Alan Shearer holds the record for the highest Premier League goals, while Mohamed Salah is the top-scoring African in Premier League history with 186 goals

Key takeaways:

  • Alan Shearer holds the all-time Premier League scoring record with 260 goals.
  • Harry Kane is the second-highest scorer with 213 goals, closing in on Shearer.
  • Wayne Rooney is third with 208 goals, having spent most of his career at Manchester United.
  • Mohamed Salah is the highest-scoring African in Premier League history with 186 goals and still counting.
  • Only 1 goal separates Andrew Cole (187) and Salah (186), showing how tightly contested the rankings are.
  • The gap between the top scorer (Shearer) and the 10th (Defoe) is nearly 100 goals.
  • Of the top 10 scorers, 8 are retired, while Kane and Salah are the only active players still adding to their totals.

The Premier League's all-time top scorers list is a testament to enduring excellence, with the top 10 players netting a combined 1,915 goals as of 2025. Alan Shearer remains unmatched with 260 goals, a record that still stands despite fierce competition over the years. Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney follow closely with 213 and 208 goals respectively, cementing their places as generational goal machines.

Notably, the diversity of eras represented—from Shearer in the ‘90s to Salah’s ongoing dominance—shows how goal-scoring legends span across generations. For many fans, these names spark vivid memories of iconic moments, from Rooney’s overhead kick in the Manchester derby to Aguero’s last-minute title winner in 2012.

Salah’s current presence on the list, with 186 goals, highlights how active players continue to reshape history in real time. His rise, along with Kane’s climb toward the top, keeps the record books alive with excitement and anticipation.

Source:

Premierleague.com

Period:

2025
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out
Tags
Related Insights

Following Senegal’s AFCON 25’ victory, West and North African countries now have the same number of titles (12)
  • West Africa now has 12 AFCON championships, equal to North Africa’s total after Senegal’s latest win.
  • Egypt is AFCON’s most successful nation with 7 titles.
  • Cameroon (5 titles) and Ghana (4) form the second tier of AFCON’s most successful teams.
  • 15 countries feature on the list of champions, reflecting sustained competitiveness.

Nigeria and Cameroon each rose 12 positions in the latest FIFA African soccer ranking
  • Morocco leads Africa and is ranked 8th globally.
  • Nigeria and Cameroon recorded the biggest jumps, each rising 12 positions.
  • Senegal is Africa’s second-best team at 12th in the world.
  • Algeria and Egypt continue to stay relevant at the top despite slower ranking movement.
  • DR Congo and Mali show strong upward momentum, reflecting growing competitiveness beyond the traditional giants.
  • Ghana’s position outside Africa’s top ten highlights the cost of inconsistent results.

Nigeria beats Egypt to win AFCON bronze medal, extending its record to nine third-place finishes
  • Nigeria extends its AFCON bronze medal wins to nine, the highest in men’s AFCON history, with another podium finish.
  • The win over Egypt highlights Nigeria’s resilience, turning late-stage setbacks into tangible success.
  • Bronze medals remain rare for most nations, with the majority appearing only once or twice in AFCON history.

Morocco is Africa's top soccer team, ranked 11th globally with 1716.34 points
  • Morocco’s male football team ranks 1st in Africa and 11th globally with 1713.12 points.
  • Senegal ranks 2nd and 19th in the world, confirming its strong international presence.
  • Egypt, Algeria, and Nigeria complete Africa’s top five, all within the global top 40.
  • The top 20 list includes teams from all major African regions.
  • Africa has 2 teams in the global top 20, 7 in the top 50, and 13 in the top 70.

Nigeria has lost only one of its 12 quarter-final matches in AFCON history
  • Nigeria has won 11 of its 12 AFCON quarter-final matches, losing only once (2008).
  • The only quarter-final defeat came against Ghana, highlighting the intensity of historic rivalries.
  • Most Nigerian wins were by narrow margins.
  • Nigeria has beaten a wide range of opponents at this stage, including Algeria, Senegal, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa.
  • Penalty shootouts feature twice, reflecting composure under extreme pressure.
  • Nigeria’s quarter-final success spans over 30 years, cutting across different generations of players.

Morocco is Africa's top soccer team, ranked 11th globally with 1716.34 points
  • Morocco’s male football team ranks 1st in Africa and 11th globally with 1713.12 points.
  • Senegal ranks 2nd and 19th in the world, confirming its strong international presence.
  • Egypt, Algeria, and Nigeria complete Africa’s top five, all within the global top 40.
  • The top 20 list includes teams from all major African regions.
  • Africa has 2 teams in the global top 20, 7 in the top 50, and 13 in the top 70.

POPULAR TOPICS
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Get periodic updates about the African startup space, access to our reports, among others.
Subscribe Here
Subscription Form

A product of Techpoint Africa. All rights reserved