5 highest goalscoring goalkeepers

Goalkeeper is a player in soccer whose role is to stop the ball from entering the goal.

This is the definition that Google gave me when I pressed 'enter' on my keyboard after typing 'goalkeeper meaning' in the search bar. And then I went on to watch the video of Serie A side Benevento goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli scoring a goal in the 94th minute to salvage a point for his side. What an irony, isn't it?

Goalscoring is not at all a goalkeeper's thing, but some number ones have gone on to establish themselves as better goalscorers than shot stoppers. Here is a list of 5 goalkeepers who earned fame for their goalscoring skills:

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#5 Jorge Campos (40 goals)

Speaking of goalscoring goalkeepers, most think of number ones who scored from penalties, freekicks or even set pieces. While that is the case with most goalkeepers, Jorge Campos was different (like his self-designed kits).

Campos, who as Wikipedia told me is one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, sometimes used to remove his gloves and the goalkeeper kit in exchange of a number nine jersey. Yes, the Mexican not only used to play as a goalkeeper but also as a striker.

When he began his career in 1988 with Club de Futbol Universidad Nacional A.C or simply known as Pumas, he was only the second option to Adolfo Rios. Campos didn't like sitting on the bench and desperately wanted first team opportunities.

Instead of competing with Rios, the player asked for opportunities as a centre forward. The then 22-year-old player was deployed as a striker and surprisingly he scored 14 goals that season, even contending for the top goalscorer title.

Even though he earned a spot as first team goalkeeper in the following season, he was often used a forward throughout his career leading him to score 40 goals.

#4 Rene Higuita (41 goals)

The Colombian has scored 40 goals in his career

Rene Higuita liked to come off the line rather than just staying between the sticks and was rightly given the nickname 'El Loco' ("The Madman"). While he was mostly famous for his crazy scorpion kicks (like the one in the picture above), he was also popular for his goalscoring records.

The former Colombian international has scored a total of 41 goals during his 25-year-old professional career. Among the 41, three of them were scored for the national team.

Higuita played for a number of clubs, but spent most of his career with Colombian club Atletico National. The 51-year-old is currently the goalkeeping coach of the club.

Like most other goalscoring goalkeepers, he scored his goals from penalties and freekicks.

#3 Dimitar Ivankov (42 goals)

Dimitar Ivankov was clinical from the penalty spot

Bulgarian international Dimitar Ivankov is the only European in the list. During his 15-year-old career Ivankov played for four clubs, but about 10 years of those were spent at Levski Sofia.

The player who retired in 2011, scored 42 goals, all of them from the penalty spot. His ability to convert penalties made him the penalty taker for the clubs he played.

Ivankov's run-ups were a bit unique as he used to close his eyes while running towards the ball in order to confuse the opposition goalkeeper.

#2 Jose Luis Chilavert (67 goals)

Jose Luis Chilavert of Paraguay

Jose Luis Chilavert scored a total of 67 goals during his long career. The Paraguayan international holds the record for the most international goals scored by a goalkeeper (8 goals for Paraguay) and he is also the only goalkeeper to have scored a hat-trick.

The 52-year-old, who captained his national side in the FIFA World Cup of 1998 and 2002, had admitted that people used to scream at him when he would come out with the ball. However, Chilavert says that he believed in his abilities and even practiced taking penalties and freekicks.

In a match between his team Velez and Ferro Carril Oeste in 1999, Chilavert became the first goalkeeper to score a hat-trick after converting three penalties.

The player once also scored a freekick goal from his own half.

#1 Rogerio Ceni (131 goals)

It's hard to see anyone taking Ceni's spot soon

Rogerio Ceni began his career with Sinop Futebol Clube, but soon moved to Sao Paulo and remained there for about 25 years. The 44-year-old holds the record for the most goals scored by a goalkeeper by a big margin and it will be tough for anyone to take his spot anytime soon.

61 of Ceni's 131 goals came from free-kicks and 69 of them from penalties. It has to be noted that his free-kick conversion rate is as good as some of the legendary freekick takers (former Manchester United player David Beckham scored 65 freekick goals in his career).

Ceni has made 16 appearances for the Brazil national team, but was never able to showcase his goalscoring abilities with the Canarinho.

In December 2016, one year after his retirement, Ceni was appointed as Sao Paulo manager only to be sacked in July 2017. Currently he is the head coach of Brazilian Serie B side Fortaleza.