The beautiful game today is blessed with attacking players being compared by all different kinds of statistics. Some will say player X can’t be considered world-class because of their low xG (expected goals), while others say player Y is the best in their league due to the amount of times they press the ball. In reality, attackers should be compared by one statistic only. Goals.

It’s not just about the number of times a player puts the ball in the back of the net, though. It’s also about the frequency in which they do so.

After all, 100 goals in 200 games reads a lot better than 100 goals in 1000 games. With that in mind, these are the 12 best goals to game ratios of the 21st century, per PopFoot.

12

Karim Benzema

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With 36 career trophies, Karim Benzema is right up there among the most decorated footballers of all time. And clearly, as seen by his goals-per-game ratio, he’s played an important role in many of those honours, especially during his time as the lesser-celebrated Real Madrid Galactico alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

He did eventually get some plaudits, though, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2022. That doesn’t quite give enough justice to the fact he had been banging in goals for fun for years prior to that, as shown by his 523 goals in 993 appearances.

11

Sergio Aguero

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Sergio Aguero’s impact on Manchester City cannot be overstated. The Argentine striker became an icon of the club during his ten-year tenure, scoring an astonishing 260 goals in 390 appearances to become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.

But the fact he also had that lasting impact on Atletico Madrid and Barcelona (despite injuries stopping him from continuing his peak form in the latter) only goes to show it was a natural-born instinct of his to deliver in the highest-pressure moments.

10

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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When you’ve won titles across Europe’s top divisions as a striker, you have definitely got the knack for scoring goals. Zlatan Ibrahimovic may have had one of the biggest egos in football but he certainly has the record to back it up. Having represented giants such as Barcelona, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and both Milan clubs, the Swede finished his career with 567 goals in 980 appearances.

His record is one that not only will the man himself be proud of, but his former teams will be grateful for too, as it helped him win a gluttony of trophies at a variety of clubs playing at the very top.

9

Luis Suarez

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Now playing in the MLS, Luis Suarez still has a knack for finding the back of the net, with 595 goals in 1014 games giving him a solid 0.59 goal-to-game ratio. This consistency is why he’s considered one of the top strikers of his era, which helped him win several pieces of silverware and individual awards in his career.

Suárez has won the European Golden Shoe twice, once with Liverpool in 2013-14 and again with Barcelona in 2015-16. These awards, which go to Europe’s top league scorer, showcase just how deadly he is in front of goal, and between 2010-2019, the Uruguayan was the only man not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the coveted prize.

8

Victor Osimhen

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Victor Osimhen’s potential has been well-known since he joined French side Lille in 2019, but it wasn’t until 2022 that the world truly saw the full extent of the relentless Nigerian’s talent. Standing tall, with speed, aerial dominance, and clinical finishing, Osimhen has scored nearly every type of goal imaginable throughout his career, and it was with Napoli that he really shone.

He led them to the Serie A title in 2023 with 26 goals in 32 league matches, but that razor sharp finishing has never dropped, even after a move to Turkey with Galatasaray. He’s built for goals.

7

Neymar

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After moves to Saudi Arabia and then back to his home country of Brazil, Neymar has barely had an opportunity to add to his already impressive numbers thanks to a long-term injury that kept him out of Al-Hilal’s title-winning campaign. The Brazilian was known for a long time as ‘the best of the rest’ when Ronaldo and Messi were conquering 21st-century football.

Despite having a notoriously bad reputation for being injured, Neymar has still managed to play in 738 games over the course of his career. He is Brazil’s all-time top goalscorer with 79 goals, two more than the legendary Pele. The forward’s 0.60 goals-per-game average puts him in an elite class, but doesn’t do enough to push him into the top five.

6

Harry Kane

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The quality that is on display is so strong that even someone like Harry Kane, who is arguably the greatest number nine gracing the sport today, still can not break into the top half of the list despite being a goal machine. The England skipper had the Premier League goalscoring record all but sewn up, but his desire to win trophies was greater, leading to him swapping London for Munich.

In his first Bundesliga season, the 32-year-old became the quickest player to reach the 30-goal mark and broke the record for the most number of goals in a debut campaign in Germany. With such prowess, it’s no surprise to see him break into the top 10. However, he still has more to do to eclipse others.

5

Robert Lewandowski

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When you’re given the nickname ‘LewanGOALski’ by Thomas Muller, you probably know a thing or two about finding the back of the net. Which is undoubtedly the case for Robert Lewandowski. Having established himself as one of the most lethal strikers in modern football, the Polish icon has managed to notch well over 600 goals in a glittering career.

He’s claimed the European Golden Shoe twice, in 2020-21 and 2021-22, solidifying his place among the best. Whether leading the line for Bayern Munich or Barcelona, Lewandowski has consistently been a source of goals and, more often than not, victories and is one of the few players who seems to only get better with age.

4

Cristiano Ronaldo

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The greatest marksman in football history, Cristiano Ronaldo has probably scored every goal imaginable in his career and even won the first ever Puskas Award in 2009 when he scored from distance in the Champions League against Porto. The naysayers will say that scoring close to 1000 goals can only come with plenty of game time, but the veteran’s goal-to-game ratio has proven that he has managed to smash that record in double quick time.

Ronaldo has managed 30+ goal campaigns in four different countries, the most recent being in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr. Whether or not he can still compete at the elite level is another question, but there can be no denying the impact that this man has had on the beautiful game.

3

Kylian Mbappe

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It is well known that Kylian Mbappe was a massive fan of Cristiano Ronaldo growing up. The 27-year-old has followed in his hero’s by finally making the move to Real Madrid, but will also hope to eclipse his goal-to-game ratio when it is all said and done, something he is already incredibly close to doing.

Mbappe has scored 435 goals in 577 matches, the majority of which came at Paris Saint-Germain where he had to share the load with the likes of Edinson Cavani, Neymar and Lionel Messi. Now at Real Madrid, the French superstar continues to score goals for fun.

FIFA have released a fresh statement about its under-fire president Gianni Infantino amid reports UEFA are considering launching an investigation into the 56-year-old’s conduct.

A Telegraph investigation claims Infantino, already under huge pressure following his scuppered plans to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup, paid off an alleged lover while he was working as UEFA’s general secretary.

Infantino “strongly denies these categorically untrue allegations,” according to a FIFA spokesman.

It’s alleged that UEFA paid a six-figure sum to the woman, who it’s claimed had a relationship with Infantino, who is married, during his 16-year spell with European football’s governing body.

“FIFA president Gianni Infantino strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue. Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory,” a FIFA spokesman told the Telegraph.

“No employee at UEFA and FIFA has ever raised a complaint regarding Mr Infantino’s behaviour because there never was an incident where he was involved.”

UEFA Could ‘Launch Investigation’ Into Infantino’s Conduct

REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

However, the Telegraph are now reporting that UEFA could launch an investigation into Infantino’s conduct throughout the entirety of his 16 years with the organisation.

The report says UEFA want to know exactly how the payments came about and whether the alleged relationship affected staff decisions while he was serving as general secretary.

Despite a wave of recent controversies and negative headlines, Infantino is keen to secure a fourth and final term as FIFA president.

While UEFA’s 55 member associations have lost confidence in the Swiss-Italian administrator, other nations and confederations, including Argentina and Mexico, continue to support him.

FIFA Issue Strong Statement

REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier

Late on Saturday evening, FIFA issued a statement, claiming: “It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its President.”

The full statement, posted on X (Twitter), reads: “Echoing the recent statements of CONMEBOL and CAF, as well as discussions with FIFA Member Associations and Confederations from around the world, FIFA will not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of the FIFA President that is inconsistent with FIFA’s Statutes, democratic procedures and established governance framework. The FIFA President was democratically elected by FIFA’s Member Associations and continues to serve with their mandate.

“It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its President. Those who do not have the support of FIFA’s Member Associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA’s established democratic processes.

“Recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning FIFA and its President. Speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact, and repetition does not make an allegation true.

“The FIFA President has dedicated more than 30 years of his professional life to European and world football, contributing to significant change in the game and, in particular, to broadening access, resources and opportunity across world football. Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA’s President or the institution he was elected to lead.

“FIFA’s responsibility is to its 211 Member Associations and to football around the world. We will not be distracted or diverted from strengthening the organisation, delivering for our Member Associations and continuing the work of making football truly global. Through the FIFA President and the FIFA administration, our focus remains firmly on that mission, and we are more determined than ever to fulfil it.”

Rafael Nadal sent Lionel Messi a heartfelt message on social media on Saturday evening after news broke that the iconic player’s father had passed away.

Jorge Messi, the man who raised arguably the greatest footballer of all time, died on Friday night at a medical clinic in the city of Rosario. The Argentine had been suffering from a long-term illness and peacefully passed away at the age of 68.

It’s said that Messi spent time with his father after the World Cup, in the weeks leading up to his death, but left recently to return to the United States to resume the MLS season with Inter Miami.

The footballing world is now mourning Jorge’s passing, and many have taken to social media to post touching tributes, including tennis legend Nadal.

Rafa Nadal’s Touching Message to Lionel Messi Following Father’s Passing

Messi has expressed his admiration for Nadal in the past, citing the 22-time Grand Slam champion as an inspiration earlier this year.

“We are currently watching the Rafa Nadal series, and I really relate to him,” Messi told Spanish media in June (via DAZN).

“I really like to play football, it is my passion since I was a child and when I am feeling good, I give my all. I think that we are very similar in that sense: I always want to give my all and feel good.”

Thus, Nadal’s heatfelt, open message to Messi after the passing of his father will likely have meant a great deal to the World Cup winner.

“Dear Leo,” the tennis icon wrote on X.

“I can’t imagine the pain you must be going through. I’m sending you all my love and my condolences to you and your entire family during such a difficult time.

“Rest in peace, Jorge.”

This tribute has gone viral on social media, picking up millions of views and encouraging many more to send messages of support to the Messi family during this trying time.

Inter Miami Pay Tribute to Jorge Messi

Nadal wasn’t the only notable account on social media to pay tribute.

Inter Miami, the club Messi has represented since 2023, sent the mourning family an earnest note.

Posting on X, the American club wrote: “Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family.”

Messi scored a brace and registered an assist in his final match before his father passed away on Thursday, against San Luis.