Top 10 Players with Most Non-Penalty Goals Since 2000 as Samuel Eto'o Makes List

• Lionel Messi recently overtook Ronaldo as the player with the most non-penalty goals
• The Argentine has an impressive 723 goals in his career without penalties
• Besides Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, other strikers of the modern game make the top 10

Arguably, one of the most difficult things to do on a football pitch is scoring goals.

With this in mind, it is quite staggering to imagine players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with centuries of goals to their name.

Critics could argue that penalty kicks have played a huge part in racking up the numbers for the two football stars, but this is far from the case.

Messi recently became the player with the most non-penalty goals in history with 723 strikes, surpassing Ronaldo’s previous record of 721.

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This record is likely to sway back and forth between the two stars before they retire., but who else is in the top 10 of this category?

Sports Brief looks at some football names, past and present, who have the highest goal totals without relying on penalties, per Transfermarkt.

10 Samuel Eto’o 378 goals

Samuel Eto’o reigns supreme in the goal-scoring department.

Considered one of the best footballing exports from Africa, the former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker scored an impressive 378 strikes without a penalty. No wonder Messi once named him as one of his best teammates ever.

9. Sergio Aguero, 378 goals

The Argentine is a familiar figure among modern football fans.

Not only was he a master at taking penalties, Sergio Aguero was also a sharp marksman in front of goal, scoring 378 goals either from open play or a free kick before his forced retirement from the game in 2021.

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8. Edinson Cavani, 382 goals

El Matador played for several big European clubs in his prime, and one of his more notable stints was with Paris Saint Germain in the French Ligue 1.

Edinson Cavani was a master in his trade of scoring goals, and this is evident from the 382 non-penalty goals he has mustered in his career.

He is likely to up that tally as he is still playing professionally for Argentine Primera División club Boca Juniors.

7. Edin Dzeko, 410 goals

Another criminally underrated striker of the modern era is Edin Dzeko.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international has played more than 965 games in his career for club and country and racked up 410 non-penalty goals.

Now playing for Turkish Super Lig outfit Fenerbahce, Dzeko has an opportunity to add to his tally at a top club.

6. Karim Benzema, 431 goals

It is almost impossible to mention the best strikers in modern history without including Karim Benzema.

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The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner seamlessly filled Cristiano Ronaldo’s shoes when the Portuguese superstar left the club in 2018, and he has since peaked in his career, scoring 354 goals in 648 games for Real Madrid.

Averaging 0.47 goals per game since 2000, Benzema has 431 non-penalty goals and counting.

5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 488 goals

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is what fans like to call a ‘footballing nomad’.

Yet, at every club the Swede has played in, he has helped them with goals on top of goals.

After a career spanning more than two decades, Zlatan scored 488 goals, excluding penalties.

4. Luis Suarez, 513 goals

Luis Suarez’s career may be filled with controversies, but there is no taking away the Uruguayan’s goal-scoring ability.

Suarez has right foot that is almost inevitable, and has garnered more than 500 non-penalty goals since the turn of the millennium.

His current stint at Inter Miami is proving to be a success, and he is likely to add to his tally.

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3. Robert Lewandowski, 578 goals

We may never see a Poland international as good as Robert Lewandowski in this lifetime.

The Barcelona ace has a habit of free-scoring, which explains his staggering haul of 578 non-penalty goals.

His best years came when he played for Bayern Munich, where he scored 344 goals in 375 games.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo, 721 goals

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner needs no introduction.

As mentioned earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo was recently dethroned from the top spot, but that takes nothing away from his 721 goals, as of April 30.

His goals have come in 1218 games, giving Ronaldo a ratio of 0.59 goals per game, making him one of the most potent goal scorers on this list.

1. Lionel Messi, 723 goals

Of course, the list would not be complete without Lionel Messi.

The footballing legend has scored 723 non-penalty goals, and his ratio stands at a staggering 0.68 non-penalty goals per game.

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A La Masia academy graduate, the 37-year-old spent a large chunk of his football career at Barcelona, where he made a name for himself to become arguably the greatest football player who ever lived.

Players with most penalty misses

Sports Brief also reported on the players with the most penalty misses as Sergio Aguero ranks in 10th spot.

Former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard also makes the list, as he has missed 13 spot kicks in 80 attempts.

As expected, the list is topped by Lionel Messi, who has missed 27 penalties in 126 attempts.