FA Cup Top Scorers: The Cup’s Most Formidable Finishers

Take a look back at some of the most deadly finishers ever in the FA Cup, as we list the top 10 scorers in the competition's history and how you can get VIP tickets to watch the cup live.

The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world, and it has seen some of the games greatest players grace its stage over the years.

One of the most impressive feats in the history of the competition is the number of goals some players have scored in it. In this blog, we will be taking a look at 10 of the most lethal FA Cup scorers of all time.

From legends of the game to lesser-known goal poachers, the list features some of the most prolific goal scorers in the history of English football. These players have scored goals in some of the most memorable FA Cup matches, and their exploits have gone down in footballing folklore.

We'll explore each player’s record, achievements and memorable moments. So, let's dive into the top 10 FA Cup top scorers of all time and celebrate their incredible feats.

10. Peter Crouch

Goals: 18 | Games: 44 | FA Cup titles: 1

At number 10 we have England icon Peter Crouch. The 6 ft 7 talisman netted 18 times in his 44 FA Cup appearances for a whopping 6 different clubs, the most on our list.

Crouch started his career at Tottenham Hotspur, before making moves to a number of different clubs including Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Norwich, Liverpool, and Spurs again before settling at Stoke City.

The striker scored most of his FA Cup goals wearing the colours of Liverpool and Stoke, netting 5 times for each. Crouch also won the competition in the 05/06 season with Liverpool, scoring 3 goals along the way.

9. Teddy Sheringham

Goals: 18 | Games: 35 | FA Cup titles: 1

In at number 9 is Tottenham and Manchester United legend Teddy Sheringham. The physical cockney striker scored a respectable 18 times in his 35 FA Cup appearances.

Sheringham spent the bulk of his career playing in the white of Millwall and Tottenham Hotspur, and was a prolific striker for both teams, scoring a combined 235 goals.

Although the bulk of his career was spent with those two clubs, it was with Manchester United that Sheringham won his first and only FA Cup title.

The London-born forward came off the bench to score United’s opening goal in a 2-0 defeat of Newcastle United in the 1998/99 season, winning his first ever major trophy, and the first of many with the Red Devils.  

8. Jackie Milburn

Goals: 19 | Games: 34 | FA Cup titles: 3

Next up on the list is Newcastle United legend and second all time highest scorer Jackie Milburn. The modest centre forward spent 14 years in the black and white of Newcastle United, scoring over 170 times for The Magpies including 19 times in his 34 FA Cup appearances.

Milburn won a hat-trick of FA Cup’s in his career, with all three of them coming in the space of 5 years. The Ashington-born forward scored both goals in Newcastle's 1951 FA Cup Final win over Blackpool, and also netted the fastest ever goal at Wembley to open the scoring in their 1955 victory over Manchester City.

Jackie Milburn is a true legend of the game, and has been immortalised in a statue at St James Park, as well as having the West Stand of the stadium named in his honour.        

7. Mark Hughes

Goals: 20 | Games: 51 | FA Cup titles: 4

Manchester United and Chelsea legend Mark Hughes comes in at 7th on the list, with 20 FA Cup goals in 51 appearances.

The fiery Welshman made over 440 combined appearances for the Red Devils and The Blues, picking up 14 winners' medals. The lethal finisher went one better than the last man on the list, boasting four FA Cup wins, in 1885, 1990, 1994 and 1997.

The striker scored twice in the 1990 final, including a dramatic late equaliser to send the tie to a replay, which United won 1-0 to claim the cup. Hughes also scored one of Man U’s 4 goals in their 1995 FA Cup final thrashing of Chelsea, to further cement his place as a cup legend.  

6. Sergio Aguero

Goals: 20 | Games: 22 | FA Cup titles: 1

Next up on the list is the player with the best goals to games ratio out of the top 10 scorers, Sergio Aguero.

The Manchester City hero spent 10 years at the Sky Blues scoring 260 times. The lethal poacher and City’s all time top scorer hit a superb 20 goals in 22 games in the FA Cup, an utterly ridiculous statistic.

The Argentinian won his only FA Cup medal in the 2018/19 season when City pummelled Watford 6-0 in the final, and remarkably he didn’t end up on the scoresheet that day.      

5. Jermain Defoe

Goals: 22 | Games: 39 | FA Cup titles: 0

At the midway point of the list is Jermain Defoe OBE, one of the most underrated strikers in football history who also features on our list of top Carabao Cup scorers.

The Tottenham and England ace hit the back of the net 305 times in his career, including 22 times in 39 FA Cup outings. Defoe is one of two players on this list that has never won the prestigious cup.

He was a part of the Portsmouth team that won the 2008 FA Cup, but was cup tied from playing any part in the action and subsequently did not receive a winners medal.    

4. Wayne Rooney

Goals: 23 | Games: 49 | FA Cup titles: 1

Coming in at number 4 is England and Manchester United’s all time leading goal scorer Wayne Rooney, with 23 goals in his 49 FA Cup games.

The Liverpool-born forward turned midfielder is the second highest scorer in Premier League history and spent most of his career at the Red Devils, cementing his place as one of their greatest ever players and scoring 253 times.

Rooney picked up 17 major trophies in his time at United, including the 2016 FA Cup which he lifted as the team's captain to complete his dominance over English football.

3. Alan Shearer

Goals: 25 | Games: 48 | FA Cup titles: 0

In third place with 25 goals in 48 games we have the legendary Alan Shearer, one of the greatest strikers ever to grace the English game.

The Geordie marksman started his career at Southampton before moving to Blackburn Rovers, for whom he made 162 appearances. His prolific scoring and unlikely Premier League win with Blackburn earned him the title of one of the best strikers in the world.

The robust goal machine returned to his hometown club Newcastle United in 1996 and went on to play for The Magpies for 10 years. In that time he netted 206 goals and became their all time leading scorer, as well as the Premier Leagues all time top scorer with 260 goals.

Despite his impressive scoring, Shearer is the second man on this list without an FA Cup title. He came close twice, finishing as the runner-up in 1998 and 1999 but never got the honour of lifting the cup.      

2. Frank Lampard

Goals: 27 | Games: 68 | FA Cup titles: 4

Coming in at number 2 is Chelsea icon Frank Lampard, who found the net 27 times in his 68 FA Cup games, a feat made even more impressive by the fact he was a midfielder!

Lampard is considered one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, and his tenacity and insane scoring record backs up that statement. He is Chelsea’s all time leading scorer with 211 goals, and the Premier League’s top scoring midfielder ever.

The midfield maestro join’s Mark Hughes with 4 FA Cup titles, lifting the trophy in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012. Lampard played a vital part in all of those games, and scored the winner in the 2009 final.    

1. Ian Rush

Goals: 40 | Games: 65 | FA Cup titles: 3

Taking the top spot we have Welsh wizard Ian Rush, one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players and probably the most prolific cup player in history, with the most goals in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup!

Rush made over 400 appearances for the Reds and stands out on his own in the list of FA Cup top goal scorers, finding the net an unbelievable 40 times in 65 games in the competition.

The forward won the FA Cup three times in his career, in 1986, 1989 and 1992, scoring twice in the 86 final, twice in the 89 final and once in the 92 final.

The 2023 FA Cup is really starting to hot up this year as we enter the latter stages of the competition. Now only 4 teams remain, with 4 of the big 6 teams already dumped out of the competition, but who will reach the FA Cup Final and take the glory come the end of the season?

The ties are set and the FA Cup Semi-Finals will take place at the end of April. For all the details about the remainder of the 2023 FA Cup campaign, check out our blog.

If you're looking to attend an FA Cup game this season, why not take your matchday to unrivalled new levels with an FA Cup VIP ticket or hospitality package from Seat Unique?

Enjoy one of the highlights of the English football season with an added level of VIP luxury as you benefit from premium inclusions* such as:

• An overnight stay in a hotel.
• VIP entry and exit from the venue.
• Premium padded seating.
• A selection of delicious dining options.
• Access to VIP lounges and private bars.
• Complimentary beverages such as beer, wine and soft drinks.

*The listed inclusions are a mixture of the inclusions for all of the different packages, and specific inclusions will vary depending on venue and choice of package.

Book your FA Cup Semi-Final tickets through Seat Unique now so you don't miss out! Please note these tickets are for buyers outside of the UK only.

FA Cup Finals tickets are also available for purchase now on our website, get your now for one of the biggest sporting events of the year. Please note these tickets are for buyers outside of the UK only.