Honestly, it feels like we've been waiting forever for someone to actually catch Alan Shearer. For years, his 260-goal tally sat there like an impossible mountain peak that no one could climb without a specialized oxygen tank and a decade of perfect health. We all thought Harry Kane was the chosen one. He was closing in, breathing down Big Al's neck, and then—poof—he’s off to Munich to eat bratwurst and chase a Bundesliga title.
So here we are in January 2026, and the Premier League all time top scorers list still has a very familiar, very Geordie name right at the summit.
The Unfathomable 260
Alan Shearer didn't just score goals; he bullied them into the net. He played in an era where defenders were allowed to basically tackle you into the next zip code, and he still managed to rack up 260 goals across his time at Blackburn and Newcastle. People forget he actually has 283 top-flight goals if you count the ones he bagged for Southampton before the "Premier League" rebrand in 1992.
But for the history books? It's 260.
Most of those came from that trademark "hand in the air" celebration. It was simple, effective, and occurred so often it became part of the league’s wallpaper. He won the Golden Boot three seasons in a row during the mid-90s. Nobody else has really matched that sustained, brute-force dominance until a certain Norwegian robot showed up in Manchester.
Where Does Everyone Else Sit?
Wayne Rooney is still holding onto that bronze medal spot with 208 goals. Rooney was a different beast entirely. While Shearer was a pure "number nine," Rooney spent half his career playing as a number ten, a winger, or even a deep-lying midfielder for Manchester United. The fact that he’s the only other person besides Kane to break the 200-mark while basically playing everywhere on the pitch is frankly ridiculous.
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Then you’ve got Mohamed Salah.
As of early 2026, Salah is currently sitting on 190 goals. He’s already passed legends like Thierry Henry (175) and Frank Lampard (177). He’s the highest-scoring foreign player in the history of the competition. If he stays in Liverpool for another two seasons, he’s almost guaranteed to pass Rooney. Passing Shearer, though? That’s a different conversation. Salah would need another 70+ goals. At 33 years old, the clock is ticking, but given how he looks after himself, you wouldn't bet against him.
The Harry Kane Problem
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Or the striker in Bavaria.
Harry Kane left the Premier League with 213 goals. He was 47 goals away. In "Kane years," that’s about two seasons of work. There are constant rumors—the latest being a potential Manchester United move in the summer of 2026—that he wants to return specifically to finish the job. He wants that record. You can see it in every interview.
Kane’s efficiency was actually higher than Shearer’s. He hit 213 in 320 games, while Shearer took 441 games to reach 260. If Kane comes back, Shearer’s record is cooked. It’s done. But until that plane lands at Heathrow, the record remains safe in Newcastle.
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The New Era: Erling Haaland’s Rampage
If you want to talk about the Premier League all time top scorers list in ten years, you only need to say one name: Erling Haaland.
The guy is a glitch.
As we hit the midway point of the 2025/26 season, Haaland has already smashed through the 100-goal barrier. He did it in record time, obviously. He's currently leading the 25/26 Golden Boot race with 20 goals. He's already past Didier Drogba (104) and is hunting down the likes of Ian Wright (113) and Romelu Lukaku (121).
If he stays at Manchester City for five more years? He doesn't just break the record; he makes it so high that no one will ever touch it again. He's averaging nearly a goal a game. At that rate, he hits 260 in about seven seasons. It's terrifying.
The Top 10 Breakdown (As of January 2026)
- Alan Shearer: 260 goals (The benchmark)
- Harry Kane: 213 goals (Currently active in Germany)
- Wayne Rooney: 208 goals (Retired legend)
- Mohamed Salah: 190 goals (Active and chasing Rooney)
- Andrew Cole: 187 goals (The most underrated striker ever)
- Sergio Aguero: 184 goals (The king of the last-minute winner)
- Frank Lampard: 177 goals (The only midfielder in this stratosphere)
- Thierry Henry: 175 goals (Arguably the greatest to ever play in the PL)
- Robbie Fowler: 163 goals (The "God" of Anfield)
- Jermain Defoe: 162 goals (The ultimate super-sub and poacher)
Why Some Legends Are Lower Than You Think
It’s always weird seeing Thierry Henry at 8th. You’d think he’d be top three, right? But he "only" played eight full seasons in his prime before heading to Barcelona. Longevity is the secret sauce here. That’s why Frank Lampard is so high. He didn't score 30 a season; he scored 15-20 every single year for over a decade.
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Consistency is harder than brilliance.
Jamie Vardy is another one. He’s stuck on 145. He started too late. If Vardy had been in the Premier League at 21 instead of 27, he’d be pushing for the top five easily. It's a reminder that this list isn't just about who was "the best," but who stayed the longest and remained the most clinical.
What to Watch For Next
If you're tracking this, keep your eyes on the 2026 summer transfer window. That is when the "Kane Return" narrative will either become reality or die forever. Also, watch Salah's contract situation. If he signs an extension at Liverpool, Rooney’s number two spot is in serious jeopardy.
For now, Alan Shearer can keep his trophy on the mantelpiece. He’s held this record since 2006. That’s twenty years of being the best to ever do it. In a league that spends billions to find the next great striker, the fact that a guy from the 90s is still the king tells you everything you need to know about how hard it is to put the ball in the net in England.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Track Haaland's Pace: He is currently on pace to hit the 200-goal mark faster than anyone in history. Watch if his "npxG" (non-penalty expected goals) stays above 0.8 per 90 minutes.
- Salah's Milestone: Check Liverpool's fixture list for late 2026; he is roughly 18 goals away from matching Wayne Rooney for 3rd place.
- The Kane Watch: If Kane returns to the PL by age 33, he only needs to average 16 goals a season for three years to pass Shearer.