Skip to main content
Join The Club
- Join our community
17
Member Features
24/7
Access Available
5K+
Active Members
Live Q&A Sessions
Weekly interactive sessions
Member Competitions
Win exclusive prizes
Exclusive Content
Premium articles & videos
Early Access
First to see new features
Exclusive Newsletters
Football news direct to your inbox
Monthly Rewards
Surprise gifts & perks
GET CLUB ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your football news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
Get Club Access Quick

Join The Club for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation plus sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to Fourfourtwo club !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Complete 1 quiz to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Football Quizzes

Football Quizzes

Quick quizzes for football fans.

Read Now
Football Crosswords

Football Crosswords

Football-themed crossword challenges.

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

FREE World Cup Predictor

£5 FREE BET. 8+ Gamble Aware. GAMBLINGCARE ©️ Bet Responsibly

Make your predictions!

Sign Out
FourFourTwo FourFourTwo FOOTBALL NEWS, FEATURES, QUIZZES
UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia US EditionUS CA EditionCanada KR Edition대한민국 TR EditionTürkiye
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Soccer Cleat Buying Guides
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Video
  • Features
  • Quizzes
  • Clubs
  • Membership
  • More
    • Interviews
    • Opinion
    • The Magazine Archive
    • Subscribe
    • How to Watch
    • About
    • Lists
FourFourTwo Magazine
FourFourTwo Magazine
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe today and save 36%
  • Fascinating feature articles, covering everything from grass-roots football to the international scene
  • 'ACCESS ALL AREAS' pass to exclusive interviews with the biggest and best names in the game!
From$29.99
Save 36%
Subscribe now
Trending
  • 🚨 Germany OUT on penalties
  • 🇺🇸 USA route to semi-final
  • Ronaldo
  • EPL
  • Interviews
  • Transfers
  • Messi
  1. Team

Ranked! The 50 highest goalscorers in England history

Features
By Alasdair Mackenzie
Published 15 November 2021

The most clinical footballers ever to pull on the Three Lions shirt

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The Pride of England

The Pride of England

England's goalscoring record was 49 goals - and it was a record that stood for 45 years.

Plenty tried to hit the half-century and many came close. But one man reached the tally just a few years ago, getting to 53 in his career: more on him later in this list.

And actually, there are more than 50 players on this list, too - because over the years several England internationals have become tied on the same number of goals. But we’ve put together the definitive list of the most clinical footballers ever to pull on the Three Lions shirt – a collection spanning three centuries...

Page 1 of 59
Page 1 of 59
49= Paul Gascoigne

49= Paul Gascoigne

Position: Midfielder

Goals: 10

Page 2 of 59
Page 2 of 59
49= Ron Flowers

49= Ron Flowers

Position: Midfielder

Goals: 10

Page 3 of 59
Page 3 of 59
49= Joe Cole

49= Joe Cole

Position: Midfielder

Goals: 10

Page 4 of 59
Page 4 of 59
49= Allan Clarke

49= Allan Clarke

Position: Forward

Goals: 10

Page 5 of 59
Page 5 of 59
49= Franny Lee

49= Franny Lee

Position: Forward

Goals: 10

Page 6 of 59
Page 6 of 59
49= Eric Brook

49= Eric Brook

Position: Forward

Goals: 10

Page 7 of 59
Page 7 of 59
49= Dennis Wilshaw

49= Dennis Wilshaw

Position: Forward

Goals: 10

Page 8 of 59
Page 8 of 59
49= Jackie Milburn

49= Jackie Milburn

Position: Striker

Goals: 10

Page 9 of 59
Page 9 of 59
49= John Barnes

49= John Barnes

Position: Winger

Goals: 10

Page 10 of 59
Page 10 of 59
43= Gilbert Smith

43= Gilbert Smith

Position: Forward

Goals: 11

Page 11 of 59
Page 11 of 59
43= Teddy Sheringham

43= Teddy Sheringham

Position: Striker

Goals: 11

Page 12 of 59
Page 12 of 59
43= Stanley Matthews

43= Stanley Matthews

Position: Forward

Goals: 11

Page 13 of 59
Page 13 of 59
43= Wilf Mannion

43= Wilf Mannion

Position: Forward

Goals: 11

Page 14 of 59
Page 14 of 59
43= John Goodall

43= John Goodall

Position: Forward

Goals: 11

Page 15 of 59
Page 15 of 59
43= Bryan Douglas

43= Bryan Douglas

Position: Forward

Goals: 11

Page 16 of 59
Page 16 of 59
38= Trevor Francis

38= Trevor Francis

Position: Forward

Goals: 12

Page 17 of 59
Page 17 of 59
38= Fred Dewhurst

38= Fred Dewhurst

Position: Forward

Goals: 12

Page 18 of 59
Page 18 of 59
38= Cliff Bastin

38= Cliff Bastin

Position: Winger

Goals: 12

Page 19 of 59
Page 19 of 59
38= Charlie Bambridge

38= Charlie Bambridge

Position: Forward

Goals: 12

Page 20 of 59
Page 20 of 59
38= Marcus Rashford
(Image credit: PA)

38= Marcus Rashford

Position: Forward

Goals: 12

Page 21 of 59
Page 21 of 59
34= Tinsley Lindley

34= Tinsley Lindley

Position: Forward

Goals: 13

Page 22 of 59
Page 22 of 59
34= Bobby Smith

34= Bobby Smith

Position: Forward

Goals: 13

Page 23 of 59
Page 23 of 59
34= Martin Chivers

34= Martin Chivers

Position: Forward

Goals: 13

Page 24 of 59
Page 24 of 59
34= Paul Mariner

34= Paul Mariner

Position: Striker

Goals: 13

Page 25 of 59
Page 25 of 59
32= Paul Scholes

32= Paul Scholes

Position: Midfielder

Goals: 14

Page 26 of 59
Page 26 of 59
32= George Hilsdon

32= George Hilsdon

Position: Striker

Goals: 14

Page 27 of 59
Page 27 of 59
29= Tony Woodcock

29= Tony Woodcock

Position: Striker

Goals: 16

Page 28 of 59
Page 28 of 59
29= Danny Welbeck

29= Danny Welbeck

Position: Striker

Goals: 16

Page 29 of 59
Page 29 of 59
29= Tommy Taylor

29= Tommy Taylor

Position: Forward

Goals: 16

Page 30 of 59
Page 30 of 59
28. David Beckham

28. David Beckham

Position: Midfielder

Goals: 17

Page 31 of 59
Page 31 of 59
24= Roger Hunt

24= Roger Hunt

Position: Striker

Goals: 18

Page 32 of 59
Page 32 of 59
24= Raheem Sterling

24= Raheem Sterling

Position: Forward

Goals: 18

Page 33 of 59
Page 33 of 59
24= Johnny Haynes

24= Johnny Haynes

Position: Forward

Goals: 18

Page 34 of 59
Page 34 of 59
24= Dixie Dean

24= Dixie Dean

Position: Striker

Goals: 18

Page 35 of 59
Page 35 of 59
24= George Camsell

24= George Camsell

Position: Striker

Goals: 18

Page 36 of 59
Page 36 of 59
22= Martin Peters

22= Martin Peters

Position: Midfielder

Goals: 20

Page 37 of 59
Page 37 of 59
22= Jermain Defoe

22= Jermain Defoe

Position: Striker

Goals: 20

Page 38 of 59
Page 38 of 59
19= Kevin Keegan

19= Kevin Keegan

Position: Forward

Goals: 21

Page 39 of 59
Page 39 of 59
19= Steven Gerrard

19= Steven Gerrard

Position: Midfiellder

Goals: 21

Page 40 of 59
Page 40 of 59
19= Mick Channon

19= Mick Channon

Position: Forward

Goals: 21

Page 41 of 59
Page 41 of 59
17= Tommy Lawton

17= Tommy Lawton

Position: Striker

Goals: 22

Page 42 of 59
Page 42 of 59
17= Peter Crouch

17= Peter Crouch

Position: Striker

Goals: 22

Page 43 of 59
Page 43 of 59
16. Stan Mortensen

16. Stan Mortensen

Position: Forward

Goals: 23

Page 44 of 59
Page 44 of 59
15. Geoff Hurst

15. Geoff Hurst

Position: Striker

Goals: 24

Page 45 of 59
Page 45 of 59
13= Bryan Robson

13= Bryan Robson

Position: Midfielder

Goals: 26

Page 46 of 59
Page 46 of 59
12= David Platt

12= David Platt

Position: Midfielder

Goals: 27

Page 47 of 59
Page 47 of 59
11= Vivian Woodward

11= Vivian Woodward

Position: Forward

Goals: 28

Page 48 of 59
Page 48 of 59
11= Steve Bloomer

11= Steve Bloomer

Position: Forward

Goals: 28

Page 49 of 59
Page 49 of 59
10. Frank Lampard

10. Frank Lampard

Position: Midfielder

Goals: 29

Page 50 of 59
Page 50 of 59
7= Alan Shearer

7= Alan Shearer

Position: Striker

Goals: 30

Page 51 of 59
Page 51 of 59
7= Nat Lofthouse

7= Nat Lofthouse

Position: Striker

Goals: 30

Page 52 of 59
Page 52 of 59
7= Tom Finney

7= Tom Finney

Position: Winger

Goals: 30

Page 53 of 59
Page 53 of 59
6= Michael Owen

6= Michael Owen

Position: Striker

Goals: 40

Page 54 of 59
Page 54 of 59
4. Harry Kane

4. Harry Kane

Position: Striker

Goals: 44

Page 55 of 59
Page 55 of 59
4. Jimmy Greaves

4. Jimmy Greaves

Position: Forward

Goals: 44

Page 56 of 59
Page 56 of 59
3. Gary Lineker

3. Gary Lineker

Position: Striker

Goals: 48

Page 57 of 59
Page 57 of 59
2. Bobby Charlton

2. Bobby Charlton

Position: Striker/Midfielder

Goals: 49

Page 58 of 59
Page 58 of 59
1. Wayne Rooney

1. Wayne Rooney

Position: Striker

Goals: 53 

Page 59 of 59
Page 59 of 59
Alasdair Mackenzie

Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio. 

Read more
Harry Kane of England celebrates scoring a goal to make the score 1-0 during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between England and Croatia at Dallas Stadium.
Quiz Quiz! Can you name every England player with 10+ goals?
 
 
Wayne Rooney reacts after scoring for England against Switzerland at Euro 2004.
Quiz Quiz! Can you name every England player to have been to three or more tournaments?
 
 
England goalkeeper Peter Shilton at the 1986 World Cup
Quiz Quiz! Can you name every England player with over 50 caps?
 
 
Harry Kane
Team Which England players have appeared at the most major tournaments?
 
 
Geoff Hurst scores England's controversial third goal against West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final.
Player ‘The closest England striker compared to me, in terms of style? I’d have to pick out Alan Shearer’ Sir Geoff Hurst compares himself to the Three Lions greats that succeeded him at later World Cups
 
 
Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on June 16, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri
Competition Top scorers in World Cup history
 
 
Latest in Team
Lionel Mpasi Nzau with his arms open, side profile.
Team Who is DR Congo's goalkeeper?
 
 
Germany stars Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala react after losing the penalty shootout against Paraguay
Team Bayern Munich broke the Bundesliga - and it's broken the German national team
 
 
Arsenal star William Saliba en route to face Sweden at World Cup 2026
Team Arsenal could face worrying injury crisis at the start of the season
 
 
General view inside New York New Jersey Stadium during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Norway and Senegal (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Team The overlooked advantage that could help France win their third World Cup
 
 
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 25:  Julian Nagelsmann of Germany coach reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Ecuador and Germany at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 25, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
Team Germany make World Cup history with first-ever penalty shootout defeat
 
 
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 14: Kai Havertz #7 of Germany scores on a penalty kick during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Germany and Curaçao on June 14, 2026, at Houston Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Team Why are Germany so good at penalties?
 
 
Latest in Features
Lionel Mpasi Nzau with his arms open, side profile.
Team Who is DR Congo's goalkeeper?
 
 
Jeremy Doku #11 of Belgium looks on during the second half of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match against Egypt at Seattle Stadium on June 15, 2026 in Seattle
Competition Belgium vs Senegal prediction: Will the World Cup's greatest underachievers get past this Senegalese hurdle?
 
 
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 01: Sebastien Desabre, Head Coach of Congo DR, looks on before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between England and Congo DR at Atlanta Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Coaches & Managers Who is DR Congo's manager?
 
 
Jude Bellingham of England celebrates 0-1 during the  World Cup match between Panama v England at the New York/New Jersey Stadium (Photo by Jussi Eskola/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Competition England vs DR Congo prediction: Can Three Lions overcome first knockout hurdle to set up Mexico clash?
 
 
England's forward #09 Harry Kane celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 match football between England and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on July 1, 2026.  (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)
Competition England 2-1 DR Congo live: Battle for the last 16 as Harry Kane breaks Leopards' defensive resilience
 
 
France manager Didier Deschamps holds the World Cup, 2018
Quiz Quiz! Can you name every manager to have won the World Cup?
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Jeremy Doku #11 of Belgium looks on during the second half of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match against Egypt at Seattle Stadium on June 15, 2026 in Seattle
    1
    Belgium vs Senegal prediction: Will the World Cup's greatest underachievers get past this Senegalese hurdle?
  2. 2
    How to watch Belgium vs Senegal for FREE: Live stream details as World Cup 2026 round of 32 lights up Lumen Field
  3. 3
    Who is DR Congo's manager?
  4. 4
    Is Bukayo Saka injured for the DR Congo game?
  5. 5
    England vs DR Congo prediction: Can Three Lions overcome first knockout hurdle to set up Mexico clash?

FourFourTwo is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About FourFourTwo
  • Advertise with us
  • Worldwide
  • How to pitch to FourFourTwo

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...