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Goals are the most important component in the winning formula for a football match. Without goals, there is no conclusive result to determine superiority between opponents. Due to this, since the advent of football, players who score goals have been highly sought after.
Football matches used to be very high-scoring affairs back in the day, with lesser emphasis on defensive shape, structure or tactics. Games used to have five or six goals scored between the two teams on average, a figure that has reduced in the modern game. With more focus on defense and overall tactics, teams are now more well-rounded than ever before.
This has played a part in increasing the value of one goal to a team. AC Milan in 1990s were masters of defending a one-goal lead as was sufficient to win games. They won the 34-game Serie A season in 1993-94, scoring only 36 goals and conceding just 15.
However, teams have given more importance to scoring goals and outscoring opponents since the turn of the millennium. Big teams sometimes win by four, five, six or even seven goals in the modern game.
With the quality of attacking football and the players that carry it out, teams have been able to rack up a tremendous amount of goals.
On that note, let's take a look at the five clubs with the most goals scored in the 21st century.
#5. Chelsea FC (1156 games, 2227 goals)
Chelsea have been one of the most ruthless and well-run football clubs in the world in the 21st century. Russian businessman Roman Abramovich took over the club in 2003 and has overseen the club's most successful period.
Since the takeover, Chelsea have won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, two UEFA Champions League titles and two Europa League titles. Players such as Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Joe Cole have all contributed to Chelsea's incredible goalscoring runs.
Frank Lampard began his Chelsea career in 2001 and is their all-time top scorer with 211 goals in 648 games. He also provided 150 assists. The Englishman has accounted for 16.2% of the Blues' goals in the 21st century.
Other notable contributors this century include Eden Hazard, who had 110 goals and 92 assists for the Blues. Didier Drogba, too, contributed immensely with his 164 goals and 87 assists.
Chelsea's biggest margin of victory in the 21st century was 8-0, a scoreline they achieved on two occasions. They beat Wigan Athletic 8-0 at Stamford Bridge in 2010 with Drogba scoring a hat-trick and fellow striker Nicolas Anelka bagging a brace.
Two years later, they achieved the same scoreline, recording a 8-0 win over Aston Villa at the Bridge. Seven different goalscorers bagged Chelsea's eight goals. Ramires bagged a brace while the others scored one each.
Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea are currently contending for the Premier League title and will look to defend their Champions League crown as well.
#4. Arsenal FC (1164 games, 2254 goals)
Arsenal have been one of the most consistent clubs in the world in the 21st century. Out of the 21 years, the Gunners have been managed by Arsene Wenger for 17 years. However, the club are undergoing a transition phase in recent times, struggling for results and silverware.
Arsenal were the team to beat entering the new millennium. With players like Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg in attack, the Gunners scored many goals. They have won two Premier League titles and a record seven FA Cups this century.
Thierry Henry is the club's all-time top scorer with 228 goals in 376 games. The Frenchman also provided 106 assists. Henry has contributed to 14.8% of Arsenal's goals in the 21st century.
Other notable contributors this century include Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud. Van Persie had 132 goals and 58 assists, Walcott had 108 goals and 78 assists and Giroud had 105 goals and 41 assists. The trio contributed to 23.1% of Arsenal's goals this century.
The Gunners recorded some big victories en route to becoming the fourth highest-scoring club in the world. They won with a 7-0 scoreline on three separate occasions. They beat Everton 7-0 in the Premier League in 2005, followed by a 7-0 win over Middlesbrough in 2006 in the same competition. They also defeated Slavia Prague 7-0 in the Champions League in 2007.
The Gunners are currently managed by Mikel Arteta, who recently completed two years as Arsenal manager. His side sit in fourth place in the Premier League and will look to secure Champions League football by the end of the season.
#3. Bayern Munich (1060 games, 2496 goals)
Bayern Munich have played some of the most ruthless and dominant football over the last decade or so. They have been the most successful German club this century, winning every competition in sight.
This century, Bayern have won the Bundesliga a record 15 times, the DFB-Pokal 10 times and the UEFA Champions League thrice. The club recently smashed the record for the most goals scored in the Bundesliga in a calendar year, scoring 102 goals by the end of November.
Robert Lewandowski has been a top contributor in terms of goals, scoring a stunning 324 goals in just 354 games. He has provided 68 assists as well. He has contributed to 15.7% of Bayern's goals in the 21st century.
Lewandowski recently broke Gerd Muller's record of 42 Bundesliga goals in a calendar year, scoring 43.
Other notable contributors include Thomas Muller, who has 222 goals and 235 assists for the club. Arjen Robben played for Bayern between 2009-19, scoring 144 and assisting 101 goals. Franck Ribery played for the club between 2007-19, scoring 124 and assisting 182 goals. The trio have contributed a staggering 40.3% of Bayern's goals this century.
Robben and Ribery formed an iconic duo dubbed 'Robbery'. They both played and scored in their final appearances for Bayern in 2019.
Bayern's biggest win of the 21st century came recently in the DFB-Pokal. The Bavarians saw off Bremer SV with a 12-0 scoreline. Striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored four and assisted a further three in the rout.
Bayern currently sit comfortably in top spot in the Bundesliga. They will be sharpening their swords for the knockout stages of the Champions League in February where they face RB Salzburg.
#2. Real Madrid (1162 games, 2633 goals)
Real Madrid are the second-highest scoring team of the 21st century. Over the years, several great players such as Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Raul have played for the club, scoring plenty of goals. In recent times, the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema have carried that tradition forward.
Real have won seven La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey cups and a record five UEFA Champions League titles since the turn of the millennium. Then managed by former player Zidane, the team won a historic three-peat in the Champions League between 2016-18.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the club's top scorer with a stunning 450 goals in just 438 games. He also provided 132 assists, meaning he contributed 1.32 goals per game on average. The Portuguese has had a hand in 22.1% of Real Madrid's goals this century.
Other notable contributors include Karim Benzema, who has 299 goals and 152 assists for the club. Gareth Bale played his part, too, with 106 goals and 77 assists. Gonzalo Higuain had 121 goals and 56 assists for Los Blancos, while Ronaldo Nazario had 103 goals and 34 assists. These players have contributed 36.0% of the club's goals in the 21st century.
Their biggest victories this century have both come in La Liga and have both been by a margin of eight goals. Real beat Granada CF 9-1 in April 2015 and defeated Rayo Vallecano 10-2 later that year in December.
You can watch the highlights of their demolition of Rayo Vallecano here:
Real Madrid are currently enjoying their football and sit at the top of La Liga. They are 17 points clear of city-rivals Atletico Madrid and a whoppin 19 clear of bitter rivals Barcelona.
#1. FC Barcelona (1193 games, 2730 goals)
FC Barcelona are the highest-scoring club in the 21st century. They are also arguably the most successful club this century. Lionel Messi spearheaded the attack for over 15 years, with others like Samuel Eto'o, Luis Suarez, David Villa and Neymar chipping in with their goals and assists.
Barcelona have won 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey cups and five Champions League trophies since the turn of the millennium.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi leads the all-time scoring charts for the club with his 672 strikes in 778 games. Messi also provided 301 assists for his teammates. He has contributed a jaw-dropping 35.6% of Barcelona's goals in the 21st century.
Other notable contributors include Luis Suarez, who is third on Barcelona's all-time scorers list with 195 goals for the club. He also provided 113 assists. Striker Samuel Eto'o, who is eighth on the all-time list, had 130 goals and 40 assists. More recently, Neymar scored 105 goals and recorded 76 assists for Barca. The trio contributed 24.1% of Barca's goals in the 21st century.
Barca recorded their biggest win of the century in 2011 against L'Hospitalet with a 9-0 scoreline. Thiago Alcantara and Christian Tello scored braces and Iniesta and Xavi were on the scoresheet, too.
The club are currently undergoing a period of restructuring under former player Xavi. Barcelona sit 19 points adrift of leaders Real Madrid in La Liga. They have also dropped from the Champions League to the Europa League for the knockout stages.
