In this article, we will learn about the top 10 players with the most goals and assists in the 21st century.
Football has seen significant change since the turn of the twenty-first century. A few significant events include the following: managers like Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti have transformed the modern game into the tactical powerhouse it is today.
The rise of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ has become a crucial indicator of dominance in continental football; and the legendary rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has shaped the sport, with the two sharing 13 Ballon d’Or mantles between them.
But goals and assists are at the centre of it all. The excitement of the beautiful game would be diminished if these two factors did not cooperate.
Looking back at the players that contributed the most goals in the top five European leagues throughout this time is ideal as we enter the 25th year of the century. There are several surprises among the top 20, thanks to Transfermarkt’s data.
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Rank | Player | Clubs played for in the 21st century | Games | Goals and assists |
1. | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 578 | 743 |
2. | Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus | 626 | 646 |
3. | Robert Lewandowski | Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona | 466 | 460 |
4. | Zlatan Ibrahimovic | Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG, Manchester United | 467 | 426 |
5. | Karim Benzema | Lyon, Real Madrid | 551 | 423 |
6. | Thomas Muller | Bayern Munich | 483 | 358 |
7. | Luis Suarez | Liverpool, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid | 368 | 356 |
8. | Sergio Aguero | Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona | 454 | 336 |
9. | Francesco Totti | Roma | 459 | 327 |
10. | Harry Kane | Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich | 362 | 322 |