The FA Cup: the grand old English tradition stretching back through the ages, like a fine wine or an overly sentimental football chant.
Highs, lows, glory, and heartbreak summed up in one chaotic, beautiful tournament-from the smallest of non-league sides dreaming of a giant killing to the biggest clubs that battle to avoid humiliation, the FA Cup is football’s ultimate leveller.
And in the midst of all that, there are the goal scorers, those players that year after year light up the Cup with the most valued commodity in football: goals.
In today’s tactical degree and advanced strategies of football, little gets the heart racing quite like the ball hitting the back of the net.
Here are the top 10 highest goal-scorers in FA Cup history
1. Ian Rush – 42 Goals
- FA Cups won: 3
First on our list comes the man who is synonymous with goals. The moustachioed Welsh goal machine terrorized defenders for years with his relentless knack for finding the net. His record in the FA Cup? A jaw-dropping 42 goals in just 74 appearances.
Along with his career with Liverpool, Rush won the FA Cup three times, notably in that 1989 final with a doubled-headed dagger into Everton’s heart. Both goals were enough to ensure a pulsating 3-2 victory showing that on the big occasion, he could be relied upon.
Having played for clubs like Juventus, Leeds United, and Liverpool, Rush was a predator in the box. His name is still sung by the Kop at Liverpool, and who can blame them, considering his goal tally?
With 383 career goals to his name, the FA Cup was a stage where Rush wrote some of his finest chapters.
2. Frank Lampard – 27 Goals
- FA Cups won: 4
Lampard in the FA Cup was like the well-dressed wedding guest: always in the right place at the right time. Lampard has been ranked as one of the greatest goalscoring midfielders the beautiful game has ever seen.
His FA Cup exploits were nothing less than extraordinary, netting an impressive 27 goals in 72 appearances from midfield.
Perhaps the most memorable FA Cup moment for him came in 2009 when he scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Everton at Wembley. It was a trademark Lampard goal: arriving late in the box, striking with precision, sending Chelsea fans into raptures.
Over his career, Lampard scooped up four FA Cups, making him one of the competition’s most decorated players.
3. John Barnes – 27 Goals
- FA Cups won: 2
Now, Barnes is one of those names you might not be expecting to pop up on a top goal-scorer list. Yet, here he is. The silky winger, known for his dribbling and creativity, netted 27 FA Cup goals throughout his career than many forwards managed.
He won two FA Cups with Liverpool, one in 1989 and the other in 1992. Known for his pace, great vision, and extraordinary technique, Barnes wasn’t always the guy finishing off moves, but it was often spectacular when he did.
His FA Cup goal tally is truly remarkable for a player whose job was mainly to create.
He wasn’t just one of the most talented players of his generation, but also an uncompromising winner. He may have dazzled the crowds with his artistry, but in front of goal, he had a ruthless streak.
4. Alan Shearer – 27 Goals
- FA Cups won: 0
Shearer is the near man of the FA Cup. Despite netting 27 goals in just 50 appearances-an interesting goal-to-game ratio, he never got his hands on the trophy. It feels almost criminal given just how clinical and determined he competed.
He came close, reaching the final twice with Newcastle United in 1998 and 1999. Regrettably for Shearer and the Geordie faithful, both finals ended in defeat.
But make no mistake, his impact on the FA Cup is still monumental.
With his thunderous strikes and fearsome physical presence, Shearer was a one-man wrecking crew, particularly in the semi-finals where his goals took Newcastle tantalizingly close to glory.
If anyone deserved a winner’s medal in the FA Cup, then it was Alan Shearer. Sadly, football is that cruel.
5. Jackie Milburn – 23 Goals
- FA Cups won: 3
Newcastle United fans speak of Milburn in hushed tones of reverence. He was the North East’s footballing deity before the time of Alan Shearer. He scored 23 goals in the FA Cup and was pivotal in helping Newcastle lift the famous trophy three times in the 1950s.
His goal in the 1955 FA Cup Final, which was scored after only 45 seconds, was the record for the fastest-ever Wembley final goal until 1997.
Fast and deadly in front of the goal, he epitomized Newcastle United during its glory days. His legacy in the FA Cup is forever; for the Toon Army, his name is still spoken with high regard.
6. Wayne Rooney – 23 Goals
- FA Cups won: 1
You can’t talk about the FA Cup and not mention Rooney. Bulldog-like in tenacity, his moments of genius were known, years being Manchester United’s talisman.
Having only lifted the FA Cup once in 2016, he still managed to garner 23 goals in 49 FA Cup appearances-a stellar return.
He was instrumental in that 2007 semi-final against Watford, scoring twice and laying on another in a dominant 4-1 win. When he retired, he had eclipsed Sir Bobby Charlton as Manchester United’s all-time top scorer and cemented his status as one of the finest players England had ever produced.
Well, The FA Cup perhaps wasn’t that friendly to Rooney, but his goal-scoring exploits ensure that his name will be remembered whenever we speak about this fabled tournament.
7. Mark Hughes – 22 Goals
- FA Cups won: 4
Nicknamed “Sparky” in his playing days, he was a tough competitor and indeed an FA Cup specialist. Having netted 22 in 56 appearances, he was indeed an outstanding striker who always cropped up in big games.
With his physique and technical ability, he was always a nightmare to the opposite defenders.
Hughes played a key part in Manchester United’s FA Cup successes as he won the competition three times with the Red Devils and once with Chelsea.
His volley in the 1994 semi-final against Oldham is the stuff of legend, keeping United’s cup hopes alive that year. Sparky knew how to score when it mattered most.
8. Jermain Defoe – 22 Goals
- FA Cups won: 0
Defoe falls into that class of players who despite their undeniable talent for goal-scoring, never quite won the big trophies their talents deserved.
His FA Cup career is just a case in point. With 22 goals in 39 appearances, his sharpness in front of goal was evident; however, the silverware in the FA Cup eluded him.
Poorly cup-tied for Portsmouth’s 2008 victory, Defoe continued unabated, lighting up the FA Cup with goals from all angles onto/in the net.
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9. Teddy Sheringham – 20 Goals
- FA Cups won: 1
Sheringham was the quintessential “fox in the box”-always lurking, always ready to pounce. With 20 goals in 38 FA Cup appearances, he was a predator with a poise few could match.
His goals came for five different clubs, sure evidence of his adaptability and consistent quality.
Despite such an impressive FA Cup scoring record, Sheringham won the trophy just once, as part of Manchester United’s treble in 1999.
His goal in the final against Newcastle United sealed the Red Devils’ historic triumph, a fitting reward for one of the most intelligent forwards of his generation.
10. Sergio Aguero – 20 Goals
- FA Cups won: 1
Aguero finishes off our list, but make no mistake, his record is nothing short of phenomenal. With 20 goals in just 22 FA Cup appearances, his goal-scoring rate was the highest of anyone in the top 10.
However, like many greats before him, he only lifted the FA Cup once, back in 2019, as Manchester City steamrolled Watford in the final.
Not scoring in the FA Cup final, he was priceless in the earlier rounds of the competition.
That 2019 quarter-final double against Swansea was a particular highlight; this was a performance that illustrated why he was among the most dangerous strikers in the Premier League.
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