Ranking 5 forwards with the most match-winning goals in club football in the 21st century

Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? Who has scored the most match-winning goals?
Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? Who has scored the most match-winning goals?

#3 Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 155 goals

SSC Napoli v AC Milan - Serie A
SSC Napoli v AC Milan - Serie A

Despite being 40, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still going strong at the top level and is currently plying his trade in Serie A with AC Milan. One of the most consistent performers of the 21st century, the Swedish striker has played for a host of top European clubs and won league titles in four different countries.

Ibrahimovic has plied his trade for the likes of Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris-Saint Germain, Manchester United and LA Galaxy during a glorious two-decade long career. The forward has scored 485 goals in club football, with 156 of those strikes coming for Ligue 1 giants PSG.

Considering Zlatan's personality and a penchant for grabbing focus, it's no surprise that the striker has stepped up during crucial moments for his team. He has scored a staggering 155 match-winning goals in club football, with almost one-third of them coming during his time at the Parc des Princes.

Zlatan has won almost all the domestic trophies there are to win during his club career. But the coveted Champions League trophy has eluded him. Nevertheless, the former Malmo man played a big part in Milan's return to the Champions league this season and will be hoping to make a mark on the European stage.


#2 Lionel Messi - 182 goals

FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad - La Liga
FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad - La Liga

One of the best players to ever play the game, Lionel Messi had an eventful summer as the Argentinian left Barcelona. Due to Barcelona's financial condition, Messi was forced to leave and the Argentina superstar joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free-transfer.

Messi was without a doubt the go-to player for the Blaugrana for well over a decade. The 34-year-old scored some of the crucial match-winning goals in the club's history.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner took Barcelona home on numerous occasions. His most memorable winner was perhaps the late winner at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2017, which resulted in that iconic shirt celebration. He also scored the winner against Levante in 2019 which resulted in Barcelona clinching the La Liga title.

Most recently, Messi scored the decisive penalty for PSG that helped them secure an important 3-2 Champions League win against RB Leipzig. The strike took his tally of match-winning goals in club football to 182.

Having finally won an international trophy (Copa America) with Argentina this summer, Messi is the favorite to win his record seventh Ballon d'Or next month.


#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - 212 goals

Manchester United v Atalanta: Group F - UEFA Champions League
Manchester United v Atalanta: Group F - UEFA Champions League

No surprises here. Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo tops this list, having scored a staggering 212 match-winning goals during his club career. The Manchester United star is a man for the big stage and has proved it with crucial goals time and again.

Whether it's pressure penalties, last-minute winners or sealing comebacks, Ronaldo has done it all and is without a doubt the biggest clutch player of the 21st century. The 36-year-old has made a name for himself as one of the big-game players in the sport with a host of match-defining goals for Portugal, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus.

His most recent match-winner against Atalanta was his 42nd winner in Champions League history, while his rival Lionel Messi is just behind him on 39.

Ronaldo continues to deliver in the big-moments for his team and there's no denying that he is the biggest match-winner in club football at the moment.

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Edited by Nived Zenith
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