Last updated: 14/03/2025 at 11:30am
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.
Keep reading to find out the top FA Cup scorers of all time, and how you can still book hospitality for the upcoming FA Cup semi-final and final matches at Wembley Stadium.
Book FA Cup hospitalityFA Cup Best Scorers in Order
No. 10: Wayne Rooney
23 goals
Wayne Rooney is one of the most well-known English footballers of all time, becoming a household name for his impressive goalscoring for Manchester United and the England national team. Rooney has appeared in 49 FA Cup games, scoring 23 goals in total.
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.
No. 9: Malcolm Macdonald
24 goals
Malcolm Macdonald was given the nickname ‘Supermac’ for a reason – he is still Newcastle United’s fifth top goalscorer of all time even when the height of his career was in the 1970s. He also played for Fulham, Luton Town, and Arsenal before retiring at 29.
In the FA Cup, Macdonald scored a total of 24 goals over 30 appearances, his main position being centre-forward.
No. 8: Mark Hughes
25 goals
Manchester United and Chelsea legend Mark Hughes comes in at 8th on the list, with 25 FA Cup goals in 69 appearances. He is now manager of Carlisle United, having retired as a footballer in 2002.
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.
No. 7: John Barnes
27 goals
John Barnes was a left-midfield, born in Kingston, Jamaica but playing for Watford, Liverpool. Newcastle United, Charlton Athletic, and the England national team. He scored an impressive 27 goals over 86 appearances in the FA Cup, even winning two FA Cups with Liverpool.
After 20 years as a player, Barnes retired in 1999 and now works as an author and commentator and pundit for ESPN and SuperSport where his legacy lives on.
No. 6: Alan Shearer
27 goals
Alan Shearer is regarded as one of the best strikers of all time, and his goals in the FA Cup are a testament to this, landing him at number six on the list. 27 goals in 58 appearances, famously playing for Newcastle United for most of his professional career.
Despite his impressive scoring, Shearer is another player 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.
No. 5: Frank Lampard
27 goals
Chelsea icon Frank Lampard found the net 27 times in his 72 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.
No. 4: Teddy Sheringham
29 goals
Although the bulk of his career was spent with Millwall and Tottenham Hotspur, 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.
No. 3: Jimmy Greaves
32 goals
Jimmy Greaves scored 32 goals in 37 FA Cup appearances, an incredible statistic that puts him at number three on this list. Greaves was easily one of England’s best players of all time, and is still so high up on the list despite retiring in 1980.
Most of Greaves’ FA Cup wins came while he was playing for Tottenham Hotspurs, and he also played for Chelsea and West Ham during his career.
No. 2: Denis Law
34 goals
No. 1: Ian Rush
41 goals
Ian Rush is 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 41 times in 73 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.
Get FA Cup tickets
The 2025 FA Cup semi-finals and final are fast approaching as the tournament starts to hot up and things get serious. Don’t miss what promises to be a thrilling match and book your hospitality tickets with Seat Unique now.
Get premium seating at the iconic Wembley Stadium, with padded seats and unparalleled views of the pitch. Early access before the game will start your matchday off right, as you enjoy a pre-match meal and complimentary bar. With dedicated hosts to take care of you, it’ll be an unforgettable event.
Hospitality packages for the 2025 FA Cup are on sale at Seat Unique now, so don’t delay and purchase your tickets now to avoid disappointment.
Book FA Cup hospitality
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