Top Scorers in the History of the Bundesliga: The Bundesliga is a really exciting and competitive football league in Germany. It’s the top division for men’s football in the country. In this league, teams compete against each other in both home and away games. The team that finishes first in the league becomes the German football champion.
However, the two teams at the bottom of the league get relegated to the 2nd Bundesliga, which is the second-highest division below the Bundesliga. The team that finishes 16th in the Bundesliga has to play games to avoid relegation against the third-placed team in the 2nd Bundesliga.
Top Scorers in the History of the Bundesliga
Now, let’s talk about the top goal-scorers in the history of the Bundesliga.
1. Gerd Müller
- Country: Germany
- Career: 1965 1979
- Club (Goals/Apps): Bayern
- Appearances: 427
- Goals: 365
- Ratio: 0.85
Gerd Müller, who is famously known as the “Bomber of the Nation,” holds the record for the most goals scored in the Bundesliga. He scored an incredible 365 goals in 427 games. He’s widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the history of soccer because of his amazing ability to control his body and predict where the ball would go. In 1970, he received the Ballon d’Or, which is given to the best European football player of the year.
Müller also set another impressive record by scoring 40 goals in a single Bundesliga season during 1971-72. However, this record was later broken by Robert Lewandowski in the 2020-21 season. Gerd Müller’s legacy as one of the greatest goal-scorers of all time in the Bundesliga remains unmatched.
2. Robert Lewandowski
- Country: Poland
- Career: 2014 2022
- Club (Goals/Apps): Dortmund (74/131), Bayern (238/253)
- Appearances: 384
- Goals: 312
- Ratio: 0.81
Robert Lewandowski is an incredibly talented striker who has scored a remarkable 312 goals in 384 Bundesliga matches. He’s the second-highest goal scorer in the history of the Bundesliga, with Gerd Müller being the only player ahead of him. Lewandowski achieved this impressive record during his eight-year stint with Bayern Munich, from 2014 to 2022. He also holds the record for the most goals in a single Bundesliga season, with 41 goals in the 2020-21 season.
Lewandowski is considered a true legend of the game, and many believed he could eventually break Gerd Müller’s all-time goal-scoring record in the Bundesliga. However, he has now left the Bundesliga and joined Barcelona in La Liga, so the pursuit of that record will continue in a different league.
3. Klaus Fischer
- Country: Germany
- Career: 1968 1988
- Club (Goals/Apps): TSV 1860 Munich (28/60), Schalke (182/295), Köln (31/96), Bochum (27/84)
- Appearances: 535
- Goals: 268
- Ratio: 0.50
Klaus Fischer is another accomplished striker who scored a total of 268 goals in 535 Bundesliga matches. He holds the distinction of being the third-highest goal scorer in Bundesliga history. Fischer achieved this impressive record over the course of 18 seasons, playing for various clubs such as TSV 1860 Munich, FC Schalke 04, 1. FC Köln, and VfL Bochum.
Fischer was not only a prolific goal scorer but also a very intelligent player with a deep understanding of the game. He played a crucial role in FC Schalke 04’s victory in the DFB-Pokal in the 1971-72 season. Additionally, he was a key member of the West Germany national team that reached the final of the 1982 World Cup, showcasing his talent and contribution to both club and country in the world of football.
4. Jupp Heynckes
- Country: Germany
- Career: 1965 1978
- Club (Goals/Apps): M’gladbach (195/283), Hannover (25/86)
- Appearances: 369
- Goals: 220
- Ratio: 0.60
Jupp Heynckes was a fantastic soccer player in Germany. He scored 220 goals in 369 matches in the Bundesliga. This made him the fourth-highest goal scorer in Bundesliga history.
Heynckes played for 14 seasons with two teams, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hannover 96. He was really good at scoring goals, especially in important matches. People liked how he could finish scoring chances and understand the game well.
He was a crucial part of the Borussia Mönchengladbach team that won the Bundesliga title in 1970–71, 1974–75, 1975–76, and 1976–77. He also helped them win the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1975. Additionally, he played an important role in the West Germany national team, helping them win the 1975 European Championship and the FIFA World Cup in 1974.
5. Manfred Burgsmüller
- Country: Germany
- Career: 1969 1990
- Club (Goals/Apps): Essen (32/74), Dortmund (135/224), Nürnberg (12/34), Bremen (34/115)
- Appearances: 447
- Goals: 213
- Ratio: 0.48
Manfred Burgsmüller was a famous German soccer player who played as a striker. People think he’s one of the best strikers ever in the Bundesliga. He scored 213 goals during his career, making him the fifth-highest scorer in the league’s history.
What’s really cool is that he holds a record for being the oldest player to score three goals in a single game in the Bundesliga. He did this when he was 40 years and 266 days old.
Fans loved Burgsmüller because he was a colorful and interesting character. He had a powerful shot and could score goals from different parts of the field. He was also a tough and physical player, not afraid to get into physical battles on the field.
6. Claudio Pizarro
- Country: Peru
- Career: 1999 2020
- Club (Goals/Apps): Bremen (109/250), Bayern (87/224), Köln (1/16)
- Appearances: 490
- Goals: 197
- Ratio: 0.40
Claudio Pizarro scored a total of 197 goals in 490 matches in the Bundesliga, which is Germany’s top soccer league. He’s ranked as the sixth-highest goal scorer in Bundesliga history. He accomplished this over 17 seasons while playing for Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, and 1. FC Köln.
Pizarro wasn’t just a goal-scorer; he was also a smart player who understood the game well. He played a crucial role in Bayern Munich’s success, helping them win the Bundesliga in several seasons.
In addition to his Bundesliga accomplishments, Claudio Pizarro is considered one of the best soccer players from Peru.
7. Ulf Kirsten
- Country: Germany
- Career: 1990 2003
- Club (Goals/Apps): Leverkusen
- Appearances: 350
- Goals: 181
- Ratio: 0.52
Ulf Kirsten scored a total of 181 goals in 350 matches in the Bundesliga, which is Germany’s top soccer league. He’s ranked as the seventh-highest goal scorer in Bundesliga history. He achieved this impressive record during his 10 seasons with Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Kirsten played a crucial role in the success of Bayer 04 Leverkusen. He was a key part of the team that made it to the UEFA Champions League final in 2002. Additionally, he helped his team win the DFB-Pokal in the 1992–93 season.
8. Stefan Kuntz
- Country: Germany
- Career: 1983 1999
- Club (Goals/Apps): Bochum (47/120), Uerdingen (32/94), K’lautern (75/170), Bielefeld (25/65)
- Appearances: 449
- Goals: 179
- Ratio: 0.40
Stefan Kuntz scored a total of 179 goals in 449 matches in the Bundesliga. He achieved this remarkable record by playing for several teams, including VfL Bochum, Bayer 05 Uerdingen, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, and Arminia Bielefeld.
Kuntz made a significant impact as a player, particularly when he was part of the 1. FC Kaiserslautern team that won the Bundesliga title in 1990. He also played a crucial role in the German national team’s victory in the European Championship in 1996. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest German footballers of all time.
9. Dieter Müller
- Country: Germany
- Career: 1973 1986
- Club (Goals/Apps): Offenbach (0/2), Köln (159/248), Stuttgart (14/30), Saarbrücken (4/23)
- Appearances: 303
- Goals: 177
- Ratio: 0.58
Dieter Müller, a talented soccer player, scored a total of 177 goals in 303 matches in the Bundesliga. He’s ranked as the ninth-highest goal scorer in Bundesliga history. He achieved this impressive record by playing for 1. FC Köln and later for Stuttgart and Saarbrücken.
Müller made a significant contribution to the success of the 1. FC Köln team, helping them win the Bundesliga title in 1978. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest German footballers of all time due to his remarkable achievements in the sport.
10. Klaus Allofs
- Country: Germany
- Career: 1975 1993
- Club (Goals/Apps): Düsseldorf (71/169), Köln (88/177), Bremen (18/78)
- Appearances: 424
- Goals: 177
- Ratio: 0.42
Klaus Allofs, a notable soccer player, scored a total of 177 goals in 424 matches in the Bundesliga. He’s ranked as the tenth-highest goal scorer in Bundesliga history. He achieved this impressive record during his 15 seasons playing for Fortuna Düsseldorf, 1. FC Köln, and SV Werder Bremen.
Allofs played a pivotal role in the success of the Werder Bremen team, helping them secure the Bundesliga title in the 1992–93 season. He was also a crucial member of the West Germany national team that won the European Championship in 1980. Allofs is considered a true legend of the game, and his goal-scoring feats will be remembered for generations to come.
