LIONEL MESSI took another step towards becoming the top-scorer in football history on Wednesday night.
The Argentine superstar, 33, laid on a superb assist for Ousmane Dembele before converting from spot in the 2-0 win over a Cristiano Ronaldo-less Juventus.
Messi is up to fourth in the list of official goal-scorers
In scoring, Messi took his official career goals tally to 721 – overtaking Gerd Muller to take the fourth spot in the all-time rankings.
But who else makes the top ten? We take a look…
10. ARTHUR FRIEDENREICH – 554 goals
Arthur Friedenreich was known as ‘The King of Football’ in EuropeCredit: Alamy
THE Brazilian striker was was a professional footballer for an incredible 26 years between 1909 and 1935.
Friedenreich was dubbed ‘The King of Football’ by European media at the time, despite the fact he never left Brazil, such was his goal-getting fame.
The Sao Paulo-born star scored 554 goals during his career, including ten goals in 21 matches for Brazil.
9. FERENC DEAK – 558
Ferenc Deak was the original Hungarian superstar before Puskas
BEFORE Puskas, there was another Hungarian superstar called Ferenc on the scene.
Deak scored 558 goals during his career in his home nation – including an astonishing 29 goals in just 20 matches for Hungary.
8. EUSEBIO – 615
Eusebio scored 615 goals, including over 300 league strikes for BenficaCredit: PA:Empics Sport
THE Portuguese legend famously scored at better than a goal per game at Benfica – netting 317 times in just 301 league games.
And his total tally was 615 when all was said and done – including 41 goals in 64 international games.
Eusebio won the Ballon d’Or in 1965.
7. JOSEF BICAN – 636
Josef Bican scored nearly two goals per league game at Slavia PragueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
BICAN scored an outrageous 397 goals in just 215 league matches for Slavia Prague in his incredible career – which spanned the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s.
All-in-all, the striker scored 636 goals – including 12 goals in 14 matches for Czechoslovakia and 14 goals in 19 games for Austria.
He even scored a hat-trick in his only ‘international’ game for Bohemia and Moravia.
6. FERENC PUSKAS – 706
Puskas was one of the most famously footballers of his day, scoring 706 goalsCredit: PA:Empics Sport
THE more-famous of the Ferencs, Puskas scored an astronomical 706 goals in his illustrious career.
Puskas did much of the damage at local side Budapest Honved, but also scored at nearly a goal per game at Real Madrid in the 1950s and 60s.
Despite being arguably the best player on the planet in his day, he never won the Ballon d’Or – coming second in 1960.
5. GERD MULLER – 720
Gerd Muller scored 720 goals – but most-impressively netted 68 times in just 62 games for GermanyCredit: Getty – Contributor
UNTIL Wednesday, the German legend was tied for fourth in the standings, only for Messi to pull one clear.
Muller netted 720 times in his career – scoring 565 times in just 607 games for Bayern Munich.
The German won the Ballon d’Or in 1970 and scored at over a goal a game for his country – with 68 goals in just 62 matches.
Muller helped Germany win the 1974 World Cup.
4. LIONEL MESSI – 721
Messi overtook Muller to take fourth spot by netting his 721st goal vs Juventus on WednesdayCredit: AP:Associated Press
IN scoring against Juventus, Messi took his career tally to 721 – and still only 33-years-old, there could be many more to come.
Messi is just 46 goals behind Pele’s official tally now – with his main competition arguably the man in second-place…
The Argentine legend has scored 637 goals in 748 games for Barcelona – adding a further 71 for his country’s senior side.
Messi has also won more Ballons d’Or than any other player, with six.
3. ROMARIO – 734
Romario scored 734 times in his long career and helped Brazil win the 1994 World CupCredit: AFP – Getty
IN third, Brazil legend Romario enjoyed a senior career spanning an unbelievably 24 years.
He found the net 734 times, including 55 goals for Brazil in just 70 games.
Romario was a key cog in his nation’s side which lifted the 1994 World Cup in America, too.
2. CRISTIANO RONALDO – 742
Cristiano Ronaldo is closing in on Pele’s record, currently on 742 goalsCredit: AFP or licensors
RONALDO will be disappointed to have missed the showdown with Messi on Wednesday due to coronavirus.
But for now, he holds the advantage with 742 official goals – 21 more than his rival.
Ronaldo is still playing, of course, but at two years Messi’s senior, he may retire sooner than the Barca ace.
But given the Portuguese legend’s fitness regime, he could play well into his 40s.
Ronaldo has scored a staggering 101 goals for Portugal – with 14 per cent of all of his goals coming for his country.
1. PELE – 767
Officially, Pele has scored ‘only’ 767 goals – not the 1,000 he once claimedCredit: Rex Features
THE man himself claims to have over 1,000 goals – but officially, that tally is much lower at 767.
Pele has held the record for most career goals for decades, but knows his grasp on the top spot is growing ever-more loose with Ronaldo and Messi knocking.
The Brazil icon scored 643 goals for Santos in just 656 games in all competitions.
Pele also netted 43 goals in just 41 games for Brazil’s senior side – helping them to win THREE World Cups during his time.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
