Each soccer participant price their salt goals of representing their nation sooner or later. Listening to the nationwide anthem earlier than a sport sends tingles down their backbone and evokes them to soar increased than ever earlier than. Some gamers are likely to crumble beneath strain and fail to play their greatest sport of their nation’s colours, whereas others ship memorable performances and turn into nationwide heroes.
Beneath we’ll have a look at just a few nationwide idols who’ve redefined the artwork of goalscoring in worldwide soccer this century. Based on Transfermarkt, listed below are the highest 5 gamers with probably the most worldwide targets scored since 2000:
#5 Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) – 79 Targets
With 79 targets in 112 video games, Romelu Lukaku is Belgium’s all-time main goalscorer. Lukaku made his worldwide debut in March 2010 at solely 16 years and 10 months previous beneath coach Dick Advocaat.
A Serie A champion with Inter Milan within the 2020-21 season, Lukaku has not but received any main honors together with his nation, with a third-place end on the 2018 FIFA World Cup marking their best-ever efficiency.
#4 Robert Lewandowski (Poland) – 81 Targets
Since making his debut for Poland in September 2020 on the age of 20 years and 10 months, Robert Lewandowski has made 144 worldwide appearances, as per Transfermarkt. The Barcelona center-forward has scored a powerful 81 instances and claimed 31 assists to date.
Such has been his dominance that he has received Poland’s Participant Of The Yr Award on a whopping 10 events. Nonetheless, identical to Lukaku, Lewandowski has additionally did not take his nation to silverware.
#3 Sunil Chhetri (India) – 93 Targets
The flagbearer of the soccer fandom in India, Sunil Chhetri is the third title on this record. The 39-year-old striker has performed 143 matches since making his debut in June 2005, scoring an astonishing 93 instances and rising because the nation’s all-time main goalscorer.
Chhetri has received 4 South Asian Championships, two Intercontinental Cups, and an AFC Problem Cup within the well-known blue jersey. His exploits have allowed him to clinch the Participant Of The Yr Award a whopping seven instances.
#2 Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 106 Targets
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has scored the second-highest variety of targets since 2000. The Inter Miami celebrity has netted a whopping 106 instances and offered 56 assists in 178 video games since his debut beneath Jose Nestor Pekerman in August 2005.
The proud captain of La Albiceleste accomplished his trophy cupboard in December 2022, main his crew to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The 36-year-old led from the entrance from begin to end, scoring an unbelievable seven instances and offering three assists. He received the FIFA Golden Ball for his exploits within the desert.
Messi, who received one other Golden Ball on the 2014 FIFA World Cup, has additionally received the Copa America and the UEFA-CONMEBOL Cup Of Champions with Argentina.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 127 Targets
On the summit sits the mercurial Cristiano Ronaldo, having scored a staggering 127 targets in 203 matches for Portugal since 2000. The Actual Madrid icon made his worldwide debut beneath supervisor Luiz Felipe Scolari in August 2003.
Ronaldo, who turned the primary participant in historical past to function and rating in 5 FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar final yr, is but to win the most-coveted trophy on earth. Nonetheless, he performed an important position in firing Os Navegadores to European Championship glory in 2016, marking their first-ever main silver. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was additionally integral to Portugal’s UEFA Nations League win in 2019.
