The Premier League is known for its mix of world-class talent, thrilling games, and incredible goals. But who has scored the most goals in its history?
So far this term, Erling Haaland has smashed 27 goals in just 24 Premier League games this season. His exploits have prompted sports betting websites such as Betway to name his Manchester City team as the favorites for the Premier League this season, despite them currently sitting in second place, five points behind league leaders Arsenal.
If he continues in the same vein, there is no doubt that he will one day top this list. Here we take a look at the top four scorers in the Premier League – from Alan Shearer’s record-breaking 260 goals to Harry Kane’s impressive 201 and counting.
Alan Shearer (260 goals)
Alan Shearer holds the record for most goals scored in Premier League history with an incredible 260 goals. He made his debut in 1987 playing for Southampton. However, he moved on to Blackburn Rovers at the dawn of the Premier League era in 1992 and went on to form a lethal partnership with Chris Sutton, known domestically as the SAS.
He then went on to play for his boyhood club Newcastle United later on in his career and commanded a transfer fee of £15m, which was a world record-setting amount at the time.
He won one Premier League title with Blackburn and was also named the PFA Players Player of the Year twice during his time in the league. He retired from football at age 35 and still holds the record for most Premier League Goals ever scored by a single player, for now.
Wayne Rooney (208 goals)
Wayne Rooney is second on our list with 208 Premier League goals, making him one of the most prolific strikers in the history of European football. At the peak of his powers, ‘Wazza’ was considered on par with all-time greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo before his powers began to wane in his later years.
He started his career with Everton before moving to Manchester United, where he became the club’s all-time leading scorer. He won five Premier League titles with the Red Devils as well as numerous other trophies including three FA Cups and two League Cups. In addition to this, he also reached the pinnacle of European club football when he lifted the UEFA Champions League in 2008 following a victory over compatriots Chelsea in Moscow.
Harry Kane (201 goals)
Harry Kane is third on our list with 201 Premier League Goals and counting. He is the only player on this list that still plies his trade in the English top-flight, and if he continues in the same vein of form, it’s only a matter of time before he breaks Alan Shearer’s scoring record.
A product of Tottenham Hotspur’s academy system, he has been a regular goal scorer since breaking into their first-team squad back in 2014 and is now regarded as one of the best strikers in world football, alongside the likes of Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.
Kane is also the captain of the English national team. He led the Three Lions to a first World Cup quarterfinal in 28 years back in 2018, before then leading them to their first-ever major final since 1966 in 2021. Both of those ties ended in defeat, but it seems like an inevitability that Kane will finally lead England back to the promised land.
Andrew Cole (187 goals)
Andrew Cole rounds out our top four scorers list with 187 Premier League Goals over his 19-year career. His career began at Arsenal but it wasn't until he joined Newcastle United in 1993 that he began racking up serious goal-scoring numbers. He would leave St. James’ Park for Old Trafford in 1995 following 55 goals in 70 league games, and it was in Manchester where he would truly shine.
Cole formed a devastating partnership with Dwight Yorke, a partnership that led Manchester United to an unprecedented treble in 1999, where they lifted the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup all in the same season.
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