Benedict Saul "Benni" McCarthy (born 12 November 1977) is a South African footballer who is currently contracted to Orlando Pirates in South Africa.

McCarthy holds the record of international goals for a South African. He is the Bafana Bafana's all-time top-scorer with 31 goals.

Benni McCarthy was born in Cape Town and grew up in Hanover Park on the Cape Flats, an area notorious for its high unemployment rate and gang violence. He is the son of Dudley and Dora McCarthy and has two brothers and a sister. His older brother is Jerome McCarthy, a former professional footballer who played for Kaizer Chiefs and Manning Rangers among other clubs,while his younger brother Mark played football at Franklin Pierce University in the United States.

McCarthy started playing at a local side called Young Pirates which was managed by his uncles. He then joined the youth structures of a local amateur club called Crusaders. At age 17, he was signed by 1st division club Seven Stars. He is managed by ExtraTime S.L.