9 Greatest South African Goalscorers Of All-Time

South African Soccer has produced a series of talented goalscorers who have proven prolific for their club sides and on the international stage too. A select few have even departed their home nation and ventured into European soccer to great success.

But who are the 9 greatest South African goalscorers of all-time?

9. Siphwe Tshabalala

Siphwe Tshabalala played for the likes of Free State Stars and Kaizer Chiefs, scoring 81 times and winning the Absa Premiership title. For South Africa, he netted 12 goals in 90 caps, most notably the opening goal of the 2010 FIFA World Cup against Mexico.

8. Percy Tau

Forward Percy Tau won both a Belgian Pro League title whilst at Club Brugge and 2023’s CAF Champions League with Al Ahly. He struck 16 times in 49 caps for South Africa, forming part of the national side that won 2018’s Four Nations Tournament and then finished third at the African Cup of Nations in 2023.

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7. Sibusiso Zuma

Sibusiso Zuma scored 13 goals in 66 games for South Africa. He played for his country at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and captained South Africa at the 2006 African Cup of Nations. Zuma hit 133 goals in 446 appearances for teams such as Orlando Pirates, F.C Copenhagen and Vasco de Gama.

6. Siyabonga Nomvethe

Siyabonga Nomvethe scored 16 goals in 81 appearances for his country. During the 2002 World Cup in South Korea, he hit a winning goal against Slovenia and named PSL Soccer Player of the Year in 2012. For the likes of Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows and Ama Zulu, Nomvethe scored 154 times in 459 games.

5. Phil Masinga

Phil Masinga has 18 strikes for South Africa in 54 international matches and was part of their 1996 African Cup of Nations winning team. He played for sides such as Jomo Cosmos, Mamelodi Sundowns and even Leeds United, scoring 154 goals in 328 games. In January 2019, Masinga died after being admitted to hospital due to cancer.

4. Bernard Parker

Bernard Parker hit 23 goals in 73 caps playing for South Africa. His finest international season was 2013 when he scored a total of 7 goals including four during 2014 World Cup qualifying. Parker netted 94 goals for the likes of Thanda Royal Zulu, Kaizer Chiefs and also won an Eredivisie title with FC Twente in 2010.

3. Katlego Mphela

Scoring 23 goals in 57 games for South Africa, Katlego Mphela’s standout international moment came during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup third-place playoff versus Spain, coming on as a substitute to score his free kick from 30 yards. He found the net 78 times in 247 club appearances and most notably for South African club Mamelodi Sundowns.

2. Shaun Bartlett

Shaun Bartlett scored 29 times in 74 caps for a South African side that claimed victory at the African Cup of Nations in 1996. He registered 129 goals across 422 matches for the likes of Cape Town Spurs, FC Zurich and Charlton Athletic. Bartlett has won a Swiss Cup and was voted as scoring 2000-01’s BBC Goal of the Season whilst in English soccer.

1. Benni McCarthy

South Africa’s top goalscorer of all-time is Benni McCarthy. He won 79 caps for the national team and scored 31 international goals in the process. The striker has registered 153 strikes in 422 matches for teams such as Porto, Ajax and Celta Vigo. McCarthy claimed an Eredivisie and Primeira League title alongside 2004’s Champions League.