Highest Scoring Midfielders in Premier League History

Goalscoring midfielders are the rarest breed in the Premier League. Strikers get the headlines, but the highest scoring midfielders in Premier League history changed how fans think about the position — arriving late in the box, smashing in long-range efforts, and racking up numbers that rival any forward.

TL;DR: Frank Lampard is the highest scoring midfielder in Premier League history with 177 goals, ahead of Steven Gerrard on 120.

The Record Holder: Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard sits clear at the top. The former West Ham, Chelsea and Manchester City man scored 177 Premier League goals in 609 appearances — a remarkable return for a player who spent his career operating from deep.

Lampard's defining trait was timing. With a knack for arriving on the edge of the box, he scored 147 of those goals in Chelsea blue, and his tally of double-figure league seasons is unmatched among midfielders. He also holds the record for the most goals by a midfielder in a single Premier League season, with 22 in 2009–10.

Gerrard, Scholes and the Rest

Steven Gerrard is next among out-and-out midfielders, netting 120 Premier League goals in 504 appearances for Liverpool. His blend of power, passing and set-piece quality made him a one-club icon.

Other names in the conversation:

• Paul Scholes — 107 goals, all for Manchester United
• Ryan Giggs — 109 goals, and the only player on the 100 club list never to score a penalty
• Steven Gerrard — 120 goals, Liverpool
• David Beckham — 62 goals, plus a set-piece legacy

What the Numbers Reveal

Sustained output separates the greats. Lampard's total came across 17 seasons; Gerrard's across 17 as well. Both played as genuine box-to-box or attacking midfielders rather than converted forwards.

Modern players face a different challenge, with deeper lying roles and rotation limiting minutes. That makes the older records even harder to chase.

The Fan Debate

Ask fans who the best goalscoring midfielder is and the answer usually depends on your club. Chelsea supporters point to Lampard's consistency; Liverpool fans argue Gerrard carried a weaker side on his back.