The Conference League may be UEFA’s youngest men’s club competition, but it has already produced memorable finishers, breakout forwards, dramatic knockout goals, and several players who used the tournament to build their European reputation.
From Mikael Ishak’s consistency for Lech Poznań to Ayoub El Kaabi’s heroic Olympiacos run, the competition has quickly become a stage where sharp strikers can turn one strong campaign into history.
This ranking focuses on goals scored from the group stage or league phase to the final, rather than including qualifying rounds. UEFA also keeps a separate qualifying-inclusive list, where Arthur Cabral leads with 21 goals, but for this article, the cleaner ranking is the main competition proper.
UEFA’s latest official list, updated on May 7, 2026, places Mikael Ishak top with 13 goals, followed by Arthur Cabral, Vangelis Pavlidis and Eran Zahavi on 12 each.
UEFA’s official list also has Ismaïla Sarr on 9 goals, meaning he is level with several players in this range. Since this article is strictly a top 13 ranking, Pululu takes the final listed place based on UEFA’s published order.
1. Mikael Ishak (13 Goals)
Mikael Ishak sits at the top of the Conference League all-time scoring chart with 13 goals for Lech Poznań.
His rise to first place is a perfect example of how this tournament rewards consistency, sharp movement and repeated European involvement.
Ishak has not been a one-night story; he has built his tally through dependable finishing and an ability to lead the line across different phases of the competition. What makes Ishak’s record impressive is that he achieved it without playing for one of Europe’s biggest commercial clubs.
Lech Poznań may not always dominate the wider European conversation, but Ishak’s goals gave the Polish side a reliable attacking edge.
His record shows how the UEFA Conference League has created space for players outside the usual Champions League spotlight to become continental names.
Ishak is not just a poacher. He reads defensive lines well, times his runs intelligently and knows how to attack dangerous spaces inside the box. In a tournament where many games are tight and one goal can change the entire tie, that kind of striker becomes priceless.
His ability to score across multiple games helped him climb above players with bigger global profiles. His place at number one also tells an important story about the competition itself.
The Conference League has not simply been a consolation tournament; it has become a serious European platform where players can build legacy.
Ishak’s 13 goals make him the current benchmark for every future striker who wants to dominate this competition.
2. Arthur Cabral (12 Goals)
Arthur Cabral is one of the most important names in Conference League scoring history. Officially, he has 12 goals in the competition proper, but if qualifying rounds are included, he leads UEFA’s broader all-time list with 21 goals.
That wider figure reflects how often Cabral has punished defenders in this tournament, whether for Basel or Fiorentina. Cabral’s scoring style is built around physical presence, penalty-box intelligence and calm finishing.
He is the type of striker who can look quiet for long spells, then suddenly appear in the right position to finish a move. That instinct made him a nightmare for defenders, especially in games where Fiorentina or Basel needed a reliable focal point in attack.
His time with Fiorentina gave him a bigger European platform, and his goals helped strengthen the Italian club’s reputation as one of the early major forces in the competition.
Fiorentina reached back-to-back finals in 2023 and 2024, and although Cabral was not part of every later moment, his scoring record remains tied to the club’s strong Conference League identity.
Cabral’s ranking also highlights the difference between competition-proper numbers and qualifying-inclusive numbers. For SEO and football history purposes, both matter.
The main list shows who delivered from the group stage or league phase onward; the broader list shows who contributed across the full European journey. In both conversations, Cabral is one of the defining forwards of the tournament.
3. Vangelis Pavlidis (12 Goals)
Vangelis Pavlidis ranks among the top scorers in the Conference League with 12 goals for AZ Alkmaar. His record reflects a striker who combines smart movement, clean finishing and strong technical quality.
While some forwards on this list are classic penalty-box finishers, Pavlidis has often shown more variety in his attacking play. At AZ, he became one of the key faces of a team capable of troubling bigger European opponents.
His goals were not just numbers; they helped AZ build momentum and credibility in the competition. In a tournament where Dutch clubs often bring technical confidence and aggressive attacking structures, Pavlidis was a natural fit.
One of his biggest strengths is his ability to stay involved in the flow of the game. He is not only waiting for crosses or loose balls. He links play, presses defenders, drifts into useful channels and then arrives in scoring positions.
That rounded profile helped him become one of the most reliable attacking players in the early history of the Conference League.
Pavlidis’ place near the top also shows how quickly players can use this competition to raise their profile. A good domestic striker can become a known European forward if he scores regularly on Thursday nights.
Pavlidis did exactly that, and his 12-goal return keeps him firmly among the competition’s elite finishers.
4. Eran Zahavi (12 Goals)
Eran Zahavi’s 12-goal record is no surprise to anyone who has followed his career. He has been a consistent scorer across leagues, clubs and international football, and his Conference League numbers fit that wider pattern.
UEFA lists his goals across PSV and Maccabi Tel Aviv, showing his ability to deliver for different teams and in different tactical systems. Zahavi brings experience, composure and ruthless decision-making.
He is not the kind of striker who needs five big chances to score. Give him one clear sight of goal and he can punish you. That efficiency is one reason he has remained relevant for so long, even in demanding European fixtures.
His inclusion near the top of this ranking also gives the list a veteran presence. The Conference League has given chances to emerging names, but it has also rewarded experienced forwards who understand European match rhythm.
Zahavi’s movement, finishing and calmness under pressure made him a natural scorer in this environment. For Maccabi Tel Aviv and PSV, he offered more than goals. He offered leadership and attacking certainty.
In tight European games, that matters. Zahavi’s 12 goals prove that age and experience can still be major weapons when paired with sharp instincts and elite finishing habits.
5. Ayoub El Kaabi — 11 Goals
Ayoub El Kaabi’s Conference League story is one of the most dramatic in the competition’s young history. He scored 11 goals in the 2023/24 campaign and finished as that season’s top scorer.
UEFA also lists him as the Player of the Season for 2023/24, which underlines how central he was to Olympiacos’ historic triumph. His biggest moment came in the 2024 final, when Olympiacos beat Fiorentina 1-0 after extra time.
UEFA records the final as Fiorentina 0-1 Olympiacos, with El Kaabi scoring in the 116th minute. That goal did more than win a trophy; it secured Olympiacos’ first major European honour and gave Greek club football one of its most iconic nights.
El Kaabi’s ranking is especially impressive because his 11 goals came in one explosive campaign. Unlike some players who built their totals across multiple seasons, he delivered a tournament-defining run.
Every time Olympiacos needed a dangerous presence in the box, El Kaabi seemed ready. His record also proves how one great European season can change a player’s legacy.
Before that run, many fans knew him as a capable striker. After that, he became a Conference League legend.
His goals carried weight, his final winner carried history, and his 2023/24 campaign remains one of the greatest individual scoring runs the tournament has seen.
6. Cyriel Dessers — 10 Goals
Cyriel Dessers was the first great scoring king of the competition. In the inaugural 2021/22 season, he finished as top scorer with 10 goals for Feyenoord, one ahead of Tammy Abraham.
UEFA’s own recap notes that Dessers reached 10 goals after scoring twice in the semi-final first leg against Marseille, although he did not add to that tally in the final.
Dessers’ goals helped Feyenoord reach the first final of the tournament, where they eventually lost 1-0 to Roma. Even in defeat, his individual campaign stood out.
He gave Feyenoord a cutting edge and became one of the earliest recognizable stars of the Conference League.
His finishing that season was direct and decisive. Dessers thrived on confidence, instinct and sharp reactions in the box. He was particularly dangerous in knockout ties, where momentum can swing quickly and every chance feels heavier.
Feyenoord needed a forward who could turn pressure into goals, and Dessers repeatedly did that. His place in this ranking carries historical value. Every competition needs its first great marksman.
For the Conference League, that player was Dessers. Before the tournament had a long archive of iconic moments, his goals gave it early drama, identity and attacking excitement.
7. Gift Orban — 10 Goals
Gift Orban’s rise through the Conference League scoring charts was explosive. UEFA lists him with 10 goals for Gent, placing him level with Cyriel Dessers in the competition-proper all-time table.
Orban’s name became strongly associated with energy, directness and fearless finishing. What made Orban stand out was the speed of his impact. He did not need years to announce himself. He attacked the tournament with confidence, often playing like a striker who believed every half-chance could become a goal.
That mentality made him one of the most exciting young forwards in the competition’s early years. For Gent, Orban represented unpredictability. Defenders could not relax around him because he could create separation quickly, shoot early and attack spaces behind the back line.
In European football, where defensive organization is usually strong, that kind of suddenness can be devastating. His 10 goals also show the importance of the Conference League as a development stage.
Players like Orban can use the tournament to move from promising talent to widely discussed forward. Even if a player later moves on to bigger leagues or bigger clubs, the goals scored here remain part of his European story.
8. Tammy Abraham — 9 Goals
Tammy Abraham’s 9 goals came during Roma’s successful 2021/22 campaign, when the Italian club won the inaugural tournament. UEFA’s season recap shows that Abraham finished one goal behind Cyriel Dessers in the scoring race, while Roma beat Feyenoord 1-0 in the final.
Abraham’s role in that Roma team was significant. Under José Mourinho, Roma needed a striker who could stretch defences, compete physically and finish chances in big moments.
Abraham gave them that outlet. His goals helped Roma navigate a tournament that quickly became central to the club’s season.
Unlike some players on this list, Abraham’s Conference League reputation is tied not only to scoring but also to winning.
He was part of the first team to lift the trophy, and that matters. Goals are remembered differently when they help deliver silverware, especially in a club’s first major European triumph for many years.
His presence on this list also gives the competition an early Premier League connection. Abraham had already built a profile in England before moving to Roma, but his European run in Italy added another layer to his career.
With 9 goals and a winner’s medal, he remains one of the most important early scorers in the tournament’s history.
9. Aleksandar Čavrić — 9 Goals
Aleksandar Čavrić may not be the most globally famous player in this ranking, but his 9-goal total for Slovan Bratislava deserves serious respect. The Conference League has always been about more than the biggest names.
It is also about players from clubs outside Europe’s richest leagues getting a real continental platform. Čavrić’s goals reflect consistency and importance to his team. For clubs like Slovan Bratislava, European group-stage and knockout football can define a season.
Every goal brings coefficient value, prize money, visibility and belief. A forward who can deliver repeatedly in that environment becomes central to the club’s European identity. His style has often been built around mobility and attacking commitment.
Rather than relying only on penalty-box service, he can work across the forward line and contribute to transitions. That versatility is valuable in Conference League matches, where teams often face opponents with different tactical rhythms from their domestic leagues.
Čavrić’s ranking is a reminder that all-time scoring lists are not only about superstar reputation. They are about output. Nine goals in European competition is a strong return, and his place among the top 13 confirms that he has left a real mark on the tournament.
10. Hugo Cuypers — 9 Goals
Hugo Cuypers is another Gent forward who made his mark in the Conference League. UEFA lists him with 9 goals in the competition proper, while the qualifying-inclusive table gives him an even stronger total of 16.
That wider number places him among the most productive players when the full European route is considered. Cuypers’ success reflects Gent’s attacking strength in the competition. The Belgian side has had multiple forwards make an impact, with Gift Orban also appearing high on this list.
That tells us something important about the club’s approach: Gent have used the tournament as a stage for aggressive, forward-thinking football. Cuypers is a striker who understands positioning.
He may not always dominate headlines with spectacular goals, but he knows where to be when chances arrive. That reliability is a major reason why he built such a strong European tally.
His ranking also shows the value of qualification campaigns, even though this main list focuses on the competition proper. When qualifiers are included, his total rises significantly, proving that his impact was not limited to one stage.
In the broader history of the Conference League, Cuypers deserves recognition as one of its most productive forwards.
11. Luka Jović — 9 Goals
Luka Jović brings a familiar name to the Conference League scoring list. UEFA credits him with 9 goals across Fiorentina and AEK Athens. His inclusion is interesting because he arrived in the competition with a reputation already shaped by bigger European moves and high expectations.
Jović has always been known for his natural finishing ability. At his best, he strikes the ball cleanly, attacks central spaces and makes scoring look simple.
His Conference League goals showed flashes of that quality, especially during Fiorentina’s strong European run. For Fiorentina, he was part of a squad that repeatedly went deep in the competition.
The Italian club became one of the tournament’s early regular contenders, reaching finals in 2023 and 2024. UEFA’s winners page records Fiorentina as runners-up in both those finals, losing 2-1 to West Ham in 2023 and 1-0 to Olympiacos in 2024.
Jović’s 9 goals are a reminder that the tournament can serve different career purposes. For rising players, it can be a launchpad.
For established names, it can be a place to regain rhythm, confidence and European relevance. Jović’s finishing record keeps him among the competition’s most productive attackers.
12. Rolando Mandragora — 9 Goals
Rolando Mandragora is one of the most interesting names in this ranking because he is not a traditional centre-forward. While many top scorers are strikers or wingers, Mandragora is primarily a midfielder.
Transfermarkt lists him as a defensive midfielder and credits him with 9 goals in the competition proper. That makes his tally even more impressive. Midfielders usually have more responsibilities outside the box.
They must cover space, recycle possession, protect transitions and support team structure. For Mandragora to reach 9 goals in the Conference League shows how important his timing, shooting and set-piece involvement became for Fiorentina.
His record is also tied to Fiorentina’s repeated deep runs. Playing many games helps, but players still have to take their chances. Mandragora did that often enough to become one of the all-time leading scorers in the tournament’s early history.
He also represents a different kind of scoring threat. While strikers often rely on close-range finishes, midfield scorers can change games from second balls, late box arrivals and shots from distance. That variety made Mandragora valuable and gives this list more tactical depth.
The Conference League has not only rewarded pure strikers; it has also rewarded intelligent midfielders who know when to attack.
13. Afimico Pululu — 9 Goals
Afimico Pululu completes this top 13 ranking with 9 goals for Jagiellonia Białystok. His rise is one of the more recent stories on the list, and UEFA names him as the 2024/25 season top scorer with 8 goals.
That campaign pushed him into the wider all-time conversation. Pululu’s achievement is important because it shows that the scoring chart is still very active. The competition is young, and one strong season can quickly move a player into the top 10 or top 13.
For Jagiellonia, Pululu’s goals were a major part of their European identity and helped give the club visibility beyond domestic football. His style is based on direct attacking, strength and sharp finishing.
He can carry threat in transition and punish defensive gaps, which is valuable in European games where opponents may not be familiar with every detail of his movement. That surprise factor can be powerful, especially in the early phases of a campaign.
Pululu’s place also shows why fans should keep watching this list. A single excellent season can change the all-time ranking.
One decisive Conference League result in the knockout rounds can lift a player’s reputation, push a club into history and reshape the scoring table at the same time.
Why the Conference League Scoring Race Matters
The Conference League scoring race matters because it gives a different group of players access to European recognition. In the Champions League, the scoring charts are often dominated by forwards from the biggest clubs. In this competition, the landscape is wider.
Players from Poland, Belgium, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, Italy, Slovakia and other football markets can all appear near the top. That makes the tournament valuable for scouting, storytelling and club growth.
A player who scores regularly here proves he can handle travel, different tactical systems, pressure games and knockout football. Those are serious tests. Goals in this competition should not be dismissed because they come outside the Champions League.
The scoring race also helps fans understand the personality of the tournament. Early editions have been shaped by Roma’s history-making win, West Ham’s late final victory, Olympiacos’ emotional triumph and Chelsea’s 2025 comeback against Real Betis.
UEFA records Chelsea’s 2025 final as a 4-1 win after Real Betis scored first, while Olympiacos’ 2024 final win came through El Kaabi’s 116th-minute goal.
In other words, the tournament already has enough drama to create legends. The top scorers are not just collecting statistics; they are giving the competition its memory.
Final Thoughts
The Conference League has already built a strong scoring history despite being a young competition. Mikael Ishak currently leads the official competition-proper chart, but Arthur Cabral, Vangelis Pavlidis, Eran Zahavi and Ayoub El Kaabi are close enough to keep the race interesting.
Below them, players like Cyriel Dessers, Gift Orban, Tammy Abraham, Hugo Cuypers and Afimico Pululu have all helped shape the tournament’s early identity. What makes this list exciting is that it will change quickly.
Unlike older European competitions with decades of history, the Conference League is still forming its legends. A striker can enter the tournament, score heavily in one season and immediately become part of the all-time conversation.
For fans, that makes every campaign worth watching. For players, it offers a real chance to build a European name. And for clubs outside the usual elite circle, it provides a stage where goals can create history.
People Also Ask About Conference League All-time Top Scorers
- Who is the all-time top scorer in the Conference League?
Mikael Ishak is the current all-time top scorer in the Conference League competition with 13 goals for Lech Poznań, according to UEFA’s latest published ranking.
- Who has scored the most goals if qualifying rounds are included?
Arthur Cabral leads the qualifying-inclusive UEFA list with 21 goals across Basel and Fiorentina. That makes him the top name when the full route from qualifying to final is counted.
- Which player had the best single scoring season?
Ayoub El Kaabi had one of the greatest single campaigns, scoring 11 goals for Olympiacos in 2023/24. He also scored the winning goal in the final and was named Player of the Season by UEFA.
- Why are some players tied on the same number of goals?
Because the tournament is still young, several players are clustered around 9, 10 and 12 goals. One strong campaign can quickly move a player up the ranking. A single Conference League result can also change the all-time table if a player scores in a key knockout match.
- Is the competition still called the UEFA Europa Conference League?
The tournament started as the UEFA Europa Conference League, but it is now commonly branded as the UEFA Conference League. Many fans still use both names when searching for historical records.
Author: Tolulope Afuwape
Reviewed by Olufemi Osunyingbo
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