In this article, Sports Buddy looks at the highest scoring footballers without a trophy in the 21st century.
Many individuals have built their careers on scoring goals, but some wish those achievements had translated into trophies.
The most prolific scorers often have trophy-laden careers, as goals win matches and successful teams typically win silverware. However, there are exceptions—players who were prolific at mid-table clubs or simply never saw the stars align.
Harry Kane’s career is frequently discussed in mixed terms despite his impressive goalscoring records. The Bayern Munich forward is set to finish his first season in Bavaria without any silverware, a surprising outcome given that many believed his move from Tottenham to Germany was motivated by a desire to win trophies.
Kane holds numerous records but has consistently fallen short in tournaments. He is not the only player of the modern era to score prolifically yet lacks silverware to show for it.
Across Europe’s top leagues, numerous plfootballers ayers have surpassed the 100-goal mark, with some even exceeding 200 goals. Here, we examine those prolific scorers whose goals did not translate into trophies
Highest scoring footballers without at least a trophy in this century
Below are the highest scoring footballers without a trophy at least in desending order, as per The Mirror:
10. Luis Muriel – 140 goals
The Colombian forward has had a well-traveled career, primarily in Italy with a brief stint in Spain. He enjoyed his best season at Atalanta, breaking the 20-goal barrier for the only time in his career. Despite often playing for teams aiming to challenge the establishment, Muriel was unable to secure any silverware.
9. Dimitri Payet – 142 goals
His exploits at West Ham ensure his place in Premier League history, though his time in England was brief. Known more for his creative flair, Payet was hugely influential at Lille and Marseille, where he had two spells. He reached a Europa League final and finished second at Euro 2016 with France, but couldn’t claim glory in either competition.
7. Vedad Ibisevic – 156 goals
6. Stefan Kiessling – 177 goals
The German striker rose through the ranks at Nürnberg before transferring to Bayer Leverkusen, where he spent over a decade. Kiessling was part of the national team that finished third in the 2010 World Cup, following one of his best seasons in which he surpassed the 20-goal mark for the first time. The closest he came to winning a major trophy was finishing as runner-up in the German Cup.
5. Son Heung-min – 211 goals
He’s not the first player with Tottenham connections to make the list. The South Korean impressed during his Bundesliga tenure, but he’s reached new heights in England. Often the supporting act to Kane, Son has now become the main man and a consistent goal scorer. His efforts helped his team reach the European Cup final in 2019, though they fell short of winning the title.
4. Aritz Aduriz – 221 goals
The striker spent the early part of his career in Spain’s Basque region, where he enjoyed the best days of his playing career. Despite his time at Valencia, he couldn’t secure any silverware. He later led the line for Athletic Bilbao, achieving his most prolific season at the age of 35. The closest he came to a major trophy was earning a Copa del Rey runners-up medal.
3. Antonio Di Natale – 247 goals
One of Italy’s loyal servants, he spent much of his career at Udinese, where at their peak, they were vying for Champions League qualification. Di Natale remained their key player, but winning trophies with the Serie A club was always a challenge, leaving him without any major honors.
2. Wissam Ben Yedder – 258 goals
The Frenchman made his name at Toulouse and is now at Monaco, following a stint in Spain with Sevilla. He’s been a consistent goal scorer throughout his career, but he missed Sevilla’s Europa League triumph, joining shortly after their victory. At Monaco, he has been prolific, netting 117 times in under five seasons, yet remains without a trophy to his name.
1. Harry Kane – 324 goals
