They include only competitive fixtures for recognised teams and national sides in their database but Pele, along with many others, have scored many more goals across their entire career.

Pele was just a goal short of a triple hat trick, scoring 8 in an 11-0 victory. Ted Drake is one of the few players who made it to the list of footballers who have scored a double hat-trick during ...

But there is still plenty of dispute over Bican's actual numbers, with the late Brazilian icon Pele also claiming to have scored more than 1,000 career goals — though that total includes friendlies.

"If you would use the word perfect, Pele almost is there ... his magical brand of soccer. He scored 1,281 goals in his 22-year career. But you didn't have to see him to believe in him.

Pele added: "As far as I’m concerned, Maradona was one of the best players ever. If you ask me, 'Was he better than Messi?' Yes, he was. Much better ... of 567 club goals have been recorded ...

The football shirt worn by Pele when he scored his landmark 1,000th career goal is set to sell at auction for as much as £400,000 ... The auction is said to have already garnered 'significant interest ...