The best strikers in the world are the most valuable people in the game. The most difficult thing in football is to score goals – and that makes the striker’s role the most important on the field.
The transfer market would certainly agree and of course, being a striker isn’t just about finishing anymore: you also have to hold up, link play, press, run the channels and bully defences.
That makes judging the position particularly tough in the modern age.
How our experts decided the best strikers in the world
Being a striker isn't just about scoring goals (though that's obviously the main bit). We asked our experts to consider not just putting the ball in the back of the net but all-round play: naturally, we didn't want to mark someone like Erling Haaland down based on his lack of passing though, so we've ranked this list by how good each player is on their own merits and how important they are to their team – regardless of what they do.
Our strikers are all players who regularly play in the centre-forward position, despite the prominence of wide attackers these days. Given that this is a form-dependent position, our experts went by current ability but also considered output over the last couple of seasons, as well as legacy as a player in this position. When the call went out for this list, 14 players originally made our esteemed team's thoughts, before we cut that down to 10 based on the scores that they dished out for the world's greatest.
If your favourite isn't here, they might be in one of our other lists. We've compiled the best attackers to complement these strikers, in the best right-wingers in the world and the best left-wingers in the world.
We've also ranked the best goalkeepers in the world, while in defence, we've sorted the best centre-backs in the world, we've ranked the best right-backs in the world and the best left-backs in the world. In midfield, we've got lists of the best defensive midfielders in the world, the best central midfielders in the world and the best attacking midfielders in the world. We also have a list of the best players in the world in any position.
10. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
The big question for many England fans is whether Harry Kane is still in the picture for the incoming Thomas Tuchel by the time the 2026 World Cup rolls around. But for Kane to have a chance he’ll have to keep producing the goods for club and country. That is largely down to Ollie Watkins.
The Aston Villa forward has been outstanding for three seasons now, are it was he, not Kane, who produced England’s iconic moment on their road to the Euros final in Germany. It is a compliment to the 28-year-old that many now think he should be starting for country as well as his club. If he can prove himself at Champions League level with Villa this year, he will be rightly regarded as an elite striker.
9. Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt)
The new Egyptian King? Omar Marmoush has been a revelation in the Bundesliga for Eintracht Frankfurt with an all-round game that feels destined for the Premier League. The star has a boundless energy about him and his all-round forward game has come on leaps and bounds in the past two years.
“The standout performer in the Bundesliga this season, with 13 strikes in 12 matches for an Eintracht Frankfurt side challenging at the top of the table,” FourFourTwo's German football expert Ed McCambridge says of Marmoush. “Harry Kane might have outscored the Egyptian, but no player has been involved in more goals, thanks to his tally of seven assists. Marmoush is the perfect forward, capable of defence-splitting passes and mazy runs as well as fine finishes. A player who doesn’t turn 26 until February is certain to be in high demand next summer.”
8. Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, on loan from Napoli)
Victor Osimhen’s potential has been common knowledge since joining Lille in 2019, but it wasn’t until 2022 that the world really got to see what the ruthless Nigerian was all about. A tall, fast, aerially dominant finishing master, Osimhen’s skillset has seen him score pretty much any type of goal imaginable across his Napoli career, guiding them to the Serie A title in 2023 with 26 goals in 32 league games.
A very public fallout with the club over the summer appears to have put his career on the back burner for a season, however, a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs still appears destined for the 25-year-old in the very near future.
7. Alexander Isak (Newcastle United)
Alexander Isak has been compared to Thierry Henry ever since he landed on English shores. Perhaps it's the tall frame that he uses to motor past defenders, the same right-footed finish in which he leans back to open the goal up, or the prolific rate with which he racks up goals at Newcastle.
But it's also another aspect of his personality. Isak plays with sheer arrogance that he knows he can beat you for pace and explosive movement. He's gone from a big gamble for the price to one of the world's greatest – and he's been fully worth the money.
6. Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Lautaro Martinez’s reputation has undoubtedly fallen victim to the poor coverage of Serie A outside of Italy as the Argentine has consistently been one of the most formidable strikers in the division since signing for Inter Milan in 2018.
The Argentine is averaging around a goal every other game in Milan, performing remarkably alongside a host of different strike partners until guiding the Nerazzurri to two league titles. A ruthless finisher with a surprisingly physical approach, Martinez has used his skillset to fantastic effect in Italy and could potentially set Inter up for a sustained period of dominance in Italy once again.
5. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
If you put together a list of the best forwards in world football every year for the last 12 years, chances are Robert Lewandowski would be on there. The big Pole is 36 now, but shows no signs of slowing down for club or country. He has spearheaded the in-form Barcelona attack recently, with his two-goal performance in the Bernabeu during a 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid a particular highlight.
After also becoming the first player other than Cristiano Roanldo or Lionel Messi to score 100 Champions League goals, Lewy still has time left at the top of European football.
4. Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting)
If you were listing the best forwards in the world a year ago, chances are you wouldn’t be including Viktor Gyokeres - even if he had just ended the previous season as Coventry’s top scorer.
But since moving to Sporting, Gyokeres has shown he can do it at the highest level. His recent hat-trick against Manchester City showcased a player right at the top of his game. The first Swedish forward to score a treble in the Champions League since Zlatan, don’t be surprised to see the biggest clubs keeping an eye on him throughout 2025.
3. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
He may not have had a great start to life in Madrid, but he’s also still Kylian Mbappe. As the old saying goes - form is temporary, class is permanent.
If you asked the majority of football fans for their top five forwards in the world, they would still include the French World Cup winner. Mbappe is the best dribbler in the world, one of the quickest players in football history and still has that deadly finish in his locker. Watch this space, he’ll still prove a mega hit in La Liga.
2. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
In an era of Luis Suarez, Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Harry Kane’s ability to break records is perhaps the biggest testament to his world-class ability which has kept him at the top of the game for the best part of a decade now.
A technically excellent centre-forward who is good in the air and an elite finisher, England's record scorer is as close to the complete striker as it comes, with an astonishing goal record to back him up. Unfortunate circumstances have seen him go without a trophy throughout his illustrious career, perhaps the only criticism left to throw at a player who has been scoring goals at a more consistent rate than almost all his peers.
1. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
The rub of the green may have evaded him of late but there is no one in world football like Erling Haaland. No one can boast his mind-boggling stats, no one can beat the offside trap like him and no one puts the willies up defenders more.
The Scandi superstar started this season like a mansion on fire once more, racing to 10 goals before City's strange slump affected all on board. But Haaland is still the man – and it's a fool who bets against him.
