Seven players have reached 500 goals in the 21st century: Messi plus six strikers, with Messi having the highest efficiency and Ronaldo ranking fourth.

In last weekend's Bundesliga match, Bayern defeated Bremen 3-0 on the road. Kane netted a brace and successfully reached the 500-goal mark in his professional career.

According to Transfermarkt's statistics on players who have reached 500 career goals in the 21st century, a total of seven players have accomplished this feat, including Messi plus six strikers. Among them, Messi took the fewest matches to reach this milestone, with Ronaldo ranking fourth. The details are as follows:

• First: Messi, 500 goals in 632 matches.
• Second: Lewandowski, 500 goals in 730 matches.
• Third: Kane, 500 goals in 743 matches.
• Fourth: Ronaldo, 500 goals in 753 matches.
• Fifth: Suárez, 500 goals in 802 matches.
• Sixth: Ibrahimović, 500 goals in 845 matches.
• Seventh: Benzema, 500 goals in 963 matches.

Among these seven stars, Messi is the only one who is not a striker. His goal-scoring efficiency is truly remarkable, reaching 500 goals nearly a hundred matches fewer than second-placed Lewandowski, making him uniquely outstanding. If assists were also counted, Messi would be considered godlike. It is believed that Mbappé and Haaland will also reach the 500-goal milestone, but matching Messi’s efficiency is virtually impossible. Kane wasted his prime years at Tottenham; had he joined Bayern earlier, he would likely have scored more goals and won more titles, and would have taken fewer matches to reach 500 goals. Another point is that all seven stars played for Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Bayern Munich—top clubs that provide the super stage needed to accumulate such impressive stats.