwin Helmchen
This unfamiliar name, according to the RSSSF, tops the chart. Helmchen, primarily playing for PSV Chemnitz, scored an astonishing 450 goals in just 232 appearances early in his career.
He went on to rack up over 980 goals in a total of 582 appearances between 1924 and 1951.
The inclusion of these historical figures adds another dimension to the "greatest of all time" debate.
While Ronaldo and Messi's achievements are undeniable, the lack of comprehensive records from previous eras leaves room for discussion about who truly holds the title of the most prolific goal scorer in football history.
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