Who is the FIFA U-17 World Cup top scorer of all time? Ranking the tournament's 10 best finishers

The FIFA U-17 World Cup, formerly known as the U-16 World Championship, was first held in 1985 and renamed in 1991. The tournament is for players aged 17 and under and takes place every two years.

As youth football continues to develop rapidly, the U-17 tournament is seen as an important opportunity for young talents to make their mark and build their careers. However, not every player who shines at this level goes on to become a global star. In this article, nowgoal.pro shares a list of the FIFA U-17 World Cup top scorer of all time.

Who is the FIFA U-17 World Cup top scorer of all time?

Across the tournament’s 40-year history, Victor Osimhen holds the record for the most goals scored. In 2015, he netted 10 goals in a single U-17 World Cup campaign. His remarkable scoring helped Nigeria win the tournament and made him the first player to score in every match he played.

Thanks to this performance, Osimhen won several individual awards, including the Golden Boot, the Silver Ball as the second-best player of the tournament (behind teammate Kelechi Nwakali), and the CAF Young Player of the Year award in 2015. His career later flourished at club level, highlighted by leading Napoli to the Serie A title in the 2022/23 season.

Top 10 FIFA U-17 World Cup top scorers of all time

Second on the list is Souleymane Coulibaly, who impressed for Ivory Coast at the 2011 U-17 World Cup. He scored nine goals in just four matches, including two hat-tricks in consecutive games, one of them against Brazil U17. This remains a rare achievement in modern football.

Despite his explosive start, his professional career did not fully take off. He was signed by Tottenham Hotspur after the tournament but struggled for playing time, then played for several clubs across Italy, Scotland, Egypt, and Tunisia.

Like Coulibaly, Florent Sinama-Pongolle also scored nine goals and was once seen as a major hope for French football. At the 2001 U-17 World Cup, he scored nine goals in six matches and led France to the title after a 3-0 win over Nigeria in the final.

He won both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball at that tournament. Later, he enjoyed notable moments in his career, including being part of Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League-winning squad, where he scored a crucial goal against Olympiakos. He later played for clubs in Spain and Southeast Asia.

Johannes Moser represents the early years of the competition. At the 1985 edition, he scored eight goals in just three matches, giving him the highest scoring efficiency among players with at least five goals. Despite this, Austria were eliminated, and Moser did not go on to become a major star, spending most of his career in domestic football.

Rhian Brewster is the only English player on the list. At the 2017 tournament, he scored eight goals and helped England win the title alongside players such as Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Brewster won the Golden Boot and the Bronze Ball as the third-best player of the tournament. His club career has since been affected by injuries. After leaving Liverpool, he played for Sheffield United and later joined Derby County, where he continues to play in the Championship.

The only South American player mentioned is Agustin Ruberto, who stood out at the 2023 U-17 World Cup in Indonesia. He scored eight goals, including a hat-trick against Germany in a dramatic 3-3 semi-final. Although Argentina were eliminated, Ruberto made history by becoming the first Argentine to score a hat-trick in a World Cup semi-final at any level since 1930. Currently, he remains with River Plate and is expected to break into the first team in the near future. Many see him following a similar path to players such as Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez.

Top 10 FIFA U-17 World Cup top scorers of all time

1. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria U17, 10 goals)

2. Souleymane Coulibaly (Ivory Coast U17, 9 goals)

3. Florent Sinama-Pongolle (France U17, 9 goals)

4. Johannes Moser (Austria U17, 8 goals)

5. Rhian Brewster (England U17, 8 goals)

6. Agustín Ruberto (Argentina U17, 8 goals)

7. Marcel Witeczek (Germany U17, 8 goals)

8. Anísio (Portugal U17, 7 goals)

9. Valmir Berisha (Sweden U17, 7 goals)

10. Macauley Chrisantus (Nigeria U17, 7 goals)

NowGoal Pro has reviewed the FIFA U-17 World Cup top scorers of all time. While some went on to become stars, others faded quickly after early success. For more football predictions and information, please follow our page.