Lightning Strikes: The 10 Premier League Stars Who Blazed to 100 Goals Fastest
Just 34 players throughout Premier League history have achieved the 100-goal milestone, though they've reached this feat at remarkably varying speeds.
The Premier League is broadly regarded as the world's premier football competition. Reaching a century of goals is an achievement reserved for exceptional strikers, which explains why Alan Shearer, the league's record goalscorer, was quickest to hit this benchmark, accomplishing it in 124 matches.
Shearer's achievement has remained untouched since 1995, but now faces genuine threat of being surpassed. Erling Haaland has claimed two Premier League scoring titles across his three complete campaigns in England and sits just one goal short of the century milestone.
The Manchester City star couldn't break Shearer's record in what would have been a perfect setting: facing Newcastle United. However, with only 109 Premier League appearances to his name, it appears inevitable that the Norwegian will shatter this three-decade-old benchmark.
Meanwhile, we examine some of the Premier League icons Haaland will join once he next scores in England's elite division.
Quickest Players to Reach 100 Premier League Goals
Player | Appearances | Club(s) |
|---|---|---|
1. Alan Shearer | 124 | Blackburn, Newcastle United |
2. Harry Kane | 141 | Tottenham Hotspur |
3. Sergio Agüero | 147 | Manchester City |
4. Thierry Henry | 160 | Arsenal |
5. Mohamed Salah | 162 | Liverpool |
6. Ian Wright | 173 | Arsenal |
7. Robbie Fowler | 175 | Liverpool |
8. Les Ferdinand | 178 | Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle United |
T-9. Michael Owen | 185 | Liverpool |
T-9. Andrew Cole | 185 | Manchester United, Newcastle United |
Alan Shearer demonstrated exceptional scoring ability at Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle, establishing the benchmark for quickest to 100 goals in his 124th match during December 1995.
Harry Kane's Tottenham tenure was filled with goals, achieving his 100th Premier League goal in his 141st appearance for Spurs. Prior to Haaland, it was Sergio Agüero who led City's offensive line, with the iconic Argentinian reaching the century milestone in 147 matches, ranking fourth-fastest in history.
Many regard Thierry Henry, who rounds out the top five, as the Premier League's greatest ever player. The Arsenal icon required 160 matches to hit the century mark. Following him is Mohamed Salah in sixth position, with the Egyptian needing just 162 games to enter the Premier League's 100-goal elite.
Ian Wright and Robbie Fowler stood among the finest strikers of the 1990s and occupy the next positions. Wright, the Arsenal icon, reached this milestone in 173 matches, while the Liverpool legend required two additional games.
The sole other player to net his 100th Premier League goal within 180 appearances is Les Ferdinand, who accomplished it in 178 matches.
The ranking concludes with Michael Owen and Andrew Cole sharing the final spot, both requiring 185 games to reach the century goal achievement.