In an ᴜnexpected turn in the competition for the top scorer in European football, both Messi and Ronaldo found themselves outshone by another prolific goal-scorer. As per Transfermarkt’s data, Ronaldo recorded an impressive 350 goals in 406 matches across Europe’s top five leagues in the past decade. His scoring exploits spanned clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Juventus. Meanwhile, Messi, securing the second spot in the rankings, achieved a notable 377 goals in 458 games, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess during stints with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

Securing the pinnacle of that ranking is Roberto Lewandowski. The Polish striker, currently active in La Liga with Barcelona, has consistently demonstrated his goal-scoring prowess throughout his career. While playing in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, Lewandowski stood out as an unparalleled force in front of the goal, clinching the league’s top scorer award for five consecutive years. One of his standout achievements occurred during the 2020-21 season, where he remarkably netted 41 goals in the league alone.

Since joining Bayern Munich in 2014, the Polish forward has amassed an impressive total of 344 goals solely for the club. Over the past decade across Europe’s top five leagues, Lewandowski has delivered an outstanding combined performance of 407 goals in 478 games, solidifying his reputation as, in recent statistical terms, the most formidable striker of his generation.

Trailing closely behind is England’s captain, Harry Kane, who has scored 309 goals in 453 matches for both Tottenham and Bayern Munich. Securing the fourth position on the list, Kane maintains a lead of 38 goals over Kylian Mbappe, despite having played 101 fewer games than the French star. Completing the top 10 are renowned footballers such as Karim Benzema, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mohamed Salah, Luis Suarez, and Ciro Immobile.