It is said that the toughest thing to do in football is to score a goal. Doing this requires top quality, accuracy, and zeal. However, this list contains information about players who will go down in the history of football as the greatest to ever put the ball into the back of their own net.
We’ll be looking at the top seven footballers with the most own goals scored in the history of the game. There are both popular and unpopular names in this list and the latter might just surprise you. Let’s begin.
7) Johnny Evans – 6 Own Goals
The Manchester United defender enters into this list in 7th position for scoring 6 own goals during his professional carer. He made a surprise return to the Red Devils as a free agent ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season. This just indicates that he has more time on his side for him to keep climbing up this list.
The Northern Irish man scored most of his own goals against top teams like Chelsea, Spurs, and Liverpool. Johnny Evans would be hoping that his Manchester United return doesn’t see him anger his manager by scoring own goals.
6) Phil Jagielka – 7 Own Goals
Phil Jagielka is a kind of footballer that can hit a banger and still end up scoring his own goalpost in a single game. The former Everton defender has recorded 7 own goals during his professional career, with the most recent coming against Leeds United in April 2021 while he was playing for Sheffield United.
Although he scored on that day, he could not break the record of being the oldest player in the Premier League to score an own goal. Stuart Pearce holds the record.
5) Jamie Carragher – 7 Own Goals
As a Liverpool player, scoring own goals against teams like Everton and Manchester United is a like a criminal offence against the club. Jamie Carragher achieved this feat during his stint at the Merseyside club. He even scored 2 own goals in one game against Manchester United at Anfield.
The now Sky Sport Pundit’s name is one of the first names that come to mind when naming top own goal scorers in the history of football.
4) Martin Skrtel – 7 Own Goals
Another former Liverpool player in this list, Martin Skrtel was a defender who had a rugged approach to defending, whether he wins the ball or not or sends the ball into the back of his own net.
Martin Skrtel scored 7 own goals during his 5-year stint with the Reds. As a matter of fact, he managed to score own goals in 4 games during a single season in the 2013/14 campaign. It still stands as a record till this day, although it has already been equalled by Brighton’s Lewis Dunk.
The Liverpool faithfuls are quite thankful that these own goals didn’t cost them too much, with the Merseyside club winning 3 of those 4 games.
His teammates did everything to bail him out during those games but that could not stop him from appearing in this list.
3) Riccardo Ferri – 8 Own Goals
Riccardo Ferri features as the first non-Premier League player in this list. He played for some illustrious clubs in Italy including Inter and Sampdoria, but he will also be remembered for the number of times he scored own goals.
His 8 own goals is a joint record in the Italian top flight. His career was not a terrible career regardless, with a legend like Marco Van Basten naming him as one of the two best defenders he ever faced. The next on the list shares the Seria A own goal record with him.
2) Franco Baresi – 8 Own Goals
1) Richard Dunne – 10 Own Goals
Wow, a total of 10 own goals. A great own goal legend indeed. This player sits comfortably at the top of this list of the most own goals scored in the history of football. He started his career in top fashion during his Everton stint buy brought out the own goal nature in him after moving to Manchester City.
In fact, anytime he bangs in an own goal, his side failed to win those games. Half of those goals came in the final 15 minutes of a game.
He also tops the lists for the most red cards in the Premier League. This man has done it all.
