Highlights

  • While not typically hailed for their goalscoring exploits, many defenders have taken to scoring last-gasp winners or by popping up with a free-kick or penalty when their side needs it most.
  • Former Real Madrid duo Sergio Ramos and Roberto Carlos are among defenders lauded for their innate goalscoring threat.
  • With the ever-growing nature of the sport, the role of a defender has drastically changed from solely being used as a goalmouth safeguard, though it was icons such as Franz Beckenbeaur that paved the way for the new generation of free-scoring defenders.

In a world where strikers and midfield maestros consistently bask in adulation, there's a cascade of players who, while historically relegated to the shadows, have spectacularly shattered conventional expectations: our revered defenders. These ironclad titans, renowned for safeguarding the goalmouth, have, in certain outstanding cases, ventured forward to etch their names among the goal-scoring legends.

Traditionally, across the likes of the Premier League, Champions League and La Liga, the defender's role in football was straightforward - nullify the opposition’s most potent threats and maintain the sanctity of the defence. However, as football changed over the decades, so did the roles that players typically occupied. No longer are full-backs merely the rear guard; today, they overlap, contribute to build-up plays, and sometimes even cut inside to deliver a surprise strike. Central defenders, too, aren't merely guardians of the penalty area; they've emerged as set-piece specialists and heroic headers of the ball with their aerial prowess.

Icons like Franz Beckenbauer led the way with this movement, illustrating that a defender could become adaptable between robust defence and attacking brilliance. Amazingly, the German legend doesn't quite make this list - which leads us to the pivotal question; who stands peerless among these legends?

Which of these footballing giants have redefined their roles to such an extent that they rival their attacking counterparts in goal-scoring feats? Our exploration doesn't solely hinge on the volume of goals but the gravity of these strikes — the occasions, the elegance, and the sheer audacity with which they've been netted. From headers that have altered the trajectory of league races to long-range stunners that have left spectators and goalkeepers equally flabbergasted, these are moments of unparalleled footballing brilliance.

At GiveMeSport, our ethos revolves around bringing to the fore the multifaceted beauty of football. Whether it’s a goalkeeper's gravity-defying save, a manager's strategic masterclass, or the unpredictable scoring prowess of a defender, our mission is to illuminate every corner of this magnificent sport. So, strap in for an exhilarating journey as we unravel the tales of tenacity, ambition, and unparalleled skill.

This list features some legendary names and we have updated our findings as Sergio Ramos settles into life at his boyhood club Sevilla. View where he ranks below...

10 Roberto Carlos - 113 goals

Roberto Carlos-1

Considered one of the greatest left-backs in football history, Carlos enjoyed a highly successful football career that saw him star for the likes of Inter Milan and Real Madrid. He was deadly from free-kicks and whenever he was allowed to have a go at goal, he often had a crack. His technique from set pieces was simple: he just hit the ball as hard as he could. He scored 49 goals from free-kicks during his career, which is an incredible tally. He just misses out on a list of players with the most free-kick goals in football history, though...

Team

Goals

Real Madrid

69

Fenerbahçe

10

Corinthians

5

Inter Milan

7

Anzhi Makhachkala

5

Palmeiras

6

Brazil

11

Total

113

9 Paul Breitner - 113 goals

Breitner was prolific in his football career, which saw him feature for Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Eintracht Braunschweig. The vast majority of his goals came for the former, who he played for between 1970-1974 and 1978-1983. He notched 10 goals for West Germany and is one of just four players who managed to hit the back of the net in two World Cup finals (1974 and 1982). He has previously been described as a "maverick and a great pretender" with his unmistakable lamb-chop sideburns and afro haircut.

There was no doubting Breitner's ability - not many players have had the pleasure of winning the European Cup and the World Cup in the space of a few months, and is in a very exclusive club when it comes to winning major trophies for club and country.

Team

Goals

Bayern Munich

83

Real Madrid

10

Eintracht Braunschweig

10

Germany

10

Total

113

8 Steve Bruce - 114 goals

Steve Bruce

A top-class defender, Bruce also loved getting on the score sheet and he managed to do that 114 times during his football career. The Englishman started his career at Gillingham and played for Norwich City before joining Manchester United in 1988. He hit the back of the net on 52 occasions for the Red Devils and was their top goalscorer in the 1990/91 season as he notched 19 goals. After departing United in 1996, Bruce had short spells with Birmingham City and Sheffield United before hanging up his boots in 1999. Despite a quite brilliant career that saw him contribute both in defence and attack, Bruce never made an appearance for England, which was unfortunate. Because there's no doubt he's one of the best defenders we've ever seen in the Premier League.

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Team

Goals

Gillingham

38

Norwich City

21

Manchester United

52

Birmingham City

3

Sheffield United

0

Total

114

7 James Tavernier - 128 goals

James Tavernier

Pipping the legendary Franz Beckenbauer with an additional four goals is Rangers defender Tavernier. The Englishman often flew under the radar thanks to his low profile, but his goal return should certainly not be overlooked given he matches some of football's greatest-ever defenders. Signing for a mere £200,000 back in 2016, the Gers' captain, who often leads by example, has exceeded all expectations laid before him upon his Ibrox arrival and his tally in front of goal attests to that.

It may surprise some that despite his heroics for his club, he has never been selected to represent England at international level, which some football fans around the country have been left scratching their heads wondering why. But at the age of 32, and his Rangers contract set to expire in 2026, it's looking less likely that his England dream will become a reality.

Team

Goals

Rangers

120

Rotherham United

5

Carlisle United

0

Wigan Athletic

0

Bristol City

3

Gateshead FC

0

Sheffield Wednesday

0

Newcastle United

0

MK Dons

0

Shrewsbury Town

0

Total (As of 17/01/2024)

128

6 Graham Alexander - 130 goals

Graham Alexander

Alexander is widely regarded as one of the greatest penalty-takers in the history of football. The Scottish defender played for several clubs including Scunthorpe United, Luton Town, Preston North End and Burnley, and during his illustrious career, he successfully converted 77 out of the 85 penalties he took achieving an impressive success rate of over 90%, according to the Manchester Evening News. It is interesting to note that despite his remarkable prowess from the spot, Alexander failed to score a single penalty in the 40 appearances he made for his country. Now at the age of 52, Alexander is now the manager of MK Dons in League Two.

Team

Goals

Preston North End

65

Burnley

24

Luton Town

17

Scunthorpe

24

Total

130

5 Sergio Ramos - 138 goals

Sergio Ramos

This man needs no introduction. The legendary Sergio Ramos, along with Tavernier, are the only active players in the top 10. While the Spanish centre-back is in a team of players who have received the most red cards in history, he hit the back of the net on 101 occasions for Real Madrid, while he also scored 23 times for his country. After six goals in two seasons for Paris Saint-Germain - a modest tally by his standards - he will be looking to rediscover his goal-scoring touch at Sevilla. Now 37, it's unlikely that he will move further up this list unless he plays into his 40s.

Team

Goals

Sevilla

8

Real Madrid

101

Paris Saint-Germain

6

Spain

23

Total (As of 17/01/2024)

138

4 Laurent Blanc - 153 goals

Laurent Blanc

With 80 goals, Blanc remains Montpellier's record goal scorer. He scored over 10 league goals in four different seasons for the French club, with his best tally coming in the 1986–87 campaign where he hit the back of the net 18 times in 34 matches. Blanc went on to play for numerous top clubs including Napoli, Barcelona, Marseille and Inter Milan before hanging up his boots in 2003 following a short spell with Manchester United. The Frenchman also scored 16 times in 94 appearances for his country, and played a huge part in winning the World Cup in his home country in 1998.

Blanc played a huge part in that tournament - scoring the first-ever golden goal in World Cup history against Paraguay in the Round of 16. Sadly, he would go on to miss the final after being sent off in the semi-final against Croatia for slapping Slaven Bilić. The red card was only one of Blanc's international career. Despite Blanc's absence, France lifted the World Cup for the first time after defeating Brazil 3–0 at the Stade de France in Paris.

Team

Goals

Montpellier

80

Inter Milan

6

Marseille

19

Manchester United

4

Saint-Ettiene

17

Barcelona

1

Napoli

6

AJ Auxerre

4

France

16

Total

153

3 Fernando Hierro - 163 goals

Fernando Hierro

Fernando Hierro is undoubtedly a true legend of Real Madrid and is adored by the supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu to this day. He spent the majority of his career in Spain's capital city and made a significant contribution to the team's success. However, he also played for other clubs such as Valladolid, Al-Rayyan, and Bolton Wanderers.

One of Hierro's greatest strengths was his ability to score from set pieces, free-kicks, and penalties. His precision and accuracy were unmatched, and he was a constant threat to opposing teams. In fact, he scored a total of 127 goals for Real Madrid, making him one of the club's all-time top scorers. During a three-season spell between 1991 and 1994, Hierro scored an impressive 53 goals for the team.

Team

Goals

Valladolid

3

Real Madrid

127

Al-Rayyan

3

Bolton Wanderers

1

Spain

29

Total

163

2 Daniel Passarella - 175 goals

Daniel Passarella

Despite standing at just five foot eight inches, Pasarella managed to establish himself as one of the greatest centre-backs ever during a superb football career. While he was heroic as a defender, he was equally prolific when it came to scoring goals, having managed to hit the back of the net on 101 occasions for River Plate. Pasarella, who captained Argentina to World Cup glory in 1978 and also featured in their triumphant side in 1986, also bagged plenty of goals in Italian football with Fiorentina and Inter Milan. He was the highest-scoring defender in football history until he was overtaken by a certain Barcelona legend.

Team

Goals

Sarmiento

9

River Plate

94

Fiorentina

35

Inter Milan

15

Argentina

22

Total

175

1 Ronald Koeman - 253 goals

Ronald Koeman

To score 253 goals in any footballing capacity is an impressive feat, but for a defensive-minded player, it's nothing short of sensational. The Dutch maestro carved his name into the annals of footballing history during his time in his homeland, playing for clubs like Groningen, Ajax, and PSV. It was his goal-scoring prowess that caught the attention of the European giants. When Koeman made the move to Barcelona in 1989, expectations were sky-high. He did not disappoint, registering 88 remarkable goals in just six seasons. Among those goals, one stands head and shoulders above the rest: his iconic strike in the 1992 European Cup final.

With the game on a knife's edge against a resilient Sampdoria side, Koeman delivered when it mattered the most, netting a dramatic late winner that is still replayed in highlight reels today. This cemented his place as one of the greatest players to ever play for Barcelona.

Team

Goals

Barcelona

90

PSV Eindhoven

63

Ajax

31

Groningen

33

Feyenoord

22

Netherlands

14

Total

253