Soccer players use different techniques to score goals. Some of the greatest goal-scoring styles include the snap header, diving header, chipped/lobbed effort, backheel strike, bicycle kick/volleyed effort, curled effort, howitzer wonder strike, free kick, penalty, chest, left/right foot strike, and the simple tap-in. Players often try to impress fans with their header skills, and this article unveils 20 famous footballers who have scored the most headed goals ever.
Players love the header techniques because these goals are often harder for goalkeepers to save. As a result, over 700 goals scored in the world’s top five soccer leagues are headers, and on average, one in every five goals are headers. Cristiano Ronaldo, Luuk De Jong, and Robert Lewandowski have been hailed as the undisputed kings of football headers. You can find out how many headed goals they have scored and more players who have attained an impressive number of headed goals in the world.
It is fascinating to watch players use the snap and diving header techniques to score goals. Unlike other goal-scoring styles, the head style requires the player to be near the goalpost to score. A thorough analysis of players' publications by sports data from Transfermarkt will help you know some of the world’s best shot-takers. Below are the top 20 footballers with the most headed goals in the history of the game:
20. Islam Slimani - 51 Goals
- Full name: Islam Slimani
- Born: 18 June 1988
- Age: 35 years (as of 2023)
- Place of birth: Algiers, Algeria
- Current teams: Coritiba Foot Ball Club, Algeria national football team
- Position: Forward
- Height: 1.88 meters
Algerian star Islam Slimani is one of the best headers in soccer history, with 51 goals scored using head techniques. His career began at JSM Chéraga and CR Belouizdad in his homeland. In 2013, he moved to Europe, signing for Sporting CP. Currently, Islam has played in eight Serie A matches in 2023 since joining Coritiba Foot Ball Club on 20 August 2023.
19. Raúl Jiménez - 51 Goals
- Full name: Raúl Alonso Jiménez Rodríguez
- Born: 5 May 1991
- Age: 32 years (as of 2023)
- Place of birth: Tepeji del Río de Ocampo, Mexico
- Current teams: Fulham FC, Mexico national football team
- Position: Forward
- Height: 1.9 meters
Mexican forward Raúl Jiménez has 51 headed goals to his name. He has played 428 club matches and scored 127 goals. Jiménez played for Club América’s youth system and now plays as a forward for Premier League club Fulham.
18. Sergio Ramos - 51 Goals
- Full name: Sergio Ramos García
- Born: 30 March 1986
- Age: 37 years (as of 2023)
- Place of birth: Camas, Spain
- Current team: Sevilla FC
- Position: Defender
- Height: 1.84 meters
Spanish defender Sergio Ramos is known for his exceptional tackling and aerial abilities. He has dominated Spanish football for two decades, scoring over 100 club goals in his career, with 51 being headed goals.
17. Karim Benzema - 54 Goals
- Full name: Karim Mostafa Benzema
- Born: 19 December 1987
- Age: 35 years (as of 2023)
- Place of birth: Lyon, France
- Current teams: Al-Ittihad Club, France national football team
- Position: Forward
- Height: 1.85 meters
French star Karim Benzema is among the best strikers of all time and top headers in football history. He is a creative forward with excellent technical skills, vision, and versatility. The player has scored over 461 club goals and 97 goals in leagues. Among these scores, 54 are from his head.
16. Peter Crouch - 56 Goals
- Full name: Peter James Crouch
- Born: 30 January 1981
- Age: 42 years (as of 2023)
- Place of birth: Macclesfield, United Kingdom
- Current teams: Retired
- Former position: Forward
- Height: 2.01 meters
Retired English player Peter Crouch holds the record for the most headed goals in Barclays Premier League history. Throughout his career, he scored 720 goals, with 56 of those being headers—the highest number of headers a player has ever achieved in the Premier League.
15. Edinson Cavani - 57 Goals
- Full name: Edinson Roberto Cavani Gómez
- Born: 14 February 1987
- Age: 36 years (as of 2023)
- Place of birth: Salto, Uruguay
- Current teams: Club Atlético Boca Juniors
- Position: Forward
- Height: 1.84 meters
Uruguayan footballer Edinson Cavani has scored 57 goals with his head. He is known not only for his outstanding goal-scoring skills but also for his humility and respect for other soccer icons. For instance, when Cristiano Ronaldo was at Manchester United, Cavani handed over his No. 7 jersey to Ronaldo.
14. Miroslav Klose - 59 Goals
- Full name: Miroslav Josef Klose
- Born: 9 June 1978
- Age: 45 years (as of 2023)
- Place of birth: Opole, Poland
- Current teams: Retired
- Former position: Forward
- Height: 1.84 meters
Retired German player Miroslav Klose holds the record for the most goals scored in the Men’s FIFA World Cup, netting 16 goals across four tournaments. He also scored 59 goals with his head during his career, making him one of the top headers in soccer history.
13. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 60 Goals
- Full name: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
- Born: 3 October 1981
- Age: 42 years (as of 2023)
- Place of birth: Malmö, Sweden
- Current teams: Sweden men's national football team
- Position: Forward
- Height: 1.95 meters
Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is known for his entertaining and acrobatic shots, volleys, and ball-control techniques on the field. He scored over 701 career goals, with 60 of
