The calendar year 2021 was packed with thrilling football and amazing goal scoring scenes. In the highest leagues and international matches, a few star forwards shone through scoring the back of the net regularly. With the domination of Robert Lewandowski with Bayern Munich and Poland, or the lightning speed of Kylian Mbappé, the fans could witness some memorable moments and argue about who really had the right to be named the highest goal scorer in the world 2021. The year was special because of the impact and consistency brought by these players to both club and nation.
Top 10 Highest Goal Scorer in the World 2021
In 2021, football fans around the world witnessed some of the most impressive goal‑scoring performances in recent history. As the players play various leagues and tournaments, some of them emerged as heroes by always scoring at the back of the net on a club and country basis. This list refers to the players that scored the most goals during the calendar year 2021, and it indicates how dangerous these forwards were in front of the goal.
| Rank | Player | Goals | Matches | Club(s) & Country |
| 1 | Robert Lewandowski | 69 | 59 | Bayern Munich & Poland |
| 2 | Kylian Mbappé | 51 | 67 | Paris Saint-Germain & France |
| 3 | Erling Haaland | 49 | 51 | Borussia Dortmund & Norway |
| 4 | Karim Benzema | 47 | 63 | Real Madrid & France |
| 5 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 47 | 65 | Juventus / Manchester United & Portugal |
| 6 | Lionel Messi | 43 | 60 | Barcelona / Paris Saint-Germain & Argentina |
| 7 | Dušan Vlahović | 41 | 56 | Fiorentina & Serbia |
| 8 | Arthur Cabral | 39 | 51 | Basel |
| 9 | Mohamed Salah | 39 | 58 | Liverpool & Egypt |
| 10 | Memphis Depay | 39 | 60 | Lyon / Barcelona & Netherlands |
1 Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski finished as the highest goal scorer in the world in 2021. Playing for Bayern Munich and Poland, he scored an outstanding 69 goals in 59 matches across all competitions. This total matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s best calendar year from 2013.
Lewandowski was also nominated for the 2021 Ballon d’Or but finished second behind Lionel Messi. He failed to score in only 14 matches for club and country, showing his incredible consistency throughout the year. Earlier in 2021, he also broke the Bundesliga record for most goals in a single season.
2 Kylian Mbappé
Scoring 51 goals in 67 matches for Paris Saint-Germain and France, Kylian Mbappé stands at the number two position among the highest goal scorers in the world in 2021. The 2021 calendar year was one of the most mixed seasons for the French sensation, as he experienced several highs and lows, a lot of goals, and a failed desire to move to Real Madrid.
However in 2021 he achieved the feat of scoring 100 goals in Ligue 1 for PSG becoming the third player to do so.
3 Erling Haaland
Another young sensation who made it to the list of highest goal scorers in the world in 2021 is none other than Erling Haaland. The Norwegian player scored a total of 49 goals in 51 matches while playing for his country and Borussia Dortmund.
Similarly, he finished third in the race for the Bundesliga Golden Boot in the 2021 season. Among the 49 goals, six goals were scored for his country, while the remaining 43 were for Borussia Dortmund.
4 Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema scored 47 goals in 63 appearances for Real Madrid and France in 2021. His performances were a clear step up compared to previous seasons, as he took on a leadership role in attack.
Benzema’s consistent scoring and all round influence eventually led to him winning the Ballon d’Or in 2022, making him the first French player since Zinedine Zidane in 1998 to receive the award.
5 Cristiano Ronaldo
One of the greatest footballers of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo, is in the fifth position among the highest goal scorers in the world in 2021. Ronaldo’s 47 goals in 65 matches while playing for Juventus, Manchester United, and Portugal earned him this position among other footballers.
Similarly, in 2021, he broke the record for most international goals ever scored and helped the Red Devils clinch a victory in a near-lost game against Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
6 Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi scored 43 goals in 60 matches while representing Barcelona, Paris Saint Germain, and Argentina. Although his move to PSG came mid year, he still contributed consistently in front of goal.
The year 2021 was also special for Messi as he won his seventh Ballon d’Or and lifted the Copa America trophy with Argentina, marking one of the most important moments of his international career.
7 Dušan Vlahović
On the 7th list is the Serbian center forward, Dušan Vlahović. Dušan scored a total of 41 goals in his 56 games appearance while playing for Fiorentina and Serbia.
In December 2021, his penalty goal against Bologna also added to the total of 30 Serie A goals, matching the records of Gonzalo Higuain and Hernán Crespo. Following his performance, he was on the radar of different top clubs in the world.
8 Arthur Cabral
The Brazilian attacker, Arthur Cabral, scored 39 goals in 51 matches during his time in Basel. His incredible ability to move with the ball and challenge defenders contributed to him achieving this feat of becoming one of the highest goal scorers in 2021.
Similarly, just two weeks later, in the 2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League, he scored his first hat trick at the international level.
9 Mohamed Salah
In the calendar year 2021, the Egyptian scored 39 goals in 58 matches while playing for his country and Liverpool. His skill, agility, and goal-scoring ability established him as one of the key players in the world, challenging several upcoming rising stars in the sport.
Similarly, in September 2021, Salah became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals in the history of Liverpool and the highest-scoring African player.
10 Memphis Depay
The final position was taken by Memphis Depay, who scored 39 goals in 60 games in Lyon and Barcelona. He made an impact after joining Barcelona in June 2021.
He scored a goal on his league debut and netted some valuable goals to help the team in the first few months. In addition, he made a seamless transition to his role as a forward.
The Players Who Defined Goal-Scoring in 2021
Looking back in history, football goal scoring achievements for the year 2021 can easily be described as the year for some of the most touch players and super consistent goal scorers, for the club and the country. It was their accuracy, creativity, and sheer determination to find the back of the net that left the fans in awe.
From the remarkable goal scoring consistency of Robert Lewandowski to the start of new players like Erling Haaland, players on the list have had to have their name mentioned for them to be considered one of the leading goal scorers in the world. Every single one of their goals, be it in a championship match of a big league or an international match, was a testament to their skill, vision and ability to perform under pressure.
The year 2021 will not be forgotten by their performances as the year of remarkable attacking brilliance, which influenced the next generation of football players and made fans amazed by their outstanding talent.
