Bayern Munich, one of the most successful football clubs in the world, has a rich history filled with remarkable players who have left a solid footprint.
Unquestionably, Bayern Munich stands out as Germany’s dominant force, showcasing a lineage of exceptional attackers who have shaped the team’s formidable legacy.
Among the myriad achievements, the top goal scorers of the club hold a special status, symbolizing a blend of skill, unwavering commitment, and a pursuit of excellence.
Now, the burning question: who is the most prolific goal-scorer the Bayern Munich have ever had?
This article takes a deep dive into the careers of the top 20 goal scorers in Bayern Munich’s history, unraveling the stories behind their significant contributions to the club’s triumphs.
- 1. Gerd Muller (566 goals, 1964-1979)
- 2. Robert Lewandowski (344 goals, 2014-2022)
- 3. Thomas Muller (235 goals, 2008- still active)
- 4. Karl-Heinz Rummenggie (217 goals, 1974-1984)
- 5. Rainer Ohlhauser (167 goals, 1961-1970)
- 6. Roland Wohlfarth (150 goals, 1984-1993)
- 7. Dieter Hoeneß (145 goals, 1979-1987)
- 8. Arjen Robben (144 goals, 2009-2019)
- 9. Giovane Elber (139 goals, 1997-2003)
- 10. Claudio Pizarro (125 goals, 2001-2007, 2012-2015)
- 11. Franck Ribery (124 goals, 2007-2019)
- 12. Mehmet Scholl (117 goals, 1992-2007)
- 13. Mario Gomez (113 goals, 2009-2013)
- 14. Uli Hoeness (109 goals, 1970-1979)
- 15. Paul Breitner (109 goals, 1970-1074, 1978-1983)
- 16. Roy Makaay (103 goals, 2003-2007)
- 17. Dieter Brenninger (103 goals, 1962-1971)
- 18. Lothar Matthaus (100 goals, 1984-1988, 1992-2000)
- 19. Franz Roth (95 goals, 1966-1978)
- 20. Carsten Jancker (79 goals, 1996-2002)
1. Gerd Muller (566 goals, 1964-1979)
Topping the list is the legendary Gerd Muller, whose prolific goal-scoring prowess earned him the nickname “Der Bomber.” Muller’s remarkable 566 goals in 607 matches during his tenure from 1964 to 1979 make him Bayern’s all-time leading goal scorer.
Müller started playing soccer at his local club, TSV 1861 Nördlingen.
In 1964, he joined Bayern Munich, teaming up with stars like Franz Beckenbauer and Sepp Maier. Back then, Bayern was in the Regionalliga Süd, a level below the Bundesliga. After a season, they moved up and started winning big.
With Müller on board, Bayern won titles in the 1960s and 1970s.
They got four German Championships, four DFB-Pokal trophies, three European Champions’ Cups in a row (the first West German team to do it; Müller scored in the 1974 final replay and the 1975 final), one Intercontinental Cup, and one European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Müller was a sharpshooter, topping the German scorer list seven times and the European list twice. In the Bundesliga, he netted 365 goals in 427 matches for Bayern Munich, putting him 53 goals ahead of the second-best scorer.
2. Robert Lewandowski (344 goals, 2014-2022)
In the modern era, Robert Lewandowski has emerged as a goal-scoring machine, consistently finding the back of the net since his arrival in 2014. With 344 goals in 355 matches, Lewandowski has etched his name as one of Bayern’s greatest goal-scorers.
Lewandowski switched from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich for free.
He kicked off with a 0–2 loss to Borussia Dortmund in the 2014 DFL Supercup on August 13, 2014, and scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw against Schalke 04 on August 30. He kept winning the Bundesliga title for eight seasons.
His standout moment came in the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League, where Bayern clinched the treble.
Lewandowski made history as one of only two players, with Johan Cruyff, to be the top scorer in all three parts of the European treble, and the first to do it solo.
In 2022, he moved to Barcelona, winning the Supercopa de España, La Liga title, and the Pichichi Trophy in his first season.
3. Thomas Muller (235 goals, 2008- still active)
A product of Bayern’s youth system, Müller has been a constant presence for the club since then, becoming a stalwart figure.
His tenure with Bayern has seen remarkable success, including a record twelve Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokals, eight DFL-Supercups, two UEFA Champions League titles, two UEFA Super Cups, and two FIFA Club World Cups.
His breakthrough into the first team happened during the 2009–10 season, coinciding with Louis van Gaal taking the helm as the main coach.
Müller played a key role, featuring in almost every game as Bayern secured a league and cup double and reached the Champions League final.
A standout season for Müller was in 2012–13 when he scored 23 goals, contributing significantly to Bayern’s historic treble – winning the league title, the cup, and the Champions League.
During this season, he also set a Bundesliga record for assists with 21 in a season, a feat jointly held with Lionel Messi in La Liga, and scored 14 goals.
Müller’s impact continued in the 2019–20 season, where he scored 14 goals again, playing a key role in Bayern’s second treble – winning the league title, the cup, and the Champions League once more.
His consistent performance and versatility have made him an integral part of Bayern Munich’s success story.
4. Karl-Heinz Rummenggie (217 goals, 1974-1984)
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, showcased his goal-scoring prowess during his decade-long spell at Bayern Munich. His 217 goals in 422 matches solidify his place among the club’s greatest goal scorers.
He started his journey with Bayern Munich in 1974, making the switch from the Westphalian amateur side Borussia Lippstadt for a transfer fee of approximately €10,000.
Right from the start, his prowess as a dribbler was evident.
Although his goal-scoring abilities were modest initially, significant improvement came in later years, particularly after the arrival of coach Pal Csernai in 1979.
The 1979–80 season marked a turning point as he scored 26 goals, securing his position as the Bundesliga’s top striker for the first time. This achievement was repeated in 1981 and 1984 with 29 and 26 goals, respectively.
During his time with Bayern, he was an influential member of the team in winning the European Cup in both 1975 and 1976.
In 1975, he didn’t participate in the final, but in the following year, a glass of brandy helped calm his nerves, and Rummenigge contributed significantly to Bayern’s victory against AS Saint-Étienne.
In the same year, he was also part of the team that triumphed in the Intercontinental Cup finals against Cruzeiro EC from Belo Horizont.
5. Rainer Ohlhauser (167 goals, 1961-1970)
A prominent figure in Bayern’s early years, Rainer Ohlhauser’s 167 goals in 300 matches played a major role in the club’s formative success in the 1960s.
Ohlhauser kicked off his career with SV Sandhausen in 1958 and later made a move to FC Bayern Munich in 1961.
His time at Bayern was marked by remarkable success, featuring in nearly three hundred matches and netting 186 goals.
Notably, he won several trophies with the team, including the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1967 and the Bundesliga in 1969.
In 1970, he made a transition to Grasshopper Club Zürich in Switzerland, where he switched his position to midfielder.
After five years with Grasshopper, he decided to retire. Post-retirement, he took on managerial roles with FC Winterthur and FC Basel between 1982 and 1983.
Despite his impressive scoring record, Ohlhauser only earned one international cap for West Germany in 1968.
6. Roland Wohlfarth (150 goals, 1984-1993)
Roland Wohlfarth’s contribution to Bayern’s goal tally is noteworthy, with 150 goals in 332 appearances during his time at the club from 1984 to 1993.
Wohlfarth had an active presence in the Bundesliga from 1981 to 1998, participating in 287 games and scoring 120 goals.
His football journey began with Borussia Bocholt, followed by stints with Duisburg, Bayern Munich, Leipzig, and Bochum.
His career ended in the year 2000 at Wuppertal.
During his time with Bayern Munich, he secured Bundesliga titles in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, and 1990, along with the DFB Cup in 1986 and the DFL-Supercup in 1987 and 1990.
A standout moment for Wohlfarth occurred in the DFB-Pokal final on May 3, 1986, where he scored a hat-trick in a 5–2 victory against VfB Stuttgart.
Throughout his tenure at Bayern Munich, Wohlfarth faced stiff competition for a spot in the first-team squad, contending against top-class newcomers.
However, he consistently succeeded in securing his place, earning the title of Bundesliga top scorer twice – in 1989 with 17 goals and in 1991 with 21 goals.
7. Dieter Hoeneß (145 goals, 1979-1987)
After the 1978–79 season, where he contributed 16 goals to help Stuttgart secure a second-place finish, Hoeneß made a significant move to FC Bayern Munich.
His time with the Bavarians proved highly successful, both individually and collectively, as he played a key role in winning five leagues and three cups.
Known for his powerful striking abilities, particularly his heading prowess, he consistently scored in double digits, accumulating a total of 127 goals in 288 league matches in the German top division alone.
In 224 Bundesliga games, he scored 102 goals and maintained an impressive scoring record in every second European Cup game, notching 26 goals in 52 appearances for Bayern Munich.
Hoeneß led the team to the semi-finals of the 1980 UEFA Europa League, finishing as the competition’s top scorer with seven goals.
In 1982, despite losing to Aston Villa in the final of the European Cup, he again claimed the top-scorer title with seven goals. During his tenure in Munich, the center forward was a feared presence on the field due to his consistent goal threat.
Hoeneß retired in 1987 at the age of 34.
8. Arjen Robben (144 goals, 2009-2019)
The Dutch winger Arjen Robben was known for his dazzling runs and clinical finishing.
In August 2009, Robben made a transfer to Bayern Munich for a fee of approximately €25 million.
In his first season with the club, Bayern clinched the league title, marking Robben’s fifth league title in eight years. Notably, he scored the decisive goal in the 2013 UEFA Champions League final and earned a spot in the Squad of the Season.
The following year, he received accolades, being named to the FIFPro World XI, the UEFA Team of the Year, and securing fourth place in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
Throughout his time in Germany, Robben amassed an impressive collection of 20 trophies, including eight Bundesliga titles and five DFB Pokals.
His partnership with fellow winger Franck Ribéry was highly fruitful, leading to the affectionate nickname “Robbery” for the duo. On July 15, 2021, Robben announced his retirement from professional football.
Robben also played a major role in international competitions, starting in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final where the Netherlands narrowly lost to Spain.
He featured in the 2004, 2008, and 2012 UEFA European Championships, as well as the 2006 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. In the latter, he won the Bronze Ball and earned a spot on the All-Star Team.
9. Giovane Elber (139 goals, 1997-2003)
Giovane Elber, a Brazilian forward, showcased his goal-scoring prowess with 139 goals in 266 matches during his tenure at Bayern Munich from 1997 to 2003.
During the 1996–97 season, Élber showed his goal-scoring prowess by netting 20 official goals for Stuttgart, with 17 in the league and three in the cup.
This included both goals in the final against FC Energie Cottbus, leading to a 2–0 victory. At Stuttgart, he formed the acclaimed “magic triangle” (German: Magisches Dreieck) alongside Krassimir Balakov and Fredi Bobic.
In the subsequent summer, Élber made a move to Bayern Munich. With the exception of one year, he consistently won the title of the club’s top scorer, except when Carsten Jancker prevented that honor.
His impact at Bayern was monumental, contributing to the conquest of four leagues, the 2000–01 UEFA Champions League (where he scored in both legs of the semi-finals against Real Madrid), and the 2001 Intercontinental Cup.
He also secured the Torjägerkanone award for the 2002–03 season with 21 goals, aiding Bayern in achieving the double.
10. Claudio Pizarro (125 goals, 2001-2007, 2012-2015)
The Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro, with 125 goals in 327 appearances over two spells, is among Bayern’s top goal scorers and a fan favorite.
Pizarro has an impressive standing in football, ranking as the ninth all-time top scorer in the DFB-Pokal with 34 goals. He also claims the tenth spot in the historical scoring list for Bayern Munich.
His impact goes beyond scoring records; Pizarro holds the record of being the foreign player with the most games played in the history of both the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal.
Widely revered, he is considered an idol by Bayern Munich’s fans and a legend of Werder Bremen, having scored over 100 goals for each team.
Pizarro’s longevity and contributions make him one of the players with the most seasons played in the history of the German league.
Notably, he etched his name in the record books as the oldest player to score a goal in the Bundesliga, achieving this feat at over 40 years old.
11. Franck Ribery (124 goals, 2007-2019)
The French winger Franck Ribery left a solid mark on Bayern’s history, contributing 124 goals in 425 matches during his distinguished career.
12. Mehmet Scholl (117 goals, 1992-2007)
Mehmet Scholl, a versatile attacker, played a crucial role in Bayern’s success, scoring 117 goals in 469 matches over a remarkable 15-year career.
13. Mario Gomez (113 goals, 2009-2013)
Mario Gomez, a clinical striker, made a significant impact with 113 goals in 165 matches during his four-year stint at Bayern Munich.
14. Uli Hoeness (109 goals, 1970-1979)
Uli Hoeness, a legendary figure both on and off the pitch, contributed 109 goals in 336 appearances during the 1970s.
15. Paul Breitner (109 goals, 1970-1074, 1978-1983)
A versatile player, Paul Breitner’s 109 goals in 347 matches make him a notable presence in Bayern’s goal-scoring history.
16. Roy Makaay (103 goals, 2003-2007)
Dutch striker Roy Makaay showcased his goal-scoring prowess with 103 goals in 183 matches during his time at Bayern Munich.
17. Dieter Brenninger (103 goals, 1962-1971)
Dieter Brenninger, a key player in the 1960s, contributed 103 goals in 304 matches for Bayern Munich.
18. Lothar Matthaus (100 goals, 1984-1988, 1992-2000)
A legendary figure in German football, Lothar Matthaus, a midfielder, contributed 100 goals in 410 appearances during two spells at Bayern.
19. Franz Roth (95 goals, 1966-1978)
Franz Roth, a versatile midfielder, left his mark with 95 goals in 435 appearances for Bayern Munich in the late ’60s and ’70s.
20. Carsten Jancker (79 goals, 1996-2002)
Closing the list is Carsten Jancker, who scored 79 goals in 225 matches during his time at Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich’s All Time Goal Scorers
| Position | Player | Goals | Matches | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerd Muller | 566 | 607 | 1964-1979 |
| 2 | Robert Lewandowski | 344 | 355 | 2014-2022 |
| 3 | Thomas Muller | 235 | 667 | 2008- |
| 4 | Karl-Heinz Rummenggie | 217 | 422 | 1974-1984 |
| 5 | Rainer Ohlhauser | 167 | 300 | 1961-1970 |
| 6 | Roland Wohlfarth | 150 | 332 | 1984-1993 |
| 7 | Dieter Hoeness | 145 | 302 | 1979-1987 |
| 8 | Arjen Robben | 144 | 309 | 2009-2019 |
| 9 | Giovane Elber | 139 | 266 | 1997-2003 |
| 10 | Claudio Pizarro | 125 | 327 | 2001-2007, 2012-2015 |
| 11 | Franck Ribery | 124 | 425 | 2007-2019 |
| 12 | Mehmet Scholl | 117 | 469 | 1992-2007 |
| 13 | Mario Gomez | 113 | 165 | 2009-2013 |
| 14 | Uli Hoeness | 109 | 336 | 1970-1979 |
| 15 | Paul Breitner | 109 | 347 | 1970-1074, 1978-1983 |
| 16 | Roy Makaay | 103 | 183 | 2003-2007 |
| 17 | Dieter Brenninger | 103 | 304 | 1962-1971 |
| 18 | Lothar Matthaus | 100 | 410 | 1984-1988, 1992-2000 |
| 19 | Franz Roth | 95 | 435 | 1966-1978 |
| 20 | Carsten Jancker | 79 | 225 | 1996-2002 |
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