Goalkeepers with the Most Goals Scored

As it is well documented and well known, scoring goals is the most difficult job on the football pitch. That is the reason why strikers and attackers are among some of the highest-paid players in the sport. 

Over the course of history, we have witnessed many good goal-scoring midfielders and even defenders who are consistently finding the back of the net such as Ronald Koeman and Sergio Ramos. But it is unheard of for any goalkeeper to score a goal, although there have been famous instances when that happens. 

There have been only six instances of goalkeepers scoring goals in Premier League history. Tim Howard, Peter Schmeichel and Asmir Begovic are some of the names on this exclusive list. Allison’s winning header against West Brom on 16 May 2021 is the most famous and best one among the lot. The Brazilian shot-stopper’s goal was the only goal ever scored by a Liverpool goalkeeper in a competitive game since 1892 and the very first header scored by a goalkeeper in Premier League history. The goal also helped his side qualify for the UCL. 

Join us as we take a look at the top 10 goalkeepers with the most goals in football history. 

10. Misael Alfaro - 31 goals

Misael Alfaro is a former Salvadoran professional goalkeeper, who earned 42 international caps for his national team. He is currently serving as the goalkeeper coach for the El Salvador Under 17 side. 

Alfaro scored an impressive 31 goals in his career, with just 11 coming from the penalty spot and interestingly, he never scored on the international stage. Alfaro’s career was cut short in 2010 due to a serious neck injury.

9. Fernando Patterson - 35 goals

Patterson is a former Costa Rican goalkeeper, who represented his national side only once and spent the majority of his career playing for a number of clubs across South America. He had five different spells with Guatemalan side Club Xelaju MC, making a total of 285 appearances, and scoring 14 goals for the club. 

When in 2013, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics – associated with FIFA (IFFHS), took friendly games into their rankings and so it was revealed that he has 35 goals across his career. 

8. Hans-Jörg Butt - 37 goals

Hans-Jörg Butt is a former German goalkeeper, who represented his national side at two FIFA World Cups and at UEFA Euro 2000. He spent the majority of his career in the Bundesliga, playing for Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV and Bayern Munich. He also spent a season with Portuguese giants Benfica. 

He scored an incredible 26 goals in the German top-flight Bundesliga and scored 37 goals across his career. He retired in 2012, after featuring in a friendly match against Netherlands. 

7. Marcio - 40 goals

Marcio is a former Brazilian goalkeeper, best remembered for his time with Atletico Goianiense where he scored his first goals, and also helped the club earn promotion from Serie C all the way up into Serie A.

He scored a total of 40 goals in his career, according to Brazilian news outlet Globo. Marcio is one of the highest-scoring Brazilian goalkeepers of all time. 

6. Dimitar Ivankov - 42 goals

Dimitar Ivankov is a former Bulgarian professional footballer, who scored a total of 42 goals in his career, most of them coming from the penalty spot. The Bulgarian goalkeeper earned 64 international caps for his national team but he never scored on the international stage. 

He hung up his boots in 2011. Since retiring, he has worked as a goalkeeping coach.

5. Rene Higuita - 43 goals

Taking the 5th spot on the list is former Colombian goalkeeper Rene Higuita. Nicknamed El Loco ("The Madman") for his high-risk 'sweeper-keeper' playing style and his flair for the dramatic. Higuita also had a knack for scoring goals. 

As per FIFA, he finished his career with 43 goals to his name, including three for his national side Colombia, most of these efforts coming from free-kicks or the penalty spot. He will always be remembered in history for his scorpion kick for Colombia against England in 1995 to deal with a cross. 

4. Johnny Vargas - 45 goals

Vargas is a former Peruvian goalkeeper, who scored an incredible 45 goals in his career. During his 20-year career, he played for 15 different clubs before retiring in 2017. He spent the most time at his first senior club, Sport Boys Association, making over 150 appearances in six years.

He scored 30 goals from the penalty spot but also managed nine goals from open play. He also scored three goals for his national team in international football. 

3. Jorge Campos - 46 goals

Jorge Campos is a Mexican football legend, most fondly remembered for his coloured shirts as well as his goalscoring ability. He was also known for his sweeper-keeper ability. Despite his short stature, he is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation. 

He scored a total of 46 goals in his 16-year-long football career. 

2. Jose Luis Chilavert - 67 goals 

Luis Chilavert is a former Paraguayan shot-stopper who won 12 club titles in his career, including the 1994 Copa Libertadores and the 1994 Intercontinental Cup while playing for Vélez Sarsfield. He is also a three-time IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper award winner. 

Known for his leadership, strong personality and goalkeeping ability, he was also a free-kick and penalty specialist. He scored 67 goals in his playing career, for club and country.