Top Goal Scorers For Canada Football Team All-Time: Canada’s men’s national soccer team has a long history, starting from their first international match in 1886. They’ve had many great players over the years, especially some fantastic goal-scorers.
Top Goal Scorers For Canada Football Team All-Time
In this article, we’re going to tell you about the top goal scorers for the Canadian football team throughout history. These players are essential in Canadian soccer, and we want to help you remember them. So, keep reading to find out who they are!
1. Cyle Larin
- Career Span: 2014–present
- Matches: 63
- Goals: 28
- Average: 0.44
Cyle Larin is the top goal scorer for Canada’s national soccer team, having scored 28 goals in 63 matches. He broke Dwayne De Rosario’s previous record of 22 goals in 2022. Larin scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Puerto Rico in March 2015.
Larin played in the 2015 Gold Cup, participating in all three group games, although Canada was eliminated at the bottom of the group. In the 2017 Gold Cup, he played in the quarter-finals, which Canada lost to Jamaica. During the 2019 Gold Cup, he only played in one group game. In 2021, he played in all three group games but couldn’t continue in the tournament due to an injury.
He also represented Canada in the 2022 World Cup, playing in all three group games. Unfortunately, Canada was eliminated from the tournament finishing last in the group stage.
2. Jonathan David
- Career Span: 2018–present
- Matches: 43
- Goals: 25
- Average: 0.58
Jonathan David is a young and talented striker for the Canadian national team. He has scored 25 goals in 43 matches and is considered one of the most promising young strikers globally.
David chose to play for Canada in 2015. He made his senior national team debut on September 9, 2018, in a match against the United States Virgin Islands. Throughout the season, he scored two goals and provided an assist, helping his team succeed.
During the 2019 Gold Cup, David played in all three group games and the quarterfinal against Haiti. He became the tournament’s top scorer with six goals, even though Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
3. Dwayne De Rosario
- Career Span: 1998–2015
- Matches: 81
- Goals: 22
- Average: 0.27
Dwayne De Rosario scored 22 goals in 81 games for Canada, making him the third-highest goal scorer for the team. Starting from 1998, De Rosario played for the Canadian senior national team.
He made his debut on May 18, 1998, against Macedonia. His significant achievement was winning the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. As a part of the Canadian Soccer Association’s 2012 centennial celebration, Ali Gerba was honored by being included in the all-time Canada XI men’s team.
4. Lucas Cavallini
- Career Span: 2012–present
- Matches: 40
- Goals: 19
- Average: 0.48
Lucas Cavallini has scored 19 goals in 40 matches for Canada’s national soccer team. He made his senior team debut on August 13, 2012, in a friendly against Trinidad & Tobago, where Canada won 2-0. He started his World Cup qualifying journey in a tough 8-1 loss to Honduras. After some personal challenges, he declined a call-up for the 2013 Gold Cup. Despite some misunderstandings and personal matters, he returned to the national team.
He continued to be a key player for Canada, being part of the squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he made an appearance against Croatia. He was also included in the squads for the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals and the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
5. John Catliff
- Career Span: 1984–1994
- Matches: 43
- Goals: 19
- Average: 0.44
John Catliff is the fifth-highest goal scorer for Canada’s men’s national soccer team, with 19 goals in 43 matches. He was part of the Canadian team that reached the quarter-finals in the 1984 Summer Olympics while he was still a student at Harvard. He made his senior international debut for Canada at the age of 19 in a friendly against Chile in July 1984.
Catliff played a total of 60 international matches over 11 years from 1984 to 1994. He represented Canada in 12 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. Unfortunately, he suffered a serious knee injury during a 1986 World Cup qualifying match against Honduras. Despite his absence, Canada managed to secure a crucial 1-0 victory with his replacement, George Pakos, scoring the winning goal. His last international game was in 1994, in a friendly against the Netherlands.
6. Dale Mitchell
- Career Span: 1980–1993
- Matches: 55
- Goals: 19
- Average: 0.35
Dale Mitchell is the sixth-highest goal scorer for Canada’s men’s national team, with 19 goals in 55 matches. He played his first six international matches for the senior national team, scoring three goals. He was part of the Canadian team that competed in their first World Cup. On June 9, 1986, he played the last match of Group C in Irapuato, in which Canada lost 0-2 to the USSR national team.
In 1991, he participated in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, scoring two goals in each of the group-stage matches against Honduras and Jamaica. His last international match was on August 15, 1993, in Sydney, in a 1-2 defeat against the Australian national team during the intercontinental qualification for the 1994 World Cup.
7. Tosaint Ricketts
- Career Span: 2011–2020
- Matches: 61
- Goals: 17
- Average: 0.28
Tosaint Ricketts is an experienced striker who has scored 17 goals in 61 matches for Canada. He’s known for his hard work and physical play, always posing a threat to score. He made his official debut during the CONCACAF qualification for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Ricketts played in five matches, including a game against Guatemala where he scored two goals.
After making a name for himself in Finland and Romania, Ricketts earned a spot in Canada’s senior national team. He made his debut in a friendly against Greece, coming on as a substitute. His first international goal came in a match against Ecuador on June 2, 2011, where he scored the equalizer in the last minute of the game.
8. Junior Hoilett
- Career Span: 2015–present
- Matches: 60
- Goals: 16
- Average: 0.27
Junior Hoilett is one of Canada’s top goal scorers, sharing the all-time leading scorer position with 16 goals in 60 matches. He had the option to play for either Canada or Jamaica at the international level. Initially, he turned down a call-up from the Canada national team in 2011, wanting to focus on his club career. There were discussions about him playing for Jamaica or even considering England.
However, in September 2015, Hoilett officially chose to represent Canada. He made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Ghana in October 2015. He became tied to Canada after playing in a 2018 World Cup qualification match against Honduras. Hoilett has been a key player in various tournaments, including the 2017 and 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He also played a significant role in Canada’s historic qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, marking their first appearance since 1986.
He continues to be an essential part of the Canadian squad, being named in the squads for the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals and the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
9. Alex Bunbury
- Career Span: 1986–1997
- Matches: 66
- Goals: 16
- Average: 0.25
Alex Bunbury was a prolific goal scorer for the Canadian men’s national soccer team from 1986 to 1999. He scored 16 goals in 66 appearances, making him the 9th-highest all-time goal scorer for Canada. He made his debut on August 24, 1986, in a 1-0 win against the host team during the Merlion Cup tournament in Singapore.
During his time with the national team, Bunbury played in the CONCACAF Gold Cups in 1993 and 1996, although Canada was eliminated in the preliminary round both times. He played a significant role in the qualifying matches for the 1994 World Cup in the USA, scoring five goals. However, despite his efforts, Canada narrowly missed out on World Cup qualification in a crucial game against Mexico.
Bunbury’s international career concluded on November 16, 1997, in a match against Costa Rica for the 1998 World Cup qualification, where Canada’s qualification was already impossible. In 1989, he also represented Canada in the first Futsal World Cup in the Netherlands, scoring a goal in a match against Japan. Canada finished third in the group stage of the tournament.
10. Ali Gerba
- Career Span: 2005–2011
- Matches: 30
- Goals: 15
- Average: 0.5
Ali Gerba, a former Canadian professional soccer player, was a striker and is currently the 10th all-time leading goal scorer for the Canada men’s national team, with 15 goals in 30 appearances. His strong showing in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he played three games and scored a goal, earned him a move to Europe with GIF Sundsvall.
Despite his efforts with five goals in eleven games, he couldn’t prevent the team from relegation to the Superettan. Gerba then signed a three-year contract with IFK Göteborg in the first division but was loaned out multiple times during his tenure.
