UFWC All-Time Top Scorers

[petewaring]

So who is the top scorer of all time in the UFWC? Well, the top 10 is a star-studded list, and here it is:

9th = ) Oliver Bierhoff (Germany) 13 goals/ 19 games, 1996-2001
9th = ) Matthias Sindelar (Austria) 13 in 12 games, 1931-32
6th = ) Michel Platini (France) 15 in 18 games, 1976-85
6th = ) Pele (Brazil) 15 in 14 games, 1957-62
6th = ) Anton Schall (Austria) 15 in 11 games, 1931-32
5th) Gunnar Gren (Sweden) 16 in 22 games, 1942-58
4th) Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina) 18 in 23 games, 1992-98
2nd = ) Steve Bloomer (England) 20 in 17 games, 1895-1907
2nd = ) Hughie Gallacher (Scotland) 20 in 15 games, 1925-35

And the winner? Well, I'll tell you later! In the meantime, if you want to post your guesses, feel free.

I will say, however, that the winner is miles out in front, with a barely believable 29 goals scored in his 19 UFWC games.

[defoesrightboot]

Hmmm tricky one. Having had a brief(ish) look through I think it might be one of the following :

Vladimir Bestchastnyk (Russia)
Viv Woodward (England)

But the most likely candidate is probably... Gunnar Nordahl (Sweden)

[petewaring]

You are indeed right, defoesrightboot, it was Nordahl, and by miles. More details can be found here: www.ufwc.co.uk/page/3/. No current players are anyway near the top 20, so it will be a while before there are any changes. Woodward, as you will see, is in 11th= place with 11 goals. Beschastnykh scored 7.

[petewaring]

In the wake of the Netherlands' record-breaking run as UFWC champions, I have done some further research on the top 18 goalscorers of all time. The outcome is that despite the Netherlands scoring 47 goals in their recent run as champions, not one of their players has broken into the all-time top 18 - an indication of just how difficult it is for a modern-day player to do so.

I will re-post the top 18 below. Please note that there are a couple of small amendments from the previous list, posted at www.ufwc.co.uk/category/news/page/7/. GO Smith of England drops off the list as one of the goals credited to him was actually scored (confusingly) by Stephen Smith. Meanwhile, John Smith of Scotland also drops off the list, as two of his goals are recorded by more reputable sources than the one I was previously using as own goals.

1) Gunnar Nordahl (Sweden) 29 goals in 19 games, 1942-47
2) Hughie Gallacher (Scotland) 20 goals in 15 games, 1925-35
2) Steve Bloomer (England) 20 goals in 17 games, 1895-1907
4) Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina) 18 goals in 23 games, 1992-98
5) Gunnar Gren (Sweden) 16 goals in 22 games, 1942-58
6) Anton Schall (Austria) 15 goals in 11 games, 1931-32
6) Pele (Brazil) 15 goals in 14 games, 1957-62
6) Michel Platini (France) 15 goals in 18 games, 1976-85
9) Matthias Sindelar (Austria) 13 goals in 12 games, 1931-32
9) Oliver Bierhoff (Germany) 13 goals in 19 games, 1996-2001
11) Robert Hamilton (Scotland) 11 goals in 6 games, 1899-1911
11) Vivian Woodward (England) 11 goals in 11 games, 1904-10
11) Stan Mortensen (England) 11 goals in 11 games, 1947-50
11) Antonio Valentin Angelillo (Argentina) 11 goals, 1956-57 (approx 11 games, but I am unable to find exact records for his career)
15) George Ker (Scotland) 10 goals in 5 games, 1880-82
15) Dixie Dean (England) 10 goals in 7 games, 1927-31
15) John Goodall (England) 10 goals in 11 games, 1888-96
15) Igor Chislenko (USSR) 10 goals in 17 games, 1966-67

Of the current Dutch squad, Robin van Persie has 9, Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder 8, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 6, and Arjen Robben and Rafael van der Vaart 5

[petewaring]

Edinson Cavani has become the first player since Oliver Bierhoff to reach double figures. Since his UFWC debut in 2010, he has now scored 13 goals in 16 UFWC games for Uruguay – a superb record for the Paris St Germain sharpshooter.

[jacktreacher]

Does anyone have an updated list for the all time top scorers?

[petewaring]

Nov 22, 2021 14:16:43 GMT jacktreacher said:

Does anyone have an updated list for the all time top scorers?

Hi jacktreacher
Yes, the updated list is as follows:

1) Gunnar Nordahl (Sweden) 29 goals in 19 games, 1942-47
2) Hughie Gallacher (Scotland) 20 goals in 15 games, 1925-35
2) Steve Bloomer (England) 20 goals in 17 games, 1895-1907
4) Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina) 18 goals in 23 games, 1992-98
5) Gunnar Gren (Sweden) 16 goals in 22 games, 1942-58
6) Anton Schall (Austria) 15 goals in 11 games, 1931-32
6) Pele (Brazil) 15 goals in 14 games, 1957-62
6) Michel Platini (France) 15 goals in 18 games, 1976-85
9) Matthias Sindelar (Austria) 13 goals in 12 games, 1931-32
9) Edinson Cavani (Uruguay) 13 goals in 16 games, 2010-2016
9) Oliver Bierhoff (Germany) 13 goals in 19 games, 1996-2001
12) Antonio Valentin Angelillo (Argentina) 12 goals in 13 games, 1956-57
13) Robert Hamilton (Scotland) 11 goals in 6 games, 1899-1911
13) Vivian Woodward (England) 11 goals in 11 games, 1904-10
13) Stan Mortensen (England) 11 goals in 11 games, 1947-50
16) George Ker (Scotland) 10 goals in 5 games, 1880-82
16) Dixie Dean (England) 10 goals in 7 games, 1927-31
16) John Goodall (England) 10 goals in 11 games, 1888-96
16) Igor Chislenko (USSR) 10 goals in 17 games, 1966-67

Amongst the players tied in 20th place on 9 goals are two current players, both of whom could conceivably reach double figures soon - Georginio Wijnaldum and Kylian Mbappe.

[petewaring]

Kylian Mbappe has now become the 20th player to reach double figures in UFWC matches, and the first to do so since Edinson Cavani. He has currently scored 11 goals in 13 UFWC matches - as follows:

1) France 0-0 Denmark (2018 WC group)
2) France 4-2 Croatia (2018 WC final) - 1 goal
3) Germany 0-0 France (2018, NL)
4) France 2-1 Netherlands (2018, NL) - 1 goal
5) France 2-2 Iceland (2018, Friendly) - 1 goal
6) France 2-1 Germany (2018, NL)
7) Netherlands 2-0 France (2018, NL)
8) France 2-1 Spain (2021, NL final) - 1 goal
9) France 8-0 Kazakhstan (2021, WC qual) - 4 goals
10) Finland 0-2 France (2021, WC qual) - 1 goal
11) France 5-0 South Africa (2022, Friendly) - 2 goals
12) France 1-2 Denmark (2022, NL)
13) Croatia 1-0 France (2022, NL)

[petewaring]

After that stunning World Cup final last week, there have been more changes to the all-time UFWC top scorers list.

Mbappe has now scored 14 goals in 14 UFWC matches following his hat-trick against Argentina, jumping to 9th on the all-time list - and he's still only 24!

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has become the 21st player to reach double figures in UFWC matches. He has scored 11 goals in 20 UFWC matches, in a period spanning over 12 years.

His goals have come as follows:
2010: 1 goal vs Spain
2013: 1 goal vs Venezuela, 3 goals vs Guatemala, 2 goals vs Paraguay
2017: 1 goal vs Chile
2022: 1 goal vs Croatia (WCSF), 2 goals vs France (WCF)