Scoring a goal for your country stands as one of the greatest honours in football. For Australia a select group of legendary players turned that honour into a habit.

These men make up the top 10 all-time goal scorers for the Socceroos and were remarkable athletes who did much more than simply find the back of the net. 

When you take a closer look, you’ll see players that defined entire Green and Gold eras. Their goals delivered massive victories during vital World Cup qualification campaigns, Confederation Cup runs and of course a famous 2015 Asian Cup win. 

From towering headers, to clutch penalties to stunning volleys, no type of goal was too much to ask for this lot and they usually always found the back of the net when it mattered most.

As we explore the stories of these prolific scorers, you will discover the skill, dedication, and willpower that made them true icons of the game Down Under. So, without further ado, here are the top 10 all-time Australian goal scorers.

Top 10 All Time Australian Goal Scorers 

10. Graham Arnold – 19 Goals 

Kicking things off with the man who led Australia to the last World Cup. Now bound for another World Cup, but as the mentor of Iraq, before he was a coach, Graham Arnold was an Aussie player and a prolific one at that.

He scored 19 goals across 56 appearances, first opening his account in 1985. After more than a decade on the international stage he scored his final goal for the national team in 1997, wrapping up a stellar run in the Green and Gold.

Best remembered as a classic target man who used his physical strength to unsettle defenders and create space. Arnold played a massive role in helping Australia reach the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul and also featured heavily in crucial World Cup qualification campaigns throughout the 1990s.

9. Mile Jedinak – 20 Goals 

From a former Australian coach to a former Australian captain, Mile Jedinak slots in at number nine on Australia’s all-time goal scoring list, despite predominantly playing in defensive positions.

His set piece ability is the main reason for his tally, and he was charged again and again with the responsibility of converting from the spot whenever Australia won a penalty. 

He scored three World Cup goals for Australia all from the penalty spot and was captain of the team when they lifted the 2015 Asian Cup trophy.

8. David Zdrilic – 20 Goals 

Arguably the most prolific man on this list, yet he only comes in at No.8, David Zdrilic really made the most of his limited time in Green and Gold.

The man they call Zdrilla, scored 20 times in just 30 appearances, however it does help when you bag eight in a single match. 

Yes, Archie Thompson wasn’t the only one to take advantage of American Samoa’s shortcomings as a footballing nation, but more on that later.

They all count and David Zdrilic was the definition of a natural finisher and rightfully takes his place on this list. 

7. Brett Emerton – 20 Goals 

Throughout his career Brett Emerton often wore the No.7 on his back, so it’s rather fitting that he comes in at that number here.

Emerton also found the back of the net on 20 occasions during his international career, scoring some absolute beauties from the right wing. 

Emerton played a massive role during the historic 2006 World Cup qualification campaign and proudly represented the nation at both the 2006 and 2010 tournaments.

6. Attila Abonyi – 25 Goals 

Up next is a true pioneer of Australian football. Attila Abonyi played a massive role in helping the Socceroos qualify for the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, marking Australia's first-ever appearance on the global stage.

Overall, Abonyi scored 25 goals in 61 appearances, including 11 in his first nine. Abonyi sadly passed away in 2023 aged 76 but will always be remembered as one of the greatest Socceroos goal scorers of all time. 

5. John Kosmina – 25 Goals 

Iconic former Adelaide United coach John Kosmina was once one of Australia’s most feared marksmen.

Long before he was getting in touchline scuffles with Kevin Muscat, he was banging them in for Australia.. 

A tough, physical forward who never backed down from a challenge. He played a massive role in helping Australia reach the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, leading the attacking line and during his 60 games in Green and Gold, he found the back of the net 25 times in total. 

4. John Aloisi – 27 Goals 

Just missing out on the podium of Green and Gold goalscorers, is the one and only John Aloisi.

Best remembered for one unforgettable night in Sydney. In 2005, he stepped up and calmly scored the winning penalty against Uruguay, sending Australia to their first World Cup in 32 years. 

His brilliant impact continued at the 2006 World Cup, where he scored a crucial goal against Japan on football's biggest stage, becoming only the second ever Aussie to score at a World Cup.

Aloisi found the back of the net 27 times across 55 appearances, opening his international scoring account in 1998 against Macedonia, and closing it a decade later during an Asian Cup match against Oman in 2007.

3. Archie Thompson – 28 Goals 

If you thought David Zdrilic made the most of Australia’s game against American Samoa, wait until you see what Australia’s third all-time scorer Archie Thompson did. 

Thompson scored an incredible 13 times in that match against American Samoa and this amazing feat remains a world record in international football to this day.

Outside of this record haul, Thompson scored an additional 15 goals throughout his international career, to take his total to 28 goals in 54 appearances. 

2. Damian Mori – 29 Goals 

Just missing out on the top spot is NSL legend Damian Mori. A clinical finisher, Mori stood as Australia’s top scorer for many years, before ultimately being surpassed by the next man on this list.

He found the back of the net 29 times in 45 appearances for the Australian national team  and scored over 300 goals in his club career Down Under. 

He never got to play at a World Cup but served his country with distinction and a magical right foot. 

1. Tim Cahill – 50 Goals 

Australia’s all-time top goalscorer is none other than Aussie footballing royalty Tim Cahill. 

He scored a half century in Green and Gold and did so in 108 games, making him the second most capped Socceroo of all time.  

Cahill famously scored Australia's first-ever World Cup goal in 2006 against Japan, sparking an unforgettable comeback.

He would go on to score in two more World Cups and has scored the most goals by any Australian in the men's World Cup with five goals. 

This also included a stunning first-time volley against the Netherlands at the 2014 finals, which is widely considered to be the greatest goal ever scored by an Australian player.

Known for his adept leaping abilities, many of his goals came with his head and were often followed by his famous goal celebration of shadow boxing around the corner flag.

With no current players on this list, it may be a long, long time before anyone gets anywhere near Cahill’s record of 50 goals for Australia.