Top Five all time goal scorers of Hockey

Greg Nicol and Dhyan Chand (Source: Twitter)

Hockey is a game that is based on team chemistry, pace, fortitude and goals. Although many nations play a slightly defensive brand of hockey, the nations from Asia play a very attacking brand of hockey with the sole intention being to score goals. 

Hockey has also become more attacking as a sport because it has been changed from two halves of 30 minutes to four quarters of 15 minutes each. India as a country has won World Cups in hockey and has produced greats such as Dhyan Chand and Dhanraj Pillai. 

Here is the list of the top 5 Goal scorers in World Hockey

5. Greg Nicol 

Greg Nicol (Source: Twitter)

Greg Nicol was an all-time great in the Hockey circuit. He was a wonderful player during his time and made life very difficult for the defenders as he was able to break the defensive formations and thwart any plans which were laid out by them.

The defensive midfielder scored an impressive 245 goals in 200 matches. He was also a two-time Olympic player. The South African player has left an indelible mark in the game of Hockey.

4. Balbir Singh Sr 

Balbir Singh Sr (Source: Twitter)

Balbir Singh Sr is a three-time Olympic Gold medalist. He is one of the greatest centre-forwards in the history of hockey. His Olympic record for most goals scored by an individual in an Olympic men's hockey final remains unbeaten. He scored 246 goals from 61 international caps.

He is regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time. He was the first sports personality to be awarded a Padma Shri in 1957. He lit the sacred flame at the Asian Games in 1982 in New Delhi. He was also conferred with the Major Dhyan Chand lifetime achievement award from Hockey India.

3. Paul Litjens 

Paul Lutjens (Source: Twitter)

Paul Litjens is a penalty corner specialist from the Netherlands. He scored 268 goals from 177 games for the Dutch. He was also the top scorer for the Dutch in the 1976 Olympic Games and at the Champions Trophy in 1981.

He was a globe trotter in Hockey. Throughout his career. Litjens played for several clubs such as Zaanstad, Uden, and HC Kampong of Utrecht. When the Netherlands lifted the World Cup in 1973 Litjens was a part of the side.

2. Sohail Abbas

Sohail Abbas (Source: Twitter)

Sohail Abbas was a torchbearer for Paksitan in Hockey. He was a drag flick specialist who was renowned for his flicks which were lethal along with great accuracy and speed. He used to do the drag flicks at the front of the goal from the penalty corners.

He was given the moniker 'King of the drag flick'. He has had 315 appearances for Pakistan and has scored 348 goals which include 21 hat tricks which is a record in international hockey. He has played for Pakistan in four World Cups and three editions of the Olympics.

1. Dhyan Chand 

Dhyan Chand (Source: Twitter)

Dhyan Chand was known for his extraordinary ball control and goal-scoring abilities. He has got three Olympic Gold medals. He scored 570 goals from 185 appearances. He has scored 1000 goals cumulatively in his international and domestic career combined.

He was called by the BBC the Hockey equivalent of Muhammad Ali. He was awarded the Padma Bushan in 1956. In India, he is often referred to as Hockey ka Jaadugar which translates to "Magician of the game of Hockey". A famous incident of Chand was that he played barefoot in one of the Hockey matches.