Wales_national_football_team_records_and_statistics
This page details Wales national football team records; the most capped players, the players with the most goals, Wales's match record by opponent and decade.
Most capped players
- As of 26 March 2024
More information Rank, Player ...
Close
Top goalscorers
- As of 26 March 2024
More information Rank, Player ...
| Rank | Player | Wales career | Caps | Goals | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gareth Bale (list) | 2006–2022 | 111 | 41 | 0.37 |
| 2 | Ian Rush (list) | 1980–1996 | 73 | 28 | 0.38 |
| 3 | Trevor Ford | 1947–1957 | 38 | 23 | 0.61 |
| = | Ivor Allchurch | 1951–1966 | 68 | 23 | 0.34 |
| 5 | Dean Saunders | 1986–2001 | 75 | 22 | 0.29 |
| 6 | Aaron Ramsey | 2008– | 84 | 21 | 0.25 |
| 7 | Craig Bellamy | 1998–2013 | 78 | 19 | 0.24 |
| 8 | Robert Earnshaw | 2002–2012 | 58 | 16 | 0.28 |
| = | Cliff Jones | 1954–1969 | 59 | 16 | 0.27 |
| = | Mark Hughes | 1984–1999 | 72 | 16 | 0.22 |
| 11 | John Charles | 1950–1965 | 38 | 15 | 0.39 |
Close
Age records
- Youngest player to make debut: Harry Wilson – 16 years and 207 days
- Oldest player to play a game: Billy Meredith – 45 years and 229 days
- Youngest player to play at World Cup finals: Roy Vernon – 21 years and 42 days
- Oldest player to play at World Cup finals: Dave Bowen – 30 years and 1 day
- Youngest player to score a goal: Gareth Bale – 17 years and 83 days
Other
- Longest serving player: Billy Meredith – 25 years (1895–1920)
- Firsts
- First International: 26 March 1876 vs
Scotland - First home international: 5 March 1877 vs Scotland
- First win: 26 February 1881 vs
England - First overseas opponent:
France, 25 May 1933 - First win over an overseas opponent: 23 November 1949 vs
Belgium
- Biggest
- Longest
- Longest winning streak: 6, 2 June 1980 – 16 May 1981
- Longest losing streak: 5, 25 March 1876 – 27 March 1880
- First Welsh goal: William Davies, 18 January 1879 vs England
- Youngest player to score: Gareth Bale – 17 years and 83 days, 7 October 2006 v
Slovakia - Most goals scored in one game by a player: 4
- John Price, 12 Feb 1882 vs
Ireland - Jack Doughty, 3 Mar 1888 vs Ireland
- Mel Charles, 11 Apr 1962 vs
Northern Ireland - Ian Edwards, 25 October 1978 vs
Malta
- John Price, 12 Feb 1882 vs
Hat-tricks
Main article: List of Wales national football team hat-tricks
- First hat-trick: John Price, 12 February 1882 vs Ireland
FIFA World Cup
Main article: Wales at the FIFA World Cup
- Qualification
- First match: 15 October 1949 vs England
- First goal: Mal Griffiths vs England, 15 October 1949
- Finals
- First finals: Sweden 1958
- Total number of times qualified for the finals: 2 (1958, 2022)
- First game: 8 June 1958 vs
Hungary - First goal: John Charles vs Hungary, 8 June 1958
- Most successful finals: 1958 – Quarter-finals
- World Cup top goalscorer: 2
UEFA European Championship
Main article: Wales at the UEFA European Championship
- Finals
- First finals: France 2016
- Total number of times qualified for the finals: 2 (2016, 2020)
- First game: 11 June 2016 vs Slovakia
- First goal: Gareth Bale vs Slovakia, 11 June 2016
- Most successful finals: 2016 – Semi-finals
- European Championship top goalscorer: 3
Head to head
More information Opponent, Pld ...
| Opponent | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | W% | D% | L% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Albania |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 50 | 25 |
 Andorra |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
 Argentina |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 50 |
 Armenia |
4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 75 | 25 |
 Australia |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
 Austria |
11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 36.36 | 18.18 | 45.45 |
 Azerbaijan |
8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 87.5 | 12.5 | 0 |
 Belarus |
7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 85.71 | 14.29 | 0 |
 Belgium |
17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 24 | 24 | 29.41 | 29.41 | 41.18 |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 50 | 50 |
 Brazil |
10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 80 |
 Bulgaria |
10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 50 | 10 | 40 |
 Canada |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 66.67 | 0 | 33.33 |
 Chile |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
 China |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
 Costa Rica |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50 | 0 | 50 |
 Croatia |
8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 12.5 | 37.5 | 50 |
 Cyprus |
7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 71.43 | 0 | 28.57 |
 Czech Republic |
6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 16.67 | 66.67 | 16.67 |
| Czechoslovakia |
12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 25 | 50 |
 Denmark |
11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 36.36 | 0 | 63.64 |
 East Germany |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 0 | 75 |
 England |
104 | 14 | 21 | 69 | 91 | 253 | 13.46 | 20.19 | 66.35 |
 Estonia |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 75 | 25 | 0 |
 Faroe Islands |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
 Finland |
17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 14 | 41.18 | 29.41 | 29.41 |
 France |
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 20 | 20 | 60 |
 Georgia |
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 20 | 60 |
 Germany |
10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 30 | 50 |
 Gibraltar |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
 Greece |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 50 | 0 | 50 |
 Hungary |
12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 50 | 16.67 | 33.33 |
 Iceland |
7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 71.43 | 14.29 | 14.29 |
 Iran |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 50 | 0 | 50 |
 Ireland |
62 | 29 | 12 | 21 | 139 | 102 | 46.77 | 19.35 | 33.87 |
 Israel |
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 50 | 50 | 0 |
 Italy |
10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 24 | 20 | 0 | 80 |
 Jamaica |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
 Japan |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
 Kuwait |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
 Latvia |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
 Liechtenstein |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
 Luxembourg |
6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
 Malta |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
 Mexico |
5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 40 | 40 |
 Moldova |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 75 | 0 | 25 |
 Montenegro |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 33.33 | 0 | 66.67 |
 Netherlands |
10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 80 |
 New Zealand |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
 North Macedonia |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 50 | 0 | 50 |
 Northern Ireland |
35 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 52 | 31 | 45.71 | 34.29 | 20 |
 Norway |
11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 14 | 27.27 | 36.36 | 45.45 |
 Panama |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
 Paraguay |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
 Poland |
11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 9.09 | 27.27 | 63.64 |
 Portugal |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 25 | 0 | 75 |
 Qatar |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
 Republic of Ireland |
19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 18 | 42.11 | 26.32 | 31.58 |
 Rest of the United Kingdom |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 50 | 0 | 50 |
 Romania |
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 20 | 20 | 60 |
 Russia |
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 20 | 60 |
 San Marino |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
 Saudi Arabia |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
 Scotland |
107 | 23 | 23 | 61 | 124 | 243 | 21.5 | 21.5 | 57.01 |
 Serbia |
6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 33.33 | 66.67 |
 Slovakia |
5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 60 | 20 | 20 |
 Slovenia |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
 South Korea |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
 Soviet Union |
5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 40 | 40 |
 Spain |
6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 16.67 | 33.33 | 50 |
 Sweden |
7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 14.29 | 85.71 |
 Switzerland |
8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 25 | 12.5 | 62.5 |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
 Tunisia |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
 Turkey |
9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 44.44 | 22.22 | 33.33 |
 Ukraine |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 50 | 25 |
 Uruguay |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 50 |
 United States |
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 66.67 | 33.33 |
 Yugoslavia |
7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 0 | 42.86 | 57.14 |
| West Germany |
7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 42.86 | 57.14 |
| Totals | 710 | 226 | 160 | 324 | 884 | 1143 | 31.83 | 22.54 | 45.63 |
Close
P – Played; W – Won; D – Drawn; L – Lost
Statistics include official FIFA recognised matches only
Up to date as of 26 March 2024
By decade
More information Decade, Pld ...
| Decade | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W% | D% | L% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 20 | −19 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| 1880s | 28 | 8 | 3 | 17 | 60 | 82 | −22 | 28.57 | 10.71 | 60.71 |
| 1890s | 30 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 43 | 112 | −69 | 10 | 16.67 | 73.33 |
| 1900s | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 37 | 60 | −23 | 26.67 | 26.67 | 46.67 |
| 1910s | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 23 | −8 | 20 | 20 | 60 |
| 1920s | 32 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 42 | 61 | −19 | 28.13 | 31.25 | 40.63 |
| 1930s | 30 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 54 | 60 | −6 | 43.33 | 16.67 | 40 |
| 1940s | 15 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 20 | 31 | −11 | 33.33 | 0 | 66.67 |
| 1950s | 49 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 66 | 91 | −25 | 28.57 | 28.57 | 42.86 |
| 1960s | 54 | 12 | 9 | 33 | 74 | 108 | −34 | 22.22 | 16.67 | 61.11 |
| 1970s | 65 | 20 | 18 | 27 | 60 | 67 | −7 | 30.77 | 27.69 | 41.54 |
| 1980s | 68 | 24 | 19 | 25 | 80 | 72 | 8 | 35.29 | 27.94 | 36.76 |
| 1990s | 67 | 24 | 10 | 33 | 79 | 109 | −30 | 35.82 | 14.93 | 49.25 |
| 2000s | 89 | 32 | 23 | 34 | 101 | 97 | 4 | 35.96 | 25.84 | 38.2 |
| 2010s | 85 | 34 | 16 | 35 | 95 | 96 | −1 | 40 | 18.82 | 41.18 |
| 2020s | 48 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 54 | 51 | 0 | 37.5 | 33.33 | 29.17 |
| Overall | 710 | 227 | 159 | 324 | 881 | 1140 | −259 | 31.97 | 22.39 | 45.63 |
Close
P – Played,
W – Won,
D – Drawn,
L – Lost,
GF – Goals For,
GA – Goals Against,
GD – Goal Difference
Statistics include official FIFA recognised matches only
Up to date as of 26 March 2024
- nb1 Only clubs played for while receiving caps are listed.
Bibliography
- Hayes, Dean P. (1994). Wales: The Complete Who's Who of Footballers Since 1946. Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-3700-9.
- Oliver, Guy (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.