Nepal’s national football team holds a record that is both historic and unsettling. The highest number of goals ever scored for the men’s national team is just 13, a tally shared by three players: Hari Khadka, Nirajan Rayamajhi, and current national team forward Anjan Bista.

Among them, Anjan Bista stands out not only because he is still actively playing, but because he remains the strongest candidate to finally move past this long-standing record. Despite several opportunities in recent years, the milestone has remained stubbornly out of reach. Still, with age on his side and more international matches likely ahead, Bista’s pursuit of history is far from over.

A Record Waiting to Be Broken

Hari Khadka and Nirajan Rayamajhi set the benchmark years ago, scoring 13 goals each during their international careers. Decades later, the number has not changed. That alone speaks volumes.

Anjan Bista has been “eyeing” the record for some time, consistently contributing to the national side and carrying much of Nepal’s attacking responsibility. While injuries, limited international fixtures, and tactical constraints have slowed his progress, there is growing belief that it is only a matter of time before he becomes Nepal’s outright top scorer.

The Bigger Problem Behind the Numbers

Yet the focus should not rest on one player alone. The more troubling issue is the statistic itself.

In modern international football, where top nations boast players with 30, 50, or even 100 international goals, Nepal’s highest-ever total of 13 highlights a deeper structural problem. Limited exposure to competitive matches, lack of consistent youth development, insufficient domestic league intensity, and tactical conservatism at the international level all play a role.

Nepali forwards often spend matches isolated, defending deep rather than attacking with numbers. As a result, goal-scoring chances are rare, and strikers are judged on moments rather than momentum.

Hope, but Also a Wake-Up Call

If Anjan Bista does break the record in the coming years, it will be a proud moment for Nepali football. But celebration should come with reflection. A national team’s all-time top scorer should not still be hovering in the low teens. Breaking the 13-goal barrier should be the beginning, not the destination.

For Nepal to grow as a footballing nation, the aim must be to produce systems where strikers regularly score, confidence flows from club to country, and future players chase records far greater than 13.