You can have the most technical inverted full-back, the most powerful box-to-box midfielder, and the silkiest playmaker in the world, but they’re all pretty irrelevant if your side isn’t blessed with a player who knows how to put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis.
Now, the sport’s evolution has facilitated the diversification of goalscoring, and strikers are no longer merely tasked with hitting the target. Still, it’s their primary goal (pun very much intended), right?
However, when assessing the very best strikers in the world, the rate at which they score isn’t the be-all and end-all. The development and subsequent complexity of the role mean various factors have to be accounted for.
Here are our top 25 strikers in the world right now.
25. Niclas Fullkrug
"Sorry, who?"
Apologies if you've not heard about Niclas Fullkrug before, but quite frankly you should have been paying attention.
His debut 2021/22 season saw the striker net 19 times and his strong 2022 has seen him called up to Germany's squad for the World Cup.
24. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Arsenal career finished like a lead balloon. The veteran striker was once one of the most feared forwards the Premier League had to offer, and he’s since returned to the English top-flight following a brief stop at Barcelona.
His spell in Catalonia demonstrated his ability to poach in the box when called upon. Aubameyang’s no longer a striker that will tear defences apart with his pace, but he’ll still score plenty as a result of his innate scoring instincts.
However, his hold-up play and all-around game leave plenty to be desired and it remains to be seen whether he’ll excel in Graham Potter’s set-up at Chelsea.
23. Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz once had the world at his feet. His stock rose exponentially at Bayer Leverkusen and many of Europe’s elite were keen on signing the languid German in the summer of 2020.
Havertz had initially emerged as an elegant Raumdeuter in the mould of Thomas Muller before Peter Bosz utilised him as a false nine during the COVID-hit 2019/20 season. His grace in possession, savvy movement and efficiency in the box convinced Chelsea to splurge in excess of £75m for his services, but we’ve rarely seen the Leverkusen Havertz manifest in west London.
He is still a high-quality footballer who’s had his moments for Chelsea – see his winner in the 2021 Champions League final – but he’s certainly yet to fulfil his lofty potential.
Havertz now functions regularly as a withdrawn striker for the Blues, and it’s up to Graham Potter to get the very best out of him. There’s plenty to work with.
22. Alvaro Morata
The most mentally fragile footballer on the planet has enjoyed quite the career. Some might find it remarkable that the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid have entrusted Alvaro Morata with leading their line, but there’s a reason why the Spaniard continues to crop up among Europe’s elite.
Morata is a selfless forward whose dogged channel running and willingness to press mean he’s a manager’s dream. He’s woefully inefficient in front of goal, and he’s a striker that never fills you with confidence when he’s got time on his side.
Despite Morata’s goalscoring issues, his profile is hugely valuable, and he could play a big role for Luis Enrique’s Spain at the World Cup.
21. Gianluca Scamacca
The tattoo-loving Italian had long been touted with a move to Juventus, but after the Bianconeri moved for Dusan Vlahovic, the stage was set for Gianluca Scamacca to move abroad off the back of his breakthrough campaign in Serie A.
Scamacca’s fierce ball striking, impressive heading ability, and underrated athleticism helped him to 16 league goals last season as his Sassuolo side – laden with young talent – emerged as the neutral’s favourite.
Scamacca functioned as Alessio Dionisi’s focal point last season, and he’ll perform a similar role for David Moyes once he settles at West Ham. Hammers supporters have already been treated to glimpses of the towering Italian forward, and he could emerge as Italy’s leading number nine for the next decade.
20. Diogo Jota
Diogo Jota is a flexible forward who can function across Liverpool’s front three. He’s cut from the same cloth as the declining Roberto Firmino, although he’s arguably more dynamic than the subtle Brazilian who’s been so crucial to the Reds’ success under Jurgen Klopp.
Jota was once a very handy option off the bench for Klopp before his persistent production saw him earn regular starts during the 2021/22 season.
Despite his height, Jota is excellent in the air and proficient in the opposition’s box. He’s a player that always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and his skill set means he’s developed into an integral part of Klopp’s set-up at Anfield.
19. Tammy Abraham
Jose Mourinho and Tammy Abraham emerged as a partnership from heaven during the pair’s debut season in the Italian capital. It was Jose who convinced the young English striker to make the switch to Rome in the summer of 2021, and Tammy revealed at the end of last season that he now calls the Portuguese boss his ‘uncle of Rome’.
The former Chelsea striker has rejuvenated his career in Serie A as he enjoyed a stellar debut campaign at the Olimpico. He immediately endeared himself to the fervent home support and would end the season with 17 league goals.
Abraham’s game has already evolved under Mourinho’s tutelage and is close to becoming the perfect modern-day striker. He can do it all: hold the ball up, stretch defences with his pace, poach in the box, and outwit defenders with the subtlest of movement.
18. Antoine Griezmann
Griezmann has spent a few years in the footballing wilderness and it's badly harmed his stock worldwide. But now that he isn't restricted to 30 minutes every week at Atletico Madrid, the Frenchman could return to his best.
The World Cup winner can perform a variety of forward functions, but he excels most in a central position – even if he’s more effective when working off a target man as opposed to running in behind himself. He’s the perfect blend of goalscorer and playmaker.
17. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo, THE Cristiano Ronaldo…at 17! Here come the CR7 stans.
Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of all time, but he’s no longer one of the very best in the world. Only the most ardent of Ronaldo supporters would disagree. Signs of the great man’s demise were evident during his time at Juventus, but he was still able to score at an alarming rate.
Under Andrea Pirlo, though, while he continued to find the back of the net, some would argue he was more of a hindrance in the progressive system.
He carried the goalscoring load at Manchester United last season - impressively scoring 18 times in the Premier League - but a few petulant outbursts haven't helped his cause.
It's a matter of when not if Ronaldo leaves Old Trafford - if any clubs come forward, that is.
16. Ivan Toney
Ivan Toney plays with a swagger that borders on arrogance, but he’s got the ability to back up such confidence. The Brentford striker has enjoyed a steady rise to the top, and he’s scored bucket loads at every level he’s played at.
The Englishman is technically proficient enough to outwit defenders and strong enough to bully them as well. Toney’s a technical outlet who excels in transition, but he’s shown in the past that he can dominate when his side has more of the ball.
15. Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku clearly isn't familiar with the phrase 'never go back'. If he was, he would have told Chelsea to scram when they came calling with £100m in 2021.
Issues with Thomas Tuchel arose and he never hit form on his return to Stamford Bridge, having just established himself as one of the game's modern greats again at Inter.
He has returned to the Nerazzurri in a bid to start firing again, but it hasn't gone swimmingly just yet.
14. Darwin Nunez
The chaotic Uruguayan just makes things happen. His start to life at Liverpool has been a mixed bag to say the least, but he’s already shown in the Premier League that he can make plays when the opposition least expects it.
Nunez lacks refinement but the comparisons to Edinson Cavani are valid. The former Benfica star is a physical behemoth whose relentlessness is enough to deter defenders. He runs the channels at will and is a player capable of lifting his side via the energy he emanates both with and without the ball.
13. Olivier Giroud
The forgotten man in France’s World Cup win, Olivier Giroud is still doing his thing in Serie A.
Often criticised for his lack of pace in the Premier League, Giroud has found a home for himself in the slower, more intricate Italian top flight. The Frenchman led AC Milan to the Scudetto last season and it was his ingenious brace in the Derby della Madonnina that helped turned the tide in the title race.
Giroud scored big goals against Napoli, Lazio, and Sassuolo down the stretch last season, and it’s this knack of turning up when it matters most which means he should still be regarded as one of the best strikers in the world.
12. Jonathan David
Canada international Jonathan David has been a remarkably consistent goalscorer since he made his senior debut with Gent as an 18-year-old.
In his first four full league seasons, David’s scoring tallies read 12, 18, 13, and 15. His goals propelled Lille to the Ligue 1 title during his debut season in France, and the form he’s displayed for Les Dogues over the past two years has seen him emerge as one of the best strikers in the world.
David is a versatile forward who crucially excels with both feet. He’s arguably better playing off a target man as opposed to leading the line himself, but his multi-faceted skill set means he can perform both roles with aplomb.
A big move beckons.
11. Aleksandar Mitrovic
It’s taken some time, but Aleksandar Mitrovic is finally proving himself at the highest level. The brutish Serbian has always boasted the skill set to thrive in the Premier League, but he’s often been hamstrung by the incompetence of those around him.
Now, however, he’s part of a well-coached Fulham side that’s made an excellent start to the season under Marco Silva. Mitrovic is crucial to their success as he functions as their focal point and is superb at bringing others into play, while his heading ability is among the very best in the world.
He’s a striker that opponents have to make a concerted effort to stop, but a rejuvenated Mitrovic is an incredibly tough proposition for any defender. His mammoth 43 goals in the Championship last season propelled Fulham back into the Premier League and he’s returned to the top flight with a point to prove.
10. Ciro Immobile
There are few better natural goalscorers in Serie A than Ciro Immobile. The Italian striker has scored at an alarming rate for almost a decade in Italy.
Immobile is one of just two players in history to win at least four Capocannoniere titles and started the 2022/23 season in typically hot fashion.
The Italian is as ruthless as they come in front of goal and playing with the likes of Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic for several years has certainly helped his cause.
For all his brilliance in front of goal, however, Immobile does leave plenty to be desired in other aspects and these limitations have been exposed at the very highest level. His record for Italy is particularly frustrating.
9. Lautaro Martinez
Admirers of calcio fell in love with the telepathic ‘LuLa’ strike partnership at Inter. Lautaro Martinez had struggled somewhat in his debut season at San Siro amid the backdrop of Mauro Icardi’s looming departure, but the arrivals of Antonio Conte and Romelu Lukaku brought Lautaro to life.
The Argentine immediately hit it off with the Belgian as Conte’s Inter finally ended Juventus’ decade-long reign as Italian champions.
The goals continued to flow in Conte’s absence and Il Toro enjoyed his most productive goalscoring campaign last season under Simone Inzaghi, scoring 21 league goals.
Overall, Lautaro is an intelligent, multi-faceted forward who excels out of possession. He is inconsistent, however, and his ball-striking occasionally lets him down at crucial times.
8. Dusan Vlahovic
Oh, Max Allegri. What are you doing to Dusan Vlahovic?! When Vlahovic arrived at Juventus in January 2022, he was initially regarded as a rebuild-saver in Turin. Juve needed their long-term number nine, and they spent the big bucks to get their man.
And while Vlahovic’s goalscoring record at Juventus is decent, it still pales in comparison to his record at Fiorentina.
The young Serbian forward is a physical behemoth who can score an array of goals thanks to his elite ball striking. He’s great in the air and good enough technically to retain possession under pressure and bring others into play.
Vlahovic offers so much, but Allegri’s pitiful possession structure means he’s so isolated up top and simply doesn’t touch the ball enough. We won’t see the best of the Serb until the manager leaves town for a second time.
7. Gabriel Jesus
Pep Guardiola loves Gabriel Jesus and his incredible start at Arsenal provides a strong rationale why. Pep lauded the Brazilian’s ability out of possession, and Jesus has helped transform the Gunners in 2022/23.
Jesus' impact transcends mere goals and assists. He’s so strong, excellent with his back to goal, and relentless without the ball. He excels in so many aspects that his samba dribbling skills are almost overlooked.
The versatile forward is a four-time Premier League winner who performed a myriad of specific tactical functions at Manchester City. He was criminally underrated during his time at the Etihad, and it feels like he’s been unleashed in north London by Mikel Arteta.
6. Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen’s Serie A goal record is yet to justify the mammoth fee Napoli paid Lille to secure his services in 2020, but the Nigerian’s impact every time he takes to the field most definitely has.
Osimhen has exploded into life as part of a joyous Napoli attack and immediately instils fear into opposing defences as a result of his freakish athleticism and relentlessness when running in behind.
The Nigeria international is one of the most valuable outlets in the world, and a couple of refinements here and there (hold-up play and finishing) could see him eventually join the best striker in the world conversations. He’s currently just a cut below the top five.
5. Harry Kane
The current top five strikers in the world are easily interchangeable in terms of ranking, but it’s pretty clear that they’re the premier quintet at their position.
Tottenham striker Harry Kane slides in at fifth due to the sheer brilliance of his peers. There have been plenty of times where the England skipper has looked like the best number nine/playmaker in the world. There isn’t a pass Kane can’t execute, nor a goal he can’t score.
The ever-elusive piece of silverware shouldn’t detract from Kane’s majesty and, when it’s all said and done, it would be a big surprise if he doesn’t end his career as the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer.
4. Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland may not be as naturally gifted or as marketable as Kylian Mbappe, but he’s currently the best in the world at doing what a striker is employed to do: score goals.
Haaland is a freak of nature, an absolute phenomenon. Standing at 6’5 and blessed with a demonic turn of pace, the Norwegian superstar is football’s answer to Ivan Drago.
His knack for scoring goals has seen him fall into the welcoming lap of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, and Haaland has made a mockery of anyone who believed that his frightening form wouldn’t translate over to the mean and nasty Premier League.
There’s a simplicity to Haaland’s game that’s almost eerie, and ways to stop – or, at least, slow down - the towering Norwegian are yet to be discovered. He’s inevitable.
3. Kylian Mbappe
The epitome of a generational talent. Kylian Mbappe’s rise to superstardom was inevitable after he broke through at Monaco as a 17-year-old during the 2016/17 season.
PSG quickly snapped the teenager up and now Mbappe is regarded by many as the most powerful man in the French capital.
While Mbappe is yet to win the Champions League, he’s won multiple league titles, the World Cup, and is already PSG’s second all-time leading goalscorer. The electric Frenchman has achieved so much in such a short space of time, and he’s well on his way to dominating the sport throughout the 2020s.
2. Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski hasn't always been given the credit he's deserved - if not for a cancelled Ballon d'Or during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, he'd surely have one of the shiny golden balls.
After dominating the Bundesliga for a decade, Lewandowski opted to make the switch to Barcelona in the summer and he’s started from exactly where he left off in Bavaria.
The Poland international combines the finest attributes of his elite contemporaries to create a near-complete centre-forward. Sure, he’s not as quick as Mbappe or as freakish as Haaland, nor can he grow a beard like Benzema or ping 80-yard diagonals as Kane can, but Lewandowski is an efficient monster in his own right.
1. Karim Benzema
Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Real Madrid in 2018 thrust Karim Benzema into the spotlight and, boy, has he delivered.
Following a poor 2017/18 season from a scoring perspective, Benzema has produced 21, 21, 23 and 27 La Liga goalscoring campaigns to re-emerge as one of the best strikers in the world.
The Frenchman leads by example on the pitch, and it was his goals that lifted Los Blancos to a pair of league titles in 2019/20 and 2021/22 and the Champions League in the latter. There’s a subtle genius to Benzema’s play that sees him outwit defences regularly, and his form over the past 18 months has been nothing short of staggering.
The most recent Ballon d'Or winner, we couldn't exactly put Benzema any lower than first.
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Source: 90min
