Top 10 Footballers With Most Header Goals in History

Heading the ball remains one of the key ways to score in football, and some players have mastered it like an art. Cristiano Ronaldo leads the pack with an impressive 153 headed goals, showcasing his aerial skill with a record leap of 1.87 meters. Behind him are legends like Jimmy McGrory with 147 and Gerd Müller who scored 144 headers during their careers. Modern stars such as Robert Lewandowski, holding 110 headed goals, also feature on this list alongside historic greats like Dixie Dean (125) and Carlos Alonso González “Santillana” (128). These players prove how heading has been a crucial weapon across different football eras.

Players Ranked by Header Goals

• 10. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) – 110 headed goals
• 9. Hakan Şükür (Turkey) – 115 headed goals
• 8. Luuk de Jong (Netherlands) – 116 headed goals
• 7. Telmo Zarra (Spain) – 122 headed goals
• 6. Jared Borgetti (Mexico) – 123 headed goals
• 5. Dixie Dean (England) – 125 headed goals
• 4. Carlos Alonso González “Santillana” (Spain) – 128 headed goals
• 3. Gerd Müller (Germany) – 144 headed goals
• 2. Jimmy McGrory (Scotland) – 147 headed goals
• 1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 153 headed goals

Scoring with headers demands timing, precision, and aerial strength. The players listed here excelled at turning crosses and set-pieces into goals through superb jumping and positioning.

Profile Highlights of Top Players

• Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona): A versatile striker with 110 headed goals out of 554 total, making up about 19% of his scoring. His height and technique let him dominate defenders in the air.
• Hakan Şükür (Retired, Galatasaray): Scored 115 headers from 327 goals; nearly 35% of his goals came from headers. A key figure in Turkey’s 2002 World Cup run.
• Luuk de Jong (Netherlands): Known for his smart aerial game, he notched 116 headers from 282 goals, with headers accounting for 37% of his total.
• Telmo Zarra (Retired, Athletic Bilbao): A Spanish legend with 122 headed goals among 339 total, about 36%, despite playing in an era with heavier balls and tougher defenses.
• Jared Borgetti (Retired, Monterrey): Famous for his aerial prowess, he scored 123 headed goals from 249 total goals, an impressive 49% ratio.
• Dixie Dean (Retired, Everton): An icon from English football’s early days, with 125 headers from 188 goals, making up 66%. He was known for his powerful leaps and headers even under rough conditions.
• Santillana (Retired, Real Madrid): Despite being only 5’9", his 128 headers from 307 goals show perfect timing and technique, with headers forming 41% of his total.
• Gerd Müller (Retired, Bayern Munich): A prolific scorer with 144 headed goals out of 307, around 47%, combining clever movement and solid aerial ability.
• Jimmy McGrory (Retired, Celtic): With 147 headers in 422 goals (35%), he dominated the air despite his modest height of 5’6" during the 1920s and 30s.
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr): The king of headers with 153 out of 929 goals (16%). His physicality and jumping ability make him a constant threat in aerial duels.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who has scored the most headed goals?Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list with 153 headed goals.
• Who ranks second for headed goals? That’s Jimmy McGrory with 147 headed goals.
• Which player leads in headed goals this century?Cristiano Ronaldo holds that honor.
• How many headers has Robert Lewandowski scored? He has 110 headed goals.
• Who is considered the best header in football? Many regard Cristiano Ronaldo as the top header striker.
• Has Lionel Messi scored many headers? Yes, Messi has scored 28 headed goals in his career.