Aheader is a technique that is used inassociation football to control the ball using the head to pass, shoot, or clear. This can be done from a standing, jumping, or diving position.[1] Heading is a common technique and is used by players in practically every match. Although a useful technique in football, heading carries significant health risks, particularly to the brain, and governing bodies have taken measures to address these risks.
In general, aforward uses a header to score a goal, while adefender mostly uses a header to prevent the scoring of a goal by the opponent. When the ball is in the air, a header is often the best option because a player cannot make contact with the ball using their hands. Most header goals are scored as a result of across or acorner. In these situations, one attacking player passes the ball across the goal in the air, and another player (either standing, jumping or diving) strikes the ball towards the goal with their head.[2]
During a football match, a player might head the ball six to twelve times, on average.[3]
Footballers such asSantillana,Tim Cahill,Marco van Basten,Fernando Torres,Cristiano Ronaldo,Virgil van Dijk,Andy Carroll,Didier Drogba,Alvaro Morata,Harry Kane,Luuk de Jong,Olivier Giroud,Gareth Bale,Javier Hernandez,Sergio Ramos,Peter Crouch,Miroslav Klose,Giorgio Chiellini,Ali Daei,Abby Wambach andJoel Pohjanpalo are some examples of players who are known for the quality of their headers.[4][5][6][7]
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Heading the ball, whether in practice or a competitive match, carries health risks that can become apparent immediately or after a few years. Additionally, injury can occur from just one instance of heading the ball or an accumulation of repetitive headers.[citation needed]
The most common injury associated with heading isconcussions, which account for 22% of all football injuries. Subconcussive injuries are also a concern when heading the ball. While symptoms for subconcussive injuries are not as apparent as a concussion, damage is still being dealt to the brain. In some cases, subconcussive injuries can be more severe than concussions in the long run.
A 2019 study shows that footballers, with the exclusion of goal keepers, are three and a half times more likely to suffer from neurodegenerative disease than the general population. In 2021, research had been published that shows defenders are at greater risk of developing dementia.[8]
Jeff Astle, a former English professional football player, was ruled to have died from anindustrial disease which was linked to heading of footballs. Former Wales professional football player,Alan Jarvis, was ruled to have died in a similar fashion.[9]
In 2020, theFootball Association (FA) provided guidance that advised coaches against practicing headers in practice for children aged 11 and under. They also advised coaches to introduce light heading practice for children playing in U-12 to U-16. They even made recommendations for professional football, advising only 10 high-force headers in practice per week.[10]
In July 2022, the FA announced they received approval from theInternational Football Association Board (IFAB) to trial the removal of deliberate heading in matches for those playing U-12 and under. The trial will run for the 2022–23 season and will be coordinated with theCounty FA network, leagues, clubs, and schools. If successful, the FA will then apply to IFAB for a law change. If approved, deliberate heading will be banned in matches at the U-12 level and below starting in the 2023–24 season.[11]
In 2016, theUnited States Soccer Foundation implemented measures to mitigate the risks of heading the ball. The first is that children aged 10 and under cannot head the ball in practice or in games. The second limits heading for children aged 12 and 13. They are allowed to practice heading for only 30 minutes a week, and the total number of headers per player, per week cannot exceed 20. There are no restrictions on heading in a game for children aged 12 and 13.[12]
In addition to the restrictions above, the US Soccer Federation has also updated their rules for matches. Under the new rules, if a player aged 10 and under deliberately heads a ball in a match, anindirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team. Additionally, if a player is substituted from a match due to a suspected head injury, that substitution does not count towards the team's total number of allowed substitutions.[13]
Although the risks of heading a football cannot be eliminated, recommendations have been made to mitigate those risks. The first is to learn the proper technique. There are ways to strike a football with the head that decreases harmful impact, such as stabilizing the neck. One can also wear headgear to reduce impact.[citation needed] Additionally, strengthening neck muscles can help reduce the risk of harm.[14]
Another recommendation is to change the properties of the football being used. Studies have shown that a ball with lower air pressure and lower mass reduce acceleration and impact to the brain. While this may not be a feasible option for competitive matches, experts suggest implementing these changes to balls being used during practice.[14]
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Players inBold are still active. Only official matches. At least 100 goals.As of 6 February 2026.
| R | Player | Years | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Cristiano Ronaldo | 2002– | 156 |
| 2 |  Jimmy McGrory | 1921–1935 | 150 |
| 3 |  Santillana | 1970–1988 | 128 |
| 4 |  Jared Borgetti | 1994–2010 | 127 |
| 5 |  Dixie Dean | 1923–1940 | 125 |
| 6 |  Telmo Zarra | 1939–1957 | 122 |
| 7 |  Luuk de Jong | 2008– | 116 |
| 8 |  Robert Lewandowski | 2005– | 116 |
| 9 |  Hakan Şükür | 1987–2008 | 115 |
| 10 |  Sándor Kocsis | 1946–1965 | 112 |
| 11 |  Mário Jardel | 1991–2011 | 111 |
| 12 |  Tim Cahill | 1998–2019 | 108 |
| 13 |  Aleksandar Mitrović | 2011– | 106 |
| 14 | Ruud Geels | 1964–1985 | 105 |
| 15 |  Jan Koller | 1994–2011 | 102 |
| 16 | Pelé | 1956–1977 | 100 |
At least four goals.
| Player | Year | Score | G | Div. | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dondinho | 1938 | Yuracan 6–2 Smart Futebol Clube | 5 | 6 | Dondinho scored 5 goals with headers in Yuracan's win against their arch-rivals in the 1939 regional interior Championship ofItajubá,Minas Gerais.[15] |
 Dušan Bajević | 1972 | Yugoslavia 10–0Venezuela | 5 | NT | Bajević scored 5 goals with headers in Yugoslavia's win against Venezuela in theBrazil Independence Cup.[16] |
| Jimmy McGrory | 1926 | Celtic 6–2Aberdeen | 4 | 1 | Jimmy McGrory scored four headed goals in1926–27 Scottish Division One match, againstAberdeen, on 23 October 1926. |
 Guggenhahn II | 1930 | SSV Ulm 7–1 FV Geislingen | 4 | 2 | Guggenhahn II scored four headed goals in 1929–30 Kreisliga Ulm match, against FV Geislingen, on 12 January 1930. |
| Joe Payne | 1936 | Luton Town 12–0Bristol Rovers | 4 | 3 | Joe Payne scored ten goals, four of which were headers in1935–36 Football League match, against Bristol Rovers, on 13 April 1936. |
| Pytlik | 1940 | SV Hamborn 07 4–1Wuppertaler SV | 4 | 1 | Pytlik scored four headed goals in1939–40 Gauliga Niederrhein match, against Wuppertaler SV, on 10 March 1940. |
 Atilio García | 1940 | Nacional 5–1Peñarol | 4 | CC | García scored four headed goals in Torneo Competencia match, against Peñarol, on 18 December 1940. |
| Atilio García (2) | 1944 | Nacional 4–1Sud América | 4 | 1 | García scored four headed goals in1944 Uruguayan Primera División match, against Sud América, on 4 November 1944. Atilio Garcia is the only player to score four headed goals in a single match on two occasions.[17] |
 Valeriano López | 1952 | Peru 7–1Panama | 4 | NT | Valeriano scored four headed goals against Panama, becoming the first player (out of two) to achieve this feat in an international match.[18] |
| Flórián Albert | 1959 | Ferencvárosi 5–1Budapesti VSC | 4 | 1 | Flórián Albert scored four headed goals in1959–60 Nemzeti Bajnokság I match, against Budapesti VSC, on 15 November 1959. |
| Eddie Reynolds | 1963 | Wimbledon 4–2Sutton United | 4 | 9 | Reynolds scored all of his side's four goals with his head in a 4–2 victory over Sutton United in the 1963FA Amateur Cup final atWembley Stadium.[19] He is the only player in history to have scored four headed goals in any cup final. |
| Malcolm Macdonald | 1975 | England 5–0Cyprus | 4 | NT | Macdonald scored all of his side's five goals in a 5–0 victory over Cyprus in theUEFA Euro 1976 qualifying atWembley Stadium, four of which were headers.[20] He is the third player in history to have scored four headed goals in an international match. |
| Tony Dixon | 1997 | Chasetown 5–1Pelsall Villa | 4 | 8 | Tony Dixon scored four headed goals in1996–97 Midland Football Alliance match, on 15 February 1997. |
| Fernando Morientes | 2002 | Real Madrid 7–0Las Palmas | 4 | 1 | Morientes scored five goals against Las Palmas inLa Liga, four of which were headers.[21] |
| Charlie Wyke | 2021 | Sunderland 4–1Doncaster Rovers | 4 | 3 | Wyke scored all of his side's five goals in a 4–1 victory over Doncaster Rovers in the2020–21 EFL League One, on 13 February 2021. |
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