Top 10 Footballers with the Most Header Goals in History
Heading is one of the most effective ways to score in football, and some players have truly mastered it. Among them, Cristiano Ronaldo leads with 153 headed goals, a figure unmatched in the sport’s history. This list ranks the top ten players who have excelled in aerial scoring across different eras.
- 1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 153 Header Goals
- 2. Jimmy McGrory (Scotland) – 147 Header Goals
- 3. Gerd Müller (Germany) – 144 Header Goals
- 4. Carlos Alonso González “Santillana” (Spain) – 128 Header Goals
- 5. Dixie Dean (England) – 125 Header Goals
- 6. Jared Borgetti (Mexico) – 123 Header Goals
- 7. Telmo Zarra (Spain) – 122 Header Goals
- 8. Luuk de Jong (Netherlands) – 116 Header Goals
- 9. Hakan Şükür (Turkey) – 115 Header Goals
- 10. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) – 110 Header Goals
10. Robert Lewandowski – 110 Header Goals
Lewandowski, now at Barcelona, is known for his versatile finishing skills. Standing tall, he uses his physique and positioning well to score headers regularly. At 34, his tally stands at 110 headed goals, and he’s likely to climb higher before retiring.
- Total Goals: 554
- Header Goals: 107
- Percentage of Header Goals: 19%
9. Hakan Şükür – 115 Header Goals
Turkey’s all-time top scorer, Şükür was feared in the air during his time at Galatasaray and Inter Milan. His sharp instincts helped him score 115 headed goals, accounting for 35% of his total 327 goals.
- Total Goals: 327
- Header Goals: 115
- Percentage of Header Goals: 35%
8. Luuk de Jong – 116 Header Goals
The Dutch striker, now unattached, is often underrated for his heading ability. His clever movement and timing allowed him to score 116 headed goals out of 282 total, making up 37% of his career goals.
- Total Goals: 282
- Header Goals: 116
- Percentage of Header Goals: 37%
7. Telmo Zarra – 122 Header Goals
A legendary Spanish forward from the mid-20th century, Zarra scored 122 headers despite heavy balls and tough defending. He found the net 339 times, with headers making up 36% of his goals.
- Total Goals: 339
- Header Goals: 122
- Percentage of Header Goals: 36%
6. Jared Borgetti – 123 Header Goals
Known for his aerial dominance, Borgetti scored nearly half of his 249 goals with his head. His memorable curling header against Italy at the 2002 World Cup remains iconic.
- Total Goals: 249
- Header Goals: 123
- Percentage of Header Goals: 49%
5. Dixie Dean – 125 Header Goals
A symbol of early English football, Dean scored 125 headed goals under difficult conditions with heavy balls. His 1927–28 season included 60 league goals, many of which were headers.
- Total Goals: 188
- Header Goals: 125
- Percentage of Header Goals: 66%
4. Carlos Alonso González “Santillana” – 128 Header Goals
Despite being only 5’9", Santillana became one of Real Madrid’s best aerial finishers. His leap and timing helped him score 128 headed goals in a career totaling over 300 goals.
- Total Goals: 307
- Header Goals: 128
- Percentage of Header Goals: 41%
3. Gerd Müller – 144 Header Goals
The German legend Müller combined smart positioning with a nearly six-foot frame to score 144 headers among his 307 total goals. He won the Ballon d’Or in 1970, partly for his goal-scoring prowess.
- Total Goals: 307
- Header Goals: 144
- Percentage of Header Goals: 47%
2. Jimmy McGrory – 147 Header Goals
McGrory, despite his smaller stature, dominated aerial battles between 1921 and 1937. His 147 headed goals are part of an incredible 422-goal career at Celtic.
- Total Goals: 422
- Header Goals: 147
- Percentage of Header Goals: 35%
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 153 Header Goals
Ronaldo is renowned for his physical strength and leaping ability, holding the record for the highest jump in professional football at 1.87 meters. With 153 headers in over 900 goals, he tops this list as the king of headers.
- Total Goals: 929
- Header Goals: 153
- Percentage of Header Goals: 16%
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who has the most headed goals in football history? Cristiano Ronaldo with 153 headed goals.
- Who is second on the headed goals list? Jimmy McGrory with 147 headed goals.
- Which player has the most headed goals in the 21st century? Cristiano Ronaldo.
- How many headed goals has Robert Lewandowski scored? 107 so far.
- Who has the best header technique? Many consider Cristiano Ronaldo to have the best heading ability.
- How many headers has Lionel Messi scored? Messi has scored 28 headed goals.
