Top Goal Scorers For England Football Team All-Time: A long time ago, in the 19th century, people in working-class England started playing a game similar to rugby but with a round ball. This game eventually became football as we know it today. Back then, there weren’t clear rules or strategies. Over time, football became very popular in England and evolved into the sport we love.
Top Goal Scorers For England Football Team All-Time
Now, let’s talk about the top goal scorers for the England football team. We want to make a list of the best players in England’s history based on their goals.
1. Harry Kane
- Career Span: 2015–present
- Matches: 86
- Goals: 59
- Average: 0.69
Harry Kane is a famous football player for England. He had the choice to play for England or Ireland because of his Irish heritage, but he picked England. He made his debut for the English national team in 2015 and scored a goal in his first match.
Kane played in the 2016 European Championships and the 2018 World Cup. In the 2018 World Cup, he was the team captain and won the Golden Shoe award for being the top goalscorer of the tournament. He scored six goals in total. In 2021, Kane played in the European Championship, scoring four goals and helping England reach the final, although they lost to Italy. He also scored a perfect hat-trick against Albania, contributing to England’s qualification for the 2022 World Cup.
In 2022, Kane scored his 50th international goal against Germany, becoming the second-highest goalscorer in England’s history. He later equaled Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 goals in the World Cup quarter-final match against France.
On March 23, 2023, Kane scored his 54th international goal against Italy, making him the all-time leading goalscorer for the English national team.
2. Wayne Rooney
- Career Span: 2003–2018
- Matches: 120
- Goals: 53
- Average: 0.44
Wayne Rooney, originally from Liverpool, is a football legend who played for Manchester United despite starting his career at Everton. He spent over a decade with Manchester United, becoming their all-time leading scorer.
He also holds the record for the 2nd most goals scored for the England national team, with 53 goals in 120 games. This achievement also makes him the second player with the most appearances in England’s history.
Rooney’s time at Manchester United was remarkable, winning 5 Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League, and a Club World Cup, among other national honors. Despite his playing days being over, he’s still involved in football as the coach of Derby County, a team in the second tier of English football.
3. Bobby Charlton
- Career Span: 1958–1970
- Matches: 106
- Goals: 49
- Average: 0.46
Bobby Charlton is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players ever. He was known for his exceptional finesse, incredible vision, and powerful long shots. His dribbling skills were also outstanding, making him a complete player.
Charlton played a significant role in rebuilding Manchester United after the tragic Munich air disaster in 1958. During his 17 years at the club, he won the league title three times, an FA Cup, and most notably, the Champions League in 1968. He scored 249 goals for Manchester United, a record that stood for a long time before being broken by Wayne Rooney.
On the international stage, Charlton scored 49 goals for England. He played a crucial role in England’s victory at the 1966 World Cup and was awarded the Ballon d’Or the same year. Remarkably, Charlton is the only Englishman to have won three of the biggest trophies in football: the World Cup, the Champions League, and the Ballon d’Or. His legacy as one of the best-attacking midfielders in history remains strong even today.
4. Gary Lineker
- Career Span: 1984–1992
- Matches: 80
- Goals: 48
- Average: 0.60
Gary Lineker is one of the most famous English football players, known for his time at FC Barcelona and various Premier League clubs. He was incredibly agile and relied on his technical skills to score goals. His positioning on the field was exceptional, earning him the nickname “El Matador” at Barcelona due to his ability to deceive defenses and score goals.
For the England national team, Lineker is one of the highest goal-scorers, ranking fourth with 48 goals in 80 games. He showcased his talent not only in the English league but also internationally.
In his professional career, Lineker scored 281 goals in 567 matches. He holds the record for the most goals scored for England in a World Cup with 10 goals. Additionally, Lineker received the FIFA Fair Play Award in 1990 for his remarkable achievement of never receiving a card throughout his entire career.
5. Jimmy Greaves
- Career Span: 1959–1967
- Matches: 57
- Goals: 44
- Average: 0.77
Jimmy Greaves was a prolific striker known for his incredible goal-scoring abilities. He holds impressive records, being England’s 5th highest international scorer with 44 goals, Tottenham’s top scorer with 266 goals, and the all-time leading scorer in English football history with 357 goals. Greaves was a consistent top scorer in the first division, achieving this feat six times during his career.
Starting his professional journey at Chelsea in 1957, Greaves scored 124 goals in 4 seasons. After a brief stint at AC Milan, he returned to England and joined Tottenham Hotspur, where he won 2 FA Cups and a Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963.
Greaves participated in the 1966 World Cup, but an injury during the group stage cost him his starting position in the final, which was won by England. He was renowned for his excellent dribbling skills, speed, precise placement, and most importantly, his calmness in front of the goal, allowing him to score at any given opportunity.
6. Michael Owen
- Career Span: 1998–2008
- Matches: 89
- Goals: 40
- Average: 0.45
Michael Owen is the 6th highest goal scorer for the England national team. He made his senior debut in 1998, becoming the youngest player to play for England in the 20th century. During the 1998 World Cup, he gained recognition, scoring important goals, including a memorable solo goal against Argentina, although England eventually lost on penalties.
In the early 2000s, Owen became a key player for England. He scored a hat trick against Germany and netted crucial goals in the 2002 World Cup against Argentina, Denmark, and Brazil. He also played in Euro 2004, where he scored against Portugal but England faced elimination in penalties.
In the 2006 World Cup, Owen suffered a knee injury. Despite returning, he never fully regained his form. He played his last international game in 2008 against France. Owen scored 40 goals in 89 matches for England, earning him the nickname “St. Michael.”
7. Nat Lofthouse
- Career Span: 1950–1958
- Matches: 33
- Goals: 30
- Average: 0.91
Nat Lofthouse was a remarkable striker for the England football team, scoring 30 goals in just 33 appearances. He is considered one of the greatest English strikers ever, having one of the highest goals-per-game ratios for England.
Lofthouse started playing for England in 1950 and continued to score consistently for his country throughout the 1950s. He played a crucial role in the England team during the 1954 FIFA World Cup, helping them reach the quarter-finals. He also scored in the famous 1953 FA Cup Final for Bolton Wanderers.
His final match for England was in November 1958 against Wales, and he officially retired from the game in January 1960 due to an ankle injury. He stands eighth in the list of all-time top goal scorers in English football’s top division.
8. Alan Shearer
- Career Span: 1992–2000
- Matches: 63
- Goals: 30
- Average: 0.48
Alan Shearer is a football legend known for his remarkable career. He made a big impact by leading Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title in 1995. His goal-scoring abilities earned him several awards, including a 3rd place finish in the 1996 Ballon d’Or rankings.
Describing Shearer’s influence on the Premier League is challenging without relevant data. For those who didn’t see him play or know his history, a close contemporary comparison would be Jamie Vardy. However, Shearer achieved a unique feat by becoming Newcastle United’s all-time top scorer with 204 goals, a record that still stands. He also won the Premier League Golden Boot three times for being the league’s top scorer.
Shearer was not only a star for his club but also a prolific scorer for the England national team, making him one of the top scorers in the history of the European Championships (Euro).
9. Tom Finney
- Career Span: 1946–1958
- Matches: 76
- Goals: 30
- Average: 0.39
Tom Finney was one of the standout English players in the 1950s. He was known for his exceptional dribbling skills and versatility, able to play as a central striker or on the wings.
His entire professional career was spent with Preston North End, from 1946 to 1960. During this time, he played 433 matches and scored 187 goals, earning legendary status at his hometown club due to his loyalty.
In international football, Finney represented England in three World Cups in 1950, 1954, and 1958. He played a total of 76 matches for England, scoring 30 goals, making him one of the top goal-scorers in the history of the England national team.
10. Frank Lampard
- Career Span: 1999–2014
- Matches: 106
- Goals: 29
- Average: 0.27
The current manager of Chelsea, Frank Lampard, is also celebrated as one of England’s finest players. This talented midfielder rose to prominence with Chelsea, although he began his journey in football at West Ham United’s youth academy. Lampard is the 10th-highest goal scorer for the England football team, having netted 29 goals in 106 appearances.
During his time with Chelsea, Lampard achieved significant success. He won the Premier League title three times and experienced European triumph by clinching the UEFA Champions League in 2012. Lampard holds the record as Chelsea’s all-time top scorer.
Recently, Lampard was relieved of his coaching duties at Chelsea after a disappointing first half of the season. Despite his departure, he remains an icon at Stamford Bridge. There’s a possibility that he might return to manage Chelsea in the future.
