Progression of association football goalscoring European record

This is a progressive list of men's association footballers who have held or co-held the European record for international goals since 1873. The progression up to 1956 is derivable from the world record progression because the world record holder was always European.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first European and the second world international player to score 100 international goals.[1] He scored his 100th goal for Portugal on 8 September 2020 against Sweden.

Criteria

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The criteria used by national FAs in considering a match as a full international were not historically fixed. Particularly for the early decades, and until more recently for FAs outside UEFA and CONMEBOL, counts of goals were often considered unreliable. RSSSF and IFFHS have spent much effort trying to produce definitive lists of full international matches, and corresponding data on players' international caps and goals. Using this data, the following records can be retrospectively produced. Note that, at the time, these records may not have been recognised.

One point of note is that early matches by the England Amateur side were played against the full national side of opponents. These matches are counted as full internationals by the IFFHS and the opposing FAs, though not by the (English) FA. This affects Vivian Woodward, who scored 29 full goals and 44 amateur goals; the IFFHS and RSSSF considers him as the record-holder from 1908.

European record

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Player Country Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Notes
William Kenyon-Slaney   England 2 1873-03-08 Kennington Oval   Scotland 4–2 [2]
Henry McNeil   Scotland 2 1876-03-04 Hamilton Crescent   England 3–0 [2][3]
Henry McNeil   Scotland 3 1876-03-25 Hamilton Crescent   Wales 4–0 [2][3]
John Ferguson   Scotland 3 1877-03-03 Kennington Oval   England 3–1 [3]
Henry McNeil   Scotland 5 1878-03-02 Hampden Park   England 7–2 [2][3]
John Ferguson   Scotland 5 1878-03-23 Hampden Park   Wales 9–0 [2][3]
Billy MacKinnon   Scotland 5 1879-04-05 The Oval   England 4–5 [2][3]
John Smith   Scotland 6 1881-03-12 The Oval   England 6–1 [2][3]
George Ker   Scotland 7 1881-03-14 Racecourse Ground   Wales 5–1 [2][3]
George Ker   Scotland 9 1882-03-11 Hampden Park   England 5–1 [2][3]
George Ker   Scotland 10 1882-03-25 Hampden Park   Wales 5–0 [2][3]
John Smith   Scotland 10 1884-03-15 1st Cathkin Park   England 1–0 [2][3]
Charles Bambridge   England 10 1885-02-28   Ireland 4–0 [2]
Charles Bambridge   England 11 1885-03-21   Scotland 1–1 [2]
Tinsley Lindley   England 11 1888-04-07   Ireland 5–1 [2]
Fred Dewhurst   England 11 1888-02-23   Wales 4–1 [2]
Tinsley Lindley   England 12 1890-02-23   Wales 3–1 [2]
Tinsley Lindley   England 14 1891-03-07   Ireland 6–1 [2]
Steve Bloomer   England 15 1899-04-02   Scotland 3–1 [2]
Steve Bloomer   England 17 1899-02-19   Ireland 13–2 [2]
Steve Bloomer   England 19 1899-03-20   Wales 4–0 [2]
Steve Bloomer   England 20 1900-04-07   Scotland 1–4 [2]
Steve Bloomer   England 24 1901-03-18   Wales 6–0 [2]
Steve Bloomer   England 25 1901-03-30   Scotland 2–2 [2]
Steve Bloomer   England 26 1904-04-09   Scotland 1–0 [2]
Steve Bloomer   England 27 1905-02-25   Ireland 1–1 [2]
Steve Bloomer   England 28 1907-04-06   Scotland 1–1 [2]
Vivian Woodward   England 31 1908-06-08   Austria 11–1 Woodward scored four times in this match to overtake Bloomer.[4]
Vivian Woodward   England 32 1908-06-10   Hungary 7–0 [4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 34 1908-10-20   Sweden 12–1 [4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 35 1908-10-24   Denmark 2–0 [4]
Vivian Woodward   England 37 1909-02-13   Ireland 4–0 Woodward scored twice in this match.[4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 39 1909-04-17   Belgium 11–2 Woodward scored twice in this match.[4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 43 1909-05-20    Switzerland 9–0 Woodward scored four times in this match.[4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 44 1909-05-22   France 11–0 [4]
Vivian Woodward   England 46 1909-05-29   Hungary 4–2 Woodward scored twice in this match.[4]
Vivian Woodward   England 50 1909-05-31   Hungary 8–2 Woodward scored four times in this match.[4]
Vivian Woodward   England 53 1909-06-01   Austria 8–1 Woodward scored three times in this match.[4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 54 1909-11-06   Sweden 7–0 [4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 60 1909-12-11   Netherlands 9–1 Woodward scored six times in this match.[4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 61 1911-03-04   Belgium 4–0 [4]
Vivian Woodward   England 63 1911-03-13   Wales 3–0 Woodward scored twice in this match.[4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 64 1911-05-25    Switzerland 4–1 [4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 65 1912-03-16   Netherlands 4–0 [4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 66 1912-06-30   Hungary 7–0 [4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 68 1912-11-09   Belgium 4–0 Woodward scored twice in this match.[4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 69 1913-03-21   Germany 3–0 [4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 70 1913-03-24   Netherlands 1–2 [4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 71 1913-11-15   Netherlands 2–1 [4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 72 1914-02-24   Belgium 8–1 [4]
Vivian Woodward   England Amateurs 73 1914-06-10   Sweden 5–1 [4]
Ferenc Puskás   Hungary 73 1955-05-19   Finland 9–1 [5]
Ferenc Puskás   Hungary 75 1955-09-17    Switzerland 5–4 Puskás scored twice in this match.[5]
Ferenc Puskás   Hungary 76 1955-09-25   Czechoslovakia 3–1 [5]
Ferenc Puskás   Hungary 77 1955-10-16   Austria 6–1 [5]
Ferenc Puskás   Hungary 78 1955-11-13   Sweden 4–2 [5]
Ferenc Puskás   Hungary 79 1955-11-27   Italy 2–0 [5]
Ferenc Puskás   Hungary 80 1956-02-19   Turkey 1–3 [5]
Ferenc Puskás   Hungary 81 1956-02-29   Lebanon 4–1 [5]
Ferenc Puskás   Hungary 82 1956-06-03   Belgium 4–5 [5]
Ferenc Puskás   Hungary 83 1956-09-16   Yugoslavia 3–1 [5]
Ferenc Puskás   Hungary 84 1956-10-14   Austria 2–0 [5]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 84 2018-06-15 Fisht Olympic Stadium   Spain 3–3 Ronaldo scored three times in this match to equal Puskás.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 85 2018-06-20 Luzhniki Stadium   Morocco 1–0 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 88 2019-06-05 Estádio do Dragão    Switzerland 3–1 Ronaldo scored three times in this match.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 89 2019-09-07 Red Star Stadium   Serbia 4–2 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 93 2019-09-10 LFF Stadium   Lithuania 5–1 Ronaldo scored four times in this match.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 94 2019-10-11 Estádio José Alvalade   Luxembourg 3–0 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 95 2019-10-14 Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex   Ukraine 1–2 Ronaldo scored three times in this match.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 98 2019-11-14 Estádio Algarve   Lithuania 6–0 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 99 2019-11-17 Stade Josy Barthel   Luxembourg 2–0 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 101 2020-09-08 Friends Arena   Sweden 2–0 Ronaldo scored twice in this match.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 102 2020-11-11 Estádio da Luz   Andorra 7–0 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 103 2021-03-30 Stade Josy Barthel   Luxembourg 3–1 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 104 2021-06-09 Estádio José Alvalade   Israel 4–0 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 106 2021-06-15 Puskás Aréna   Hungary 3–0 Ronaldo scored twice in this match.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 107 2021-06-19 Allianz Arena   Germany 2–4 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 109 2021-06-23 Puskás Aréna   France 2–2 Ronaldo scored twice in this match.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 111 2021-09-01 Estádio Algarve   Republic of Ireland 2–1 Ronaldo scored twice in this match.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 112 2021-10-09 Estádio Algarve   Qatar 1–0 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 115 2021-10-12 Estádio Algarve   Luxembourg 5–0 Ronaldo scored three times in this match.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 117 2022-06-05 Estádio José Alvalade    Switzerland 4–0 Ronaldo scored twice in this match.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 118 2022-11-25 Stadium 974   Ghana 3–2 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 120 2023-03-23 Estádio José Alvalade   Liechtenstein 4–0 Ronaldo scored twice in this match.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 122 2023-03-26 Stade de Luxembourg   Luxembourg 6–0 Ronaldo scored twice in this match.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 123 2023-06-20 Laugardalsvöllur   Iceland 0–1 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 125 2023-10-13 Estádio do Dragão   Slovakia 3–2 Ronaldo scored twice in this match.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 127 2023-10-16 Bilino Polje   Bosnia and Herzegovina 0–5 Ronaldo scored twice in this match.[6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 128 2023-11-16 Rheinpark Stadion   Liechtenstein 0–2 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 130 2024-06-11 Estádio Municipal de Aveiro   Republic of Ireland 3–0 Ronaldo scored twice in this match. [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 131 2024-09-05 Estádio da Luz   Croatia 2–1 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 132 2024-09-08 Estádio da Luz   Scotland 2–1 [6]
Cristiano Ronaldo   Portugal 133 2024-10-12 Stadion Narodowy   Poland 1–3 [6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ronaldo scores 100th international goal for Portugal". ESPN. 9 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics)". IFFHS. 10 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Scotland - International Matches 1872-1880". RSSSF.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Vivian John Woodward – International Appearances RSSSF
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ferenc Puskás – Goals in International Matches RSSSF
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro – Century of International Appearances RSSSF