Crystal Palace have often possessed a target man who knows where the back of the net is. Take, for example, Andy Johnson, who could score all types of goals, including impressive headers, despite his five-foot-seven-inch frame.
Johnson is just one of eight Palace heroes who scored more than 40 goals during their time at Selhurst Park. Many of those have been when the stakes are high, such as in a cup final or during a relegation battle.
The Eagles will be hoping that Jorgen Strand Larsen ends up on their list of all-time top goalscorers once he eventually calls time on his career. But who are the top 10 most prolific players to have represented the South Londoners?
10 – Darren Ambrose (Midfielder)
Every Crystal Palace fan who watched the club during the 2010s will remember Darren Ambrose’s goal against Manchester United in 2011. It was a stunning 35-yard wonderstrike that stunned Old Trafford.
That was one of many outrageous goals scored during the former English midfielder’s three-year spell. He became a fan favourite for his clinical finishing and work rate.
Ambrose was able to play in multiple midfield positions, including out wide. He was crucial for the Eagles in a difficult period amid the threat of administration.
9 – Ian Wright (Forward)
Most English football fans remember Ian Wright for his time at Arsenal, but he will forever be cherished by Crystal Palace supporters. The iconic English forward forged a formidable partnership with Mark Bright between 1986 and 1991.
Wright fired over 100 goals in five seasons before making the move to the Gunners in September 1991. He returned from a broken leg for the 1990 FA Cup final and scored a brace in a 3-3 draw against Manchester United before losing the replay 1-0.
Crowned Palace’s Player of the Century, he was an exciting attacker who lit up Selhurst Park with his pace and direct approach. He started out late but worked out great.
8 – Eberechi Eze (Attacker)
No Crystal Palace player has ever scored a more important goal than the one Eberechi Eze netted against Manchester City at Wembley in May 2025. That proved to be the winner in the FA Cup final, which gave the Eagles a major trophy for the first time in their history.
Eze flourished during his five years at Selhurst Park, growing into one of the Premier League’s most highly-admired attacking talents. That’s why Arsenal paid £67.5m to take him to the Emirates in the summer of 2025.
The Englishman’s versatility, along with his incredible flamboyance on the ball, was a real asset for Palace. He thrilled fans with his style of play and was always dangerous in front of goal.
7 – Mark Bright (Forward)
Consistency is key for a forward to thrive in the top-flight, and Mark Bright very rarely put in a performance below 7/10. A fox-in-the-box with a predatory instinct, he was a nightmare for the opposition defence.
Bright’s connection with Wright undoubtedly made for the club’s best forward duo in history. They were almost telepathic as they broke forward in tandem.
A PFA Team of the Year member, he finished as the top scorer in the 1987-88 Second Division campaign. When the current crop struggles in front of the goal, broadcasters often cut to Bright watching on from the stands, almost in appreciation for his legendary exploits.
6 – Glenn Murray (Striker)
It speaks volumes of Glenn Murray’s impact at Crystal Palace that most fans still respect their former striker despite his spell at rivals Brighton. He was the Eagles’ promotion hero in 2012-13, firing the team to the Premier League with 30 goals in 42 games.
Murray was a real target man and a clever operator who brought others into the game thanks to his superb hold-up play. He used his six-foot frame effectively in set-piece situations and headed home a famous winner in a 2-1 win over Manchester United in the 2011-12 League Cup quarter finals.
The Englishman spent four years with the South Londoners, which included a loan spell at Reading. He wrote his name in the club’s history books thanks to his Championship Golden Boot.
5 – Jean-Philippe Mateta (Striker)
When Jean-Philippe Mateta is at his best, he’s hard to stop, and that’s not just because of his height, standing at six-foot-four inches tall. The Frenchman is incredibly agile for a man of his size and isn’t just a typical number nine.
Some glorious strikes are on Mateta’s highlight reel, including his remarkable goal in a 2-2 draw against Arsenal in April 2025. He hit the 50-goal milestone in a 2-1 win over West Ham United in September 2025.
The South Londoners might have their issues with the former Mainz frontman because of his efforts to leave the club in January. But there’s no denying he’s one of the greatest forwards to arrive at Selhurst Park.
4 – Andy Johnson (Striker)
A proper Barclaysman, Andy Johnson, was deadly in front of goal, and scoring wasn’t his only main attribute. The English striker’s pace left defenders for dead as he surged forward onto a loose ball and often buried the ball past the goalkeeper.
Johnson came to the fore for Palace in the 2003-04 season, bagging 32 goals as the Eagles flew up to the Premier League. Such was the bond between the player and club that he returned to Selhurst Park after his initial four-year spell for a swansong in 2014-15.
The former eight-cap England international retired at the club in early 2015. It was only right that he called time on his career with the South Londoners, where he earned a place among their top goalscorers.
3 – Dougie Freedman (Striker)
A true Crystal Palace icon, Dougie Freedman was a breath of fresh air during a turbulent period in the club’s history. The Scot knew when to make the right run and how to find the back of the net throughout his two spells with the Eagles.
Freedman ensured the South London outfit remained in the Championship with an 87th-minute winner against Stockport County on the final day of the 2000-01 season. He was so intelligent, and perhaps his footballing IQ was why he decided a 3-2 win over Brighton was the perfect occasion to net his 100th goal.
Palace have benefited not just from his goalscoring prowess but also from his knack for finding talent. He took charge of the club as manager in 2011-12, then served as sporting director for eight years until 2025.
2 – Wilfried Zaha (Winger)
Thankfully, Manchester United didn’t know how to get the best out of Wilfried Zaha. The Ivorian attacker was given a chance at Old Trafford, but that wasn’t the case during his two spells at Selhurst Park.
Zaha was handed the main man role in the Crystal Palace team throughout his career. A talisman during the 2010s, he is the club’s all-time top goalscorer in the Premier League with 68 goals in 291 games.
It’s a shame the former Eagles attacker wasn’t part of the club’s FA Cup triumph in 2025. He deserved to get his hands on the silverware on the basis of his contributions in the red and blue of Palace.
1 – Clinton Morrison (Striker)
Clinton Morrison is the only Crystal Palace player to score more than 100 goals for the club. That’s quite astonishing when you think of all the fearsome attackers who have played for the Eagles.
To put it in perspective, Morrison’s first spell with Palace from 1998 to 2002 would land him fifth in the goalscoring charts (61 goals). His second stint saw him net 41 goals from 2005 to 2008, putting him eighth.
Morrison’s loyalty to the club is undeniable, sticking with the Eagles through financial difficulties. He exceeded expectations during his time with the South Londoners, and he is criminally underrated, even as Premier League fans often snub him in debates over the best frontmen in the league’s history.
| Rank | Player | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Clinton Morrison | 312 | 110 |
| 2. | Wilfried Zaha | 458 | 90 |
| 3. | Dougie Freedman | 322 | 88 |
| 4. | Andy Johnson | 158 | 83 |
| 5. | Jean-Philippe Mateta | 186 | 56 |
| 6. | Glenn Murray | 126 | 47 |
| 7. | Mark Bright | 144 | 46 |
| 8. | Eberechi Eze | 169 | 40 |
| 9. | Ian Wright | 100 | 38 |
| 10. | Darren Ambrose | 124 | 37 |
