Benni McCarthy is the South Africa national football team's record goal scorer.
Benni McCarthy is South Africa's record goal scorer with 31 international goals to his name.

Benedict McCarthy is a former South African footballer who represented his country 79 times and scored 31 goals between 1997 and 2012.[1] He played as a forward during the course of his career and is the top scorer in the history of the national team, having broken Shaun Bartlett's previous record of 29 international goals in a friendly win over Paraguay in March 2008.[2]

Having previously represented South Africa at under-23 level, McCarthy made his senior debut on 4 June 1997 against the Netherlands.[3] He scored his first international goals on 16 February 1998, scoring four times in 13 minutes against Namibia at the 1998 African Cup of Nations. He added another goal against Morocco and scored twice more against the Democratic Republic of Congo to lead South Africa to the final. Though the nation were ultimately beaten by Egypt, McCarthy was named Player of the Tournament, and collected the Top Scorer award for his seven goals.[4][5] Later that year, at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, he scored South Africa's first ever goal at a World Cup finals, netting the equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Denmark that saw the nation earn a point at the competition for the first time.[6] Adding three friendly goals against Iceland and Egypt, McCarthy ended with 11 goals to his name for the year.

He temporarily retired from international football in 1999 following club-versus-country conflicts and missed the 2000 African Cup of Nations as a result.[7] Two years later, he scored at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in a 3–2 loss to Spain.[8]

On 9 September 2007, McCarthy equalled Bartlett's national record when he scored in a 3–1 loss to Zambia.[9] He broke the record the following year against Paraguay and scored one more goal before retiring from football in 2013 at the age of 35.[10] At the time of his retirement, he was South Africa's fourth most-capped player. Of McCarthy's 31 international goals, 15 were scored in friendlies – including 2 at the HKSAR Reunification Cup and 1 at U.S. Cup – 7 at the African Cup of Nations, 4 during African Cup of Nations qualifying, 3 in World Cup qualifying and a further 2 at the World Cup finals.

International goals

South Africa score listed first, score column indicates score after each McCarthy goal.[11]
International goals scored by Benni McCarthy
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref(s)
1 16 February 1998 Stade Omnisport, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso  Namibia 1–0 4–1 1998 African Cup of Nations [4][12]
2 2–0 [4][12]
3 3–0 [4][12]
4 4–0 [4][12]
5 22 February 1998 Stade Municipal, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso  Morocco 1–0 2–1 [5][12]
6 25 February 1998  DR Congo 1–1 2–1 [5][12]
7 2–1 [5][12]
8 6 June 1998 Baiersbronn Stadion, Baiersbronn, Germany  Iceland 1–0 1–1 Friendly [13][14]
9 18 June 1998 Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse, France  Denmark 1–1 1–1 1998 FIFA World Cup [6][15]
10 16 December 1998 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa  Egypt 1–1 2–1 Friendly [16][17]
11 2–1 [16][17]
12 27 February 1999 Odi Stadium, Mabopane, South Africa  Gabon 4–1 4–1 2000 African Cup of Nations qualification [18][19]
13 5 June 1999 ABSA Stadium, Durban, South Africa  Mauritius 2–0 2–0 [20][21]
14 7 June 2000 The Cotton Bowl, Dallas, United States  Mexico 1–2 2–4 2000 Nike U.S. Cup [22]
15 24 March 2001 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa  Mauritius 1–0 3–0 2002 African Cup of Nations qualification [23][24]
16 5 May 2001 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa  Zimbabwe 2–0 2–1 2002 World Cup qualification [23][25]
17 15 January 2002 Mmabatho Stadium, Mafikeng, South Africa  Angola 1–0 1–0 Friendly [23][26]
18 23 May 2002 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong  Turkey 1–0 2–0 HKSAR Reunification Cup [27]
19 2–0 [27]
20 12 June 2002 Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon, South Korea  Spain 1–1 2–3 2002 FIFA World Cup [8][28]
21 22 May 2003 ABSA Stadium, Durban, South Africa  England 1–1 1–2 Friendly [29][30]
22 15 November 2003 Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt  Egypt 1–0 1–2 Friendly [31][32]
23 18 August 2004 Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia  Tunisia 2–0 2–0 Friendly [23][33]
24 10 October 2004 Mandela National Stadium, Kampala, Uganda  Uganda 1–0 1–0 2006 World Cup qualification [23][34]
25 9 February 2005 ABSA Stadium, Durban, South Africa  Australia 1–0 1–1 Friendly [23][35]
26 4 June 2005 Estádio da Várzea, Praia, Cape Verde  Cape Verde 1–0 2–0 2006 World Cup qualification [23][36]
27 7 September 2005 Weser-Stadion, Bremen, Germany  Germany 2–3 2–4 Friendly [37][38]
28 14 January 2006 Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt  Egypt 2–1 2–1 Friendly [39]
29 9 September 2007 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa  Zambia 1–3 1–3 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification [9]
30 26 March 2008 Super Stadium, Atteridgeville, South Africa  Paraguay 2–0 3–0 Friendly [2]
31 15 October 2008 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa  Ghana 1–1 2–1 Friendly [40][41]

See also

References

  1. ^ Wilbanks, Carri; Pedroncelli, Peter (26 April 2016). "8 Things You Didn't Know About Footballer Benni McCarthy". AFK Sports. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Benni's 30th goal the clincher". The South African. 1 April 2008. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  3. ^ Acar, Jason (10 April 2014). "Benni McCarthy – A South African Football Legend". Soccer Laduma. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Benni McCarthy Career in Facts and Figures". Kick Off. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d "Celebrating Mzansi's Great Leaders". Soccer Laduma. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  6. ^ a b "10 Thrilling Bafana Bafana matches: Denmark 1–1 South Africa". Goal. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Remember Benni's Run-Ins With SAFA?". Soccer Laduma. 9 October 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  8. ^ a b "10 Thrilling Bafana Bafana matches: Spain 3–2 South Africa". Goal. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Wake-up call for advancing Bafana". FIFA. 10 September 2007. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Benni McCarthy retires from football at the age of 35". BBC. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Benedict Saul "Benni" McCarthy – International Appearances". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "African Cup of Nations 1998 - Final Tournament Details". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2017.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ "South Africa v Iceland". Goal. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  14. ^ "South Africa v Iceland, 06 June 1998". 11v11. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  15. ^ "South Africa v Denmark 1–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  16. ^ a b "SA beat Egypt 2–1". Mail & Guardian. 17 December 1998. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  17. ^ a b "South Africa confident ahead of Egypt match". KickOff. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  18. ^ "The Bafana Bafana, SA soccer team, wins the home game against Gabon 4–1". South African History Online. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  19. ^ "South Africa v Gabon, 27 February 1999". 11v11. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  20. ^ "Bafana Bafana, the SA soccer team, beats Mauritius 2–0 in a home game". South African History Online. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  21. ^ "South Africa v Mauritius". 11v11. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  22. ^ "Mexico downs South Africa 4–2, sets up championship match with USA". Soccer Times. 7 June 2000. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g "South Africa – International Matches 2001–2005". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  24. ^ P"South AFrica v Mauritius, 24 March 2001". 11v11. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  25. ^ "South Africa v Zimbabwe, 5 May 2001". 11v11. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  26. ^ "South Africa v Angola, 15 January 2002". 11v11. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  27. ^ a b "Bafana outclass Turkey". News24. 23 May 2002. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  28. ^ "South Africa v Spain 2–3". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  29. ^ Glendenning, Barry (22 May 2003). "South Africa 1 – 2 England". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  30. ^ "South Africa v England 1–2". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  31. ^ Said, Nick (9 June 2016). "Previous results give underdogs Bafana Bafana slight edge over Egypt". Times Live. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  32. ^ "South Africa v Egypt, 15 November 2003". 11v11. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  33. ^ "South Africa v Tunisia, 18 August 2004". 11v11. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  34. ^ "South Africa v Tunisia, 10 October 2004". 11v11. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  35. ^ "South Africa v Australia 1–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  36. ^ "South Africa v Cape Verde, 4 June 2005". 11v11. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  37. ^ "Germany v South Africa". ESPN. 7 September 2005. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  38. ^ "South Africa v Germany, 7 September 2005". 11v11. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  39. ^ Kwakofi, Vera (14 January 2006). "Egypt 1–2 South Africa". BBC. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  40. ^ "South Africa 2–1 Ghana". Goal. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  41. ^ "South Africa v Ghana, 15 October 2008". 11v11. Retrieved 1 August 2017.

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