When we talk about goalscorers in football, the names that come to mind are usually strikers and attacking midfielders. Fans think of players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Robert Lewandowski. But every once in a while, football surprises us with moments of pure magic when a goalkeeper gets on the scoresheet. These moments are rare, unforgettable, and often become iconic parts of football history.

From dramatic last-minute headers to unstoppable free-kicks and coolly taken penalties, some goalkeepers have gone far beyond their defensive duties. They have proven that even those who normally protect the goal can sometimes be the ones to change the scoreboard. In fact, a handful of extraordinary goalkeepers have built entire reputations on their ability to score.

This article counts down the 10 highest goalscoring goalkeepers in football history, starting from number 10 and moving all the way to the record-holder at number 1. Along the way, you’ll discover fascinating stories about how these players managed to defy the odds and add goals to their already impressive careers.

Why Goalkeepers Scoring Goals is So Special

The rarity of the event makes it so memorable. For example, Liverpool supporters still talk about Alisson Becker’s stoppage-time header against West Bromwich Albion in 2021. In that moment, Alisson became the first goalkeeper in Liverpool’s long history to score a competitive goal — and he did it in the dying seconds to keep his team’s Champions League hopes alive.

Fast forward to 2023, Lazio fans had their own miracle when Ivan Provedel, of all people, scored a 95th-minute equalizer against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League group stage. The Stadio Olimpico erupted in disbelief, and Provedel became only the fourth goalkeeper ever to score in the competition.

But while such rare, one-off moments are unforgettable, what makes the highest goalscoring goalkeepers truly special is that they managed to score consistently throughout their careers. Whether through penalties, free-kicks, or even ambitious long shots, these players proved that they could do far more than just make saves.

Table: The 10 Highest Goalscoring Goalkeepers of All Time

RankGoalkeeperGoals ScoredNationalityNotable ClubsYears Active10Dragan Pantelić26YugoslaviaRadnički Niš, Bordeaux1971–19859Misael Alfaro31El SalvadorLuis Ángel Firpo, Águila1988–20108Fernando Patterson35Costa RicaClub Xelajú MC1989–20137Hans-Jörg Butt37GermanyHamburg, Leverkusen, Bayern1994–20126Márcio40BrazilAtlético Goianiense1999–20195Johnny Vegas Fernández41PeruSport Boys, Unión Huaral1991–20174Dimitar Ivankov42BulgariaLevski Sofia, Kayserispor1991–20113René Higuita43ColombiaAtlético Nacional, Real Valladolid1985–20092José Luis Chilavert67ParaguayVélez Sarsfield, Zaragoza1982–20041Rogério Ceni129BrazilSão Paulo1990–2015

10. Dragan Pantelić — 26 Goals

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Dragan Pantelić was one of the earliest examples of a goalkeeper who loved to get involved in scoring. Playing mainly for Radnički Niš in Yugoslavia, he scored 26 career goals, an impressive feat during an era when goalkeepers rarely left their penalty box.

Pantelić was known for his penalty-taking ability, but his most famous goal came from open play — a booming clearance from his own area that sailed over everyone and into the opposition’s net. That moment alone cemented his reputation as one of the bravest and most audacious keepers of his generation.

He later played in France with Bordeaux and represented Yugoslavia 19 times, scoring twice for the national team. Pantelić may be number 10 on this list, but he was one of the first to show what a goalkeeper could achieve beyond shot-stopping.

9. Misael Alfaro — 31 Goals

El Salvador’s Misael Alfaro scored 31 goals during his club career, primarily from the penalty spot. Unlike some goalkeepers, however, Alfaro also found ways to score from open play, adding variety to his tally.

He represented El Salvador 42 times at the international level, though he never managed to score for his country. His club career was tragically cut short in 2010 after a severe neck injury, forcing him into early retirement.

Alfaro’s intelligence on the pitch made him a natural coach after retiring. He transitioned smoothly into management and has continued to shape Salvadoran football. His legacy as one of the highest goalscoring goalkeepers in Central America remains intact.

8. Fernando Patterson — 35 Goals

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Costa Rican goalkeeper Fernando Patterson scored 35 goals, most of them while playing in Guatemala. His longest and most successful stint came with Club Xelajú MC, where he became something of a cult hero.

While Patterson only made one appearance for Costa Rica at the international level, his club exploits made him famous. His tally grew further after IFFHS began including goals from friendly matches in their statistics, which highlighted just how consistently he found the net.

For Xelajú, Patterson was more than just a goalkeeper — he was a scoring threat, especially when the team needed a miracle. That kind of dual role is rare in football, and it made Patterson one of the most versatile keepers in the game.

7. Hans-Jörg Butt — 37 Goals

Hans-Jörg Butt’s name is synonymous with penalty-taking goalkeepers in Europe. Over his career, he scored 37 goals, mostly from the penalty spot, while playing in the Bundesliga for Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen, and Bayern Munich.

Butt’s record in the Champions League makes him unique: he is the only goalkeeper to score three goals in the competition, and all three came against Juventus, playing for three different clubs. That quirky fact alone makes him a legend in football trivia circles.

Of course, Butt wasn’t perfect. He missed five penalties in his career and once conceded directly after celebrating a goal. But his consistency and bravery made him one of the standout figures in German football history.

6. Márcio — 40 Goals

Brazilian goalkeeper Márcio scored 40 career goals, most of them with Atlético Goianiense. Over 500 appearances for the club, he netted 37 goals, and his influence helped the team climb from the lower leagues of Brazil into the top flight.

Márcio’s goals often came from penalties, but he was also capable of scoring free-kicks, displaying the technical ability so often associated with Brazilian footballers. His reliability made him an invaluable part of Atlético Goianiense’s rise to prominence.

He later added three more goals across spells with other clubs before retiring in 2019. His story is a testament to how a goalkeeper’s leadership and set-piece ability can change a club’s fortunes.

5. Johnny Vegas Fernández — 41 Goals

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Peruvian goalkeeper Johnny Vegas Fernández racked up 41 goals during a career that spanned more than two decades. Playing for 15 different clubs, he became a true journeyman but maintained his reputation as a goal threat.

Vegas scored many of his goals from penalties, but unlike others on this list, he also managed nine from open play — an unusually high number for a goalkeeper. That made him unpredictable and exciting to watch.

He played most prominently for Sport Boys Association, where he made more than 150 appearances. He also represented Peru three times internationally. While not as famous as some others on this list, Vegas’s numbers earn him a rightful spot among the highest goalscoring goalkeepers in history.

4. Dimitar Ivankov — 42 Goals

Bulgarian goalkeeper Dimitar Ivankov was another penalty specialist, scoring 42 goals across his club career. He never managed to score for the Bulgarian national team despite making 64 appearances, but domestically, he was prolific.

Ivankov enjoyed his most successful years with Levski Sofia, where he won three Bulgarian league titles. He later moved to Turkey with Kayserispor and Bursaspor, where his goals and penalty-saving heroics made him a legend.

One of his most memorable moments came in the 2008 Turkish Cup final, where he both scored and saved penalties in a marathon shootout that finished 11–10. His leadership and scoring ability made him one of the greatest keepers in Eastern European football.

3. René Higuita — 43 Goals

René Higuita, famously nicknamed El Loco (The Madman), is remembered as much for his eccentric style as for his goals. The Colombian keeper scored 43 goals, many of them from free-kicks and penalties.

Higuita will forever be remembered for his outrageous “scorpion kick” save against England in 1995, but his scoring record is equally impressive. He netted three times for Colombia and even scored from his own penalty area while playing club football in Colombia.

His risk-taking sometimes backfired, such as during the 1990 World Cup when his infamous mistake against Cameroon led to elimination. But his flair and goal-scoring exploits have made him a cult hero in football history.

2. José Luis Chilavert — 67 Goals

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Paraguay’s José Luis Chilavert is one of the most iconic figures on this list. He scored 67 goals in his career, becoming the only goalkeeper in history to score a hat-trick — achieved for Vélez Sarsfield in 1999, when he converted three penalties in a single match.

Chilavert was known for his powerful free-kicks and penalties, scoring regularly for both club and country. He represented Paraguay 74 times, adding eight goals for the national team. His leadership, combined with his scoring ability, made him one of the greatest South American goalkeepers of all time.

He also pulled off extraordinary feats, such as scoring from inside his own half. Chilavert’s confidence and skill ensured that he would always be remembered as one of the highest goalscoring goalkeepers in football history.

1. Rogério Ceni — 129 Goals

At number one, by a staggering margin, is Brazil’s Rogério Ceni. With 129 career goals, Ceni is not just the most prolific goalkeeper of all time — he is one of the most prolific set-piece takers in football history, period.

Ceni played over 1,000 matches for São Paulo, where he was the undisputed number one for nearly two decades. Unlike many keepers who limited themselves to penalties, Ceni was a true free-kick maestro. He scored dozens of stunning strikes from outside the box, curling the ball past helpless goalkeepers as if he were an attacking midfielder.

He reached his 100th goal in 2011 with a trademark free-kick against Corinthians, São Paulo’s bitter rivals. That moment was celebrated across Brazil as a historic achievement. His consistency, accuracy, and longevity ensure that his record will likely never be broken.

Ceni is the ultimate example of how a goalkeeper can completely redefine expectations. He stands alone at the top of the list of the highest goalscoring goalkeepers.

While goalkeepers are primarily tasked with preventing goals, this list proves that some of them have found ways to leave their mark on the scoresheet. From pioneers like Dragan Pantelić to icons like Chilavert and Ceni, these players redefined what it means to be a goalkeeper.

Among them all, Rogério Ceni’s record of 129 goals is in a league of its own, and it’s hard to imagine anyone ever surpassing him. But whether it’s a single last-minute header or a career filled with penalties and free-kicks, when a goalkeeper scores, it becomes a moment that fans cherish forever.

The beauty of football lies in its unpredictability. And thanks to the exploits of the highest goalscoring goalkeepers, we are reminded that heroes can come from anywhere on the pitch — even the very last line of defense.

FAQ

Who is the highest goalscoring goalkeeper in football history?

The record belongs to Rogério Ceni, the Brazilian legend who scored 129 career goals, mainly from free-kicks and penalties while playing for São Paulo.

Has any goalkeeper ever scored a hat-trick?

Yes, José Luis Chilavert from Paraguay is the only goalkeeper in football history to score a hat-trick, all from penalties in one match for Vélez Sarsfield in 1999.

How do goalkeepers usually score goals?

Most goalkeeper goals come from penalties and free-kicks, though some have scored from long kicks or even dramatic headers during the final minutes of a game.