Women’s football is on the rise, gaining popularity and recognition. The global stage has witnessed incredible talents who set records and left their mark.
International football, especially, has seen remarkable goal scorers, women whose skills and determination not only bring glory to their nations but also ignite passion and admiration among fans worldwide
Achieving the best status is tough. It needs unwavering commitment, dedication, and a strong spirit. The women on this list are a testament to this, working tirelessly to represent their nations at their best.
The list of top international women’s football scorers includes not only famous and deadly strikers but also some less-known yet highly productive forwards. These women, with their skills and determination, have made a lasting impact on the global football stage.
In women’s football, North American players stand out in goal-scoring.
10 International Goal scorers In Women’s football
At the top is Canada’s captain, Christine Sinclair, who not only led her team to its historic Olympic gold in football at Tokyo 2020 but also holds the lead with an impressive 190 goals.
Following closely is Abby Wambach from the USA, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup winner, securing the second position with 184 goals. Right behind her is compatriot Mia Hamm.
What’s striking about women’s football is that it has 18 players with 100 or more international goals, in stark contrast to the mere two in men’s football.
This shows the abundant goal-scoring talent in the women’s game.
| Position | Player | Country | Goals | Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Christine Sinclair | Canada | 190 | 323 |
| 2. | Abby Wambach | USA | 184 | 256 |
| 3. | Mia Hamm | USA | 158 | 275 |
| 4. | Carli Lloyd | USA | 134 | 316 |
| 5. | Kristine Lily | USA | 130 | 316 |
| 6. | Brigit Prinz | Germany | 128 | 214 |
| 7. | Myasa Jbarah | Jordan | 124 | 130 |
| 8. | Alex Morgan | USA | 121 | 206 |
| 9. | Julie Fleeting | Scotland | 116 | 121 |
| 10. | Marta | Brazil | 115 | 174 |
Who is Christine Sinclair?
She is a 40-year-old forward known for her role as an attacking midfielder and serves as the captain for both the Canada women’s national team and the Portland Thorns.
She has spent her entire career in North America, starting when FC Gold Pride selected her as the eighth overall pick in the 2008 Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) expansion draft.
This came after she stood out while playing for the Portland Pilots during her university days.
In 2011, she moved to the Western New York Flash before joining the Thorns two years later when the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) was inaugurated.
She has remained with the Thorns since then.
Sinclair’s international career is impressive, having played in six World Cup finals and three Olympic Games, resulting in two bronze medals and, notably, a gold medal in 2021.
She has also achieved success at the club level, winning the WPS Championship and the NWSL Championship twice and clinching the NWSL Challenge Cup in 2021.
She is widely recognized as Canada’s greatest female soccer player of all time.
What is Christine Sinclair’s international goalscoring record?
Sinclair’s current goal tally as of Oct 17 2023 for Canada is an impressive 190 goals in 327 games.
She achieved a remarkable milestone in January 2020 when she scored her 184th and 185th international goals during a match against St. Kitts and Nevis in the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship.
This feat allowed her to surpass Abby Wambach, the former U.S. women’s national team striker, who had held the previous record.
Wambach, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, had scored 184 goals in 255 games for her country before retiring in 2015.
What other records does Christine Sinclair hold?
Sinclair is not only her country’s top goalscorer but also holds the most caps (327) for Canada, surpassing both male and female players.
She’s the second-most capped player of all time, trailing behind the former U.S. women’s national team star Kristine Lilly, who has 354 caps.
As a captain, Sinclair has a remarkable World Cup record, having led her team five times and scoring at least one goal in five different tournaments, a record she shares with Marta.
In the past, she held the record for the most goals in a single Olympic women’s football tournament, with six goals at London 2012, but this record was later broken by Vivianne Miedema at the 2021 Games.
Sinclair is also a multiple-time recipient of the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award, a prestigious honor given to Canada’s female athlete of the year.
Who else has more international goals than Ronaldo and Messi?
Six female players have scored more international goals than Ronaldo.
These women include Birgit Prinz from Germany (128 goals), and a quartet of American stars: Lilly (130), Lloyd (134), Mia Hamm (158), and Wambach (184). At the top of the list, we have Sinclair.
On the men’s side, Lionel Messi recently achieved the remarkable feat of becoming only the third player in the history of men’s football to score 100 international goals.
He now trails only Ronaldo and Daei, being the first South American player to reach this century mark
FAQs
Who is the highest-scoring female soccer?
Christine Sinclair is the highest goal scorer in women’s soccer with 190 goals for Canada.
Who is England women’s top scorer?
Ellen White is England Women’s leading goalscorer.
Who is the USA women’s top scorer?
Abby Wambach is the top goal scorer for the USA with 184 goals.
You Might Also Want To Read This
- Most Goal In Men’s International Football | 2023
- 12 Footballers With The Most Free Kick Goals In History
- 17 Greatest & Most Viewed World Cup Goals Of All Time
- Top 20 Oldest Football Leagues In The World
- Top 10 Oldest Soccer Clubs In History 2023
- 10 Oldest Football Stadiums In History
