2023, a calendar year with lots of superlatives seen in the world of football, has finally come to an end, meaning everyone must be wondering who is the global sports’ top scorer in 2023. In that regard, we at WatchWorldCup.org have come up with the list of the four most prolific goal scorers last year, and we can guarantee that football fans will be amazed with their outstanding yet consistent performances throughout the previous calendar year.
Football’s Top Scorer in 2023 (Top Four Ranked)
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (54 Goals in 59 Games)
Despite being 38 years of age, the leading goal scorer in men’s professional football from Portugal Ronaldo is football sports’ top scorer in 2023 with 54 goals. On his way to become the top scorer in 2023, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner contributed 44 goals of his total tally to his Saudi Pro League Al-Nassr, with the remaining goals scored during his tenure with the Portugal national team. Furthermore, the 50-goal target achieved in 2023 also meant he has attained the mark for the eighth time in his professional football career.
Ronaldo was delighted when speaking on his accolade as the top scorer in 2023. The captain of Portugal and Al-Nassr mentioned: “I’m very happy, it was a good year for me as an individual and as a collective. I scored so many goals, I helped the team a lot at Al-Nassr and for the national team. I feel good, I feel happy and next year I will try to do it again.”
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He just can't stop scoring 🔥
Cristiano Ronaldo is the world's top scorer in 2023 with 54 Goals 👑Congratulations GOAT 🐐 pic.twitter.com/3nv0TZdNV3
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) December 30, 2023
2. Kylian Mbappé (52 Goals in 53 Games)
Ronaldo certainly fended off some fierce competitions from his counterparts in European football clubs, while the second place of world football’s top scorer in 2023 is occupied by French captain Mbappé. The 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winner shrugged off a disappointing loss in the finale of the quadrennial tournament back in 2022 and produced a brilliant year in 2023, scoring a total of 52 goals in 53 games for France and defending French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
If we are only including players who are playing in Europe for club football in our list, then the 25-year-old Mbappé is without a doubt the top scorer in 2023. Despite registering the same amount of goals as Harry Kane, Mbappé played four lesser games than the England captain and probably would have broken Ronaldo’s record, had he been given the same number of matches in 2023.
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3. Harry Kane (52 Goals in 57 Games)
While Harry Kane may not be the top scorer in 2023, his statistics in 2023 are more than incredible, since the 30-year-old England striker needed no time to settle in his new life at German football after his transfer to leave boyhood club Tottenham Hotspur to join Bayern Munich at Bundesliga 1 last summer.
The England skipper netted 25, 18 and nine in a total of 57 club and country games in all competitions for the Bavarians, Spurs and the Three Lions in 2023, but what is more impressive is that with a ratio of 1.25 goals per game in 2023/2024, it is highly likely that Kane could be the top scorer in 2024, having missed out on this year’s crown by only a single goal. Bayern Munich certainly will be relying on Kane to continue their reign at the summit of the German top-flight football and to boost their quest of recapturing the UEFA Champions League title at the end of the current season.
4. Erling Haaland (50 Goals in 60 Games)
The most influential player in Manchester City’s record treble-winning season back in 2022/2023 is fourth top scorer in 2023 at 50 goals in 60 games in all competitions. The 23-year-old striker sensation had 44 goals for Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens, while the remaining six goals were registered under his time with the Norwegian national side. Since Haaland went back to his old self in the 2023/2024 Season, he could have overtaken Ronaldo as the top scorer in 2023, if it was not for his injury that prematurely ended his calendar year of 2023 earlier last month.
It is reported that Haaland, who has 19 goals in 22 matches in all tournaments in the 2023/2024 Season, will only be fit again later this month. “It’s not a stress or fracture but a question on when the pain will disappear. Hopefully [In January he will be back]. He has a stress, the bone is fit but painful. He’s not like [Phil] Foden who is small and skinny, Erling is huge so it’s difficult at times. He’ll be fine, and when he is he’ll be back and play. The doctors come every morning and say ‘This player is available and this one is not’. Until then, I create the team and we play games,” said Guardiola when asked about Haaland’s injury.
Erling Haaland is hoping to return next month. ‘It’s not a stress or fracture but a question of when the pain will disappear. Hopefully, [January]. He’s not like Foden, who is small and skinny; Erling is huge, so it’s difficult at times. He’ll be fine, and when he is,… pic.twitter.com/CgTYpwtPV4
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) December 28, 2023
There you have it folks, the top four scorers in 2023 for the sports of football. We hope that you have made the right prediction on the top scorer in 2023, but if you did not manage to do so, feel free to forecast the best performing striker in the calendar year of 2024 down in the comment section below now!
