The Aston Villa top scorer in World Cup history is probably quite well known among the club’s fans but not as everyone expected.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is already on matchday three. One Aston Villa man instantly made his contribution in the opener. He was also the first Villan to appear at this year’s World Cup ahead of the others with Scotland. He is none other than captain John McGinn himself.
The versatile midfielder netted the winning goal as the Tartan Army edged Haiti 1-0 in Boston last night. It was his nation’s first World Cup victory since Italy 1990. Nevertheless, McGinn was not entirely satisfied, as he wasted a chance to score his second after the interval. He shared his thoughts on it, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.
“Aye, it’s incredible. I don’t think it will sink in for a while, but I want more. I want a second, a third. Hopefully we can kick on in the group.”
For the Villa skipper, it was only his first World Cup goal. He could certainly add to his tally in the next games against Morocco and Brazil. So, who exactly is the club’s top scorer in World Cup history?
Most fans would think of Villa forwards such as Peter Withe, Darius Vassell, Emile Heskey or even Savo Milosevic. However, here are the two Lions who have scored the most goals in World Cup finals.
The former midfielder was surprisingly one of the two Aston Villa men who scored the most goals at the World Cup. He was part of England’s squad at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and was initially not a first-choice starter in Bobby Robson’s XI.
Platt, who spent only three years at Villa Park, was an unused substitute in the opener against Ireland and only came off the bench in the next three games against the Netherlands, Egypt and Belgium in the Round of 16. It was the match against the Red Devils that became memorable for both him and England. He scored the winning goal with just one minute remaining in extra time after taking advantage of Paul Gascoigne’s free-kick.
The midfielder, who earned 62 international caps, soon cemented his place for the remainder of England’s World Cup campaign. He netted two more goals, both headers. They were the opener in the quarter-final, when England dramatically beat Cameroon 3-2 in Naples, and the equaliser in the third-place play-off against the hosts before eventually losing 2-1 in Bari.
The former left winger was a key Aston Villa player from 1952 to 1962. He was the star of the Northern Ireland squad at Sweden 1958. It was their World Cup debut, and their performance was remarkable. McParland played a crucial role throughout the campaign.
He featured on the left wing in a 3-4-2-1 formation in every match. He opened his account in the second game, when Northern Ireland lost 3-1 to Argentina. McParland then bagged a brace to help his side earn a 2-2 draw against reigning champions West Germany, which secured a chance to face Czechoslovakia in a group-stage play-off after both teams finished level on points.
In the play-off, the winger, who passed away last month, showcased his quality once again by scoring another brace, including a goal in extra time. The Eastern European side took an early lead before McParland equalised before the break and completed his brace in the 91st minute. Northern Ireland held on and advanced to the knockout stage.
Unfortunately, they were hammered 4-0 by France in the quarter-finals. McParland failed to add to his tally as Northern Ireland exited the tournament. However, his five goals remain a record that stands to this day as the most scored by an Aston Villa player in World Cup finals.
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