Most Prolific Striker in Internationals

Who is it?

Gerd Muller, Ferenc Puskas or Just Fontaine?

Fontaine only played 21 internationals, but scored 30 goals. Amazing strike-rate. Is that the best strike rate in international football? He was prolific in the World Cup finals in 1958 and in qualification for first European Nations Cup. Missed 5-4 defeat to Yugoslavia and 2-0 defeat to Czechoslovakia in final four.

Probably someone in 1890 or so had an even better record.

Ridiculous meaningless statistcs

Arthur Friedenreich?

Ali Daei or on goals a match Vivian John Woodward (Dunno when he played)

Name matches goals

Ali Daei (Irn) 149 109
Ferenc Puskas (Hun/Spa) 89 84
Pelé (Bra) 92 77
Bashar Abdullah (Kwt) 134 75
Sándor Kocsis (Hun) 68 75
Vivian John Woodward (Eng) 53 73
Hossam Hassan (Egy) 169 69
Gerd Müller (Ger) 62 68
Majed Abdullah (SAr) 139 67
Stern John (Tri) 101 67
Kiatisuk Senamuang (Tha) 130 65
Jassem Al-Houwaidi (Kwt) 74 63
Ronaldo (Bra) 97 62
Hussain Saeed Mohammed (Irk) 126 61
Imre Schlosser (Hun) 68 59
Gabriel Batistuta (Arg) 78 56
Jan Koller (Cze) 90 55
Bum-Kun Cha (SKo) 121 55
Kunishige Kamamoto (Jap) 61 55
Kazuyoshi Miura (Jap) 89 55
Romario (Bra) 70 55

Zizinhohakker wrote:Arthur Friedenreich?

I f@cked it up. Friedenreich was legendary for his goals in Brazilian League and not on the international level

It's the ratio of games played to goals scored that is impressive in Fontaine's case. 30 goals in only 21 matches. He scored in every round of the World Cup finals in 1958 and still holds the record for most goals in a World Cup finals - hardly meaningless as he did it on the biggest stage in football. Had to retire early due to injury, but still a phenomenal achievement. Puskas and other football greats played in same era. His ratio is better than Puskas, di Stefano, etc. They get respect. Fontaine deserves some too.

Don Leo wrote:Ali Daei or on goals a match Vivian John Woodward (Dunno when he played)

Name matches goals

Ali Daei (Irn) 149 109
Ferenc Puskas (Hun/Spa) 89 84
Pelé (Bra) 92 77
Bashar Abdullah (Kwt) 134 75
Sándor Kocsis (Hun) 68 75
Vivian John Woodward (Eng) 53 73
Hossam Hassan (Egy) 169 69
Gerd Müller (Ger) 62 68
Majed Abdullah (SAr) 139 67
Stern John (Tri) 101 67
Kiatisuk Senamuang (Tha) 130 65
Jassem Al-Houwaidi (Kwt) 74 63
Ronaldo (Bra) 97 62
Hussain Saeed Mohammed (Irk) 126 61
Imre Schlosser (Hun) 68 59
Gabriel Batistuta (Arg) 78 56
Jan Koller (Cze) 90 55
Bum-Kun Cha (SKo) 121 55
Kunishige Kamamoto (Jap) 61 55
Kazuyoshi Miura (Jap) 89 55
Romario (Bra) 70 55

Unless I have fucked up my maths Fontaine's record is the equialent of 75 goals in 52.5 matches.

.

(wrong thread)

EMP wrote:

Don Leo wrote:Ali Daei or on goals a match Vivian John Woodward (Dunno when he played)

Name matches goals

Ali Daei (Irn) 149 109
Ferenc Puskas (Hun/Spa) 89 84
Pelé (Bra) 92 77
Bashar Abdullah (Kwt) 134 75
Sándor Kocsis (Hun) 68 75
Vivian John Woodward (Eng) 53 73
Hossam Hassan (Egy) 169 69
Gerd Müller (Ger) 62 68
Majed Abdullah (SAr) 139 67
Stern John (Tri) 101 67
Kiatisuk Senamuang (Tha) 130 65
Jassem Al-Houwaidi (Kwt) 74 63
Ronaldo (Bra) 97 62
Hussain Saeed Mohammed (Irk) 126 61
Imre Schlosser (Hun) 68 59
Gabriel Batistuta (Arg) 78 56
Jan Koller (Cze) 90 55
Bum-Kun Cha (SKo) 121 55
Kunishige Kamamoto (Jap) 61 55
Kazuyoshi Miura (Jap) 89 55
Romario (Bra) 70 55

Unless I have fucked up my maths Fontaine's record is the equialent of 75 goals in 52.5 matches.

you didn't f@ck up

To me it doesn't really mean a lot as one month you're playing luxembourg and someone scores a hatrick and the next month you're playing germany where no-one scores.

Even in tournaments it depends on the luck of the draw because if you're in an easy group not only to you get to score a lot but it is easier for you to progress.

I remember the australians used to win their world cup qualifiers by 15-0 or more against the likes of the fiji islands so some of their players must have great records on the international level.

You can't compare different era's either. They used to score far more goals a match on average before the 70s.

Don Leo wrote:You can't compare different era's either. They used to score far more goals a match on average before the 70s.

exaclty was looking at the 1958 world cup scores the other day, it was rare for match to have under about 8 goals in it!

Stern John!

Its true, this guy has the all time world record for number of goals scored in competitive internationals, he only overtook Gerd Muller the other day!

Point is Puskas, di Stefano and others from that era get respect. Why not Fontaine? No need to compare eras. Just saying in his era he deserves some respect as his ratio is even better than theirs at that time. He did all that could be expected of him. Puskas scored his goals in same era and so did Sandor Kocsis. They are recognised as among the greatest players ever. Fontaine is worth discussing in that company.