Football is an organized game. Though there are many formations in the game, players know their roles. A football match is basically won by scoring more goals than your opponent. It is because of this that different positions have varying responsibilities. The goalkeeper and the defenders are to prevent the opposing teams from scoring while the strikers and the midfielders are to combine to create goalscoring opportunities. However, goal-scoring defenders are one of the most precious and hard-to-find players in the sport. Every team loves to have goal scoring defenders in their squad.

So a novice in the knowledge of football will practically think the strikers gather a whole lot of goals but this is not so. There are defenders that score lots of goals and yes, more than some strikers did throughout their careers. Here are 10 top goalscoring defenders in the history of the beautiful game.

10. Franz Beckenbauer (109 goals)

All defenders on this list have scored over 100 goals in their careers. Many strikers will definitely envy these guys. Beckenbauer played for West Germany and his club teams as a sweeper. The sweeper is usually the furthest player from opposition goal in his playing days so one can not but wonder how Beckenbauer scored so many goals. His most prolific spell was with Bayern Munich for whom he scored 60 goals in 427 league games. Beckenbauer from football in 1983 with New York Cosmos.

9. Sergio Ramos (110 goals)

Sergio Ramos has attained legendary status at Real Madrid since he joined them from Sevilla in 2005. There is no defender that currently scores goals like the Real Madrid captain. The Spain center-back also has a knack for coming up with crucial goals in games. Ramos is always one to rise to the occasion when needed. This is further reiterated by the fact that he now takes penalties for Los Blancos. He, however, ranks ninth on the all-time list of goalscoring defenders.

8. Roberto Carlos (113 goals)

Carlos like Ramos also played for Real Madrid having joined them from Inter Milan in 1996. As a left full-back, his responsibility is basically to defend and join the attack on the flanks. This he did well throughout his career but RC3 had a major asset that made him a goalscoring machine- his thunderous left foot. The Brazilian can produce screamers from long distances which allows him to score from freekicks and other chances he gets from open play.

7. Paul Breitner (113 goals)

Breitner played alongside Beckenbauer for Bayern Munich and West Germany in the 70s. He played for Real Madrid as well. The 68-year old enjoyed a trophy-laden career scoring 113 goals. 10 of those came while playing for West Germany from 1971 to 1982. At club level, all of his goals came in the league only. 83 of his 103 club goals came while playing for Bayern Munich.

6. Steve Bruce (113 goals)

The hype around John Terry’s goals makes many think he is the best English goalscoring defender that ever was. There is one player on this list that excels in the art of scoring from the back and his name is Steve Bruce. The Newcastle United manager spent his entire career in England playing for a host of teams including Manchester United.  He retired in 1999 having scored 113 career goals.

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5. Graham Alexander (130 goals)

Graham was born in England but represented Scotland at the international level. He played as a right-back his 24-year career which saw him star for different teams across England’s league divisions. His team list includes Scunthorpe United, Luton Town, Preston North End, and Burnley. Most of his goals came from the spot as he was on penalty duties for most of his teams. Alexander retired in 2012 and currently manages Salford City.

4. Laurent Blanc (153 goals)

Blanc was a journeyman in his playing days. The former PSG manager played with Montpellier where he began his career in France in 1983. He retired in 2003 having played in Italy, Spain, and England. The Frenchman holds the all-time goalscorer record for Montpellier for whom he scored 84 goals in 8 years. Most of his goals came from freekicks. The legendary goalscoring defender scored ended his career with Manchester United.

3. Fernando Hierro (163 goals)

The last three men on our list the best of the best. Everyone knows Fernando Hierro. A Real Madrid legend who enjoyed a trophy-laden career with the Los Blancos. Football had evolved in Hierro’s days and the importance of a strong defense had been heightened. The central defender cum defensive midfielder did manage to score over 150 goals in his career with 29 of those coming with the national team.

2. Dani Passarella (175 goals)

Passarella played as a central defender and a sweeper. The former River Plate man was not of a tall stature so many thought he was not fit enough to play as a defender. Passarella ended up silencing them all leading Argentina to two World Cup glories and winning many titles with River Plate. On the international scene, he managed 22 goals for Argentina in 72 games.

1. Ronald Koeman (253 goals)

Koeman is the best of the rest among goalscoring defenders. He shuffled between the backline and the middle of the park but his position does not give him leverage to score so many goals. The Dutchman scored well over 200 career goals playing for Groningen, Ajax, PSV, Barcelona, Feyenoord, and the Dutch national team.