Because football is a physically demanding sport, we frequently see athletes who are incredibly tall on the pitch.
Tall players are rather uncommon in the current game at the striker position, even if height is advantageous in some roles like goalie and centre defender. It used to be the old-fashioned belief that the striker would always be tall and physically strong enough to take on the tall and powerful defenders.
In order to lay the ball off to the wingers or midfielders, teams would try to go long and direct to the striker, who could battle his way into position. This led to the very basic idea of “lump it to the big lad up top.” The game has evolved since then, becoming more intricate and distinctive, but the huge forwards can still cause havoc when they play at their best.
There have been numerous instances of this throughout football history, but very few have achieved significant success and boasted careers filled with goals, trophies, and other accolades. In light of this, GIVEMESPORT has made the decision to create a list of the best large men with a good touch in football history, honouring those towering individuals who, despite their bulk, have technical strength.
10Jan Koller
Height: 2.02m
First up is six-foot-eight Jan Koller, who was praised throughout his career for his dominating aerial skills and physicality. On his path to winning several league titles, he also had an incredibly impressive goal total for a player of his size, topping the charts in Germany and Belgium.
He was one of the Czech Republic’s greatest weapons on the international scene, and following his stellar career, he is still the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer. He was a fearsome attacker during his career and scored in the historic 3-2 victory over the Netherlands at Euro 2004.
9Nikola Zigic
Height: 2.02m
Koller and another titan, Nikola Zigic, are both on this list as the tallest players, and Zigic has shown himself to be a capable striker in both the Premier League and La Liga. He was a bit of a cult character in England, having contributed to Birmingham City’s historic League Cup victory over Arsenal in 2011. His toughness, determination, and ability to be a bother for defenders gave him that reputation.
His knockdowns and flick-ons were the main source of his link-up play, but during his career, he received a lot of praise for his technical skill in general play. Per Mertesacker, a former World Cup winner, once said of him that he was “technically a good player and very smart tactically” and that he was quite beneficial to both club and country.
8John Carew
Height: 1.95m
John Carew, a six-foot-five towering presence, may have flourished in the contemporary game. His height made him a constant threat in the air, and many people misjudged his technical skill. During his tenure in the top divisions of Spain, England, and France, he was a real striking menace.
In retrospect, he demonstrated a wide range of abilities, including strong strikes, backheel attempts, and precise finishes. In terms of quickness, he was also no slouch; the forward could generate enough speed to get past goalkeepers and outpace defenders by using his anticipation. The Norwegian is well-deserving of his position on this list and also had quick feet, which worked to his advantage.
7Duncan Ferguson
Height: 1.93m
Duncan Ferguson will always be cited by supporters as one of the most terrifying football players of the twenty-first century, and they would be right. What is sometimes overlooked in the physical altercations and head-to-head encounters, though, is that the formidable Scotsman was a superb football player who posed a serious threat to the top defenders in the Premier League at the time.
He demonstrated this during two stints at Everton, where he was able to be a skilled all-around striker who could link up with those around him in addition to being powerful in the air during the early 2000s, when the Toffees had a potent assault. Although he may have received the most red cards in Premier League history, “Big Dunc” was more than simply a bully of defenders.
6Luca Toni
Height: 1.93m
Luca Toni, an Italian icon with over 300 goals in his career, is one of the most underappreciated attackers of his era. Despite spending nearly his whole career in Italy, he perfected his craft and won the European Golden Shoe once and twice finished as Serie A’s top scorer.
The six-foot-four striker, who was a product of a different era, had little trouble scoring goals. Known for being a box striker, his lack of speed forced him to play primarily in a fixed position. He was excellent in every facet of his renowned unconventional style, using his physicality and first touch to connect with teammates, locate half a yard to shoot, or lay on an assist.
5Mario Mandzukic
Height: 1.90m
Mario Mandzukic was a fantastic all-around striker, as seen by his time spent playing for teams like Juventus, Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich. He was another large striker with a reputation for being tall and physically strong, and he demonstrated this ability throughout his career at the top level.
His long-range overhead kick in the 2017 Champions League final, which earned him the UEFA Goal of the Season award, is one such instance that instantly comes to mind. He demonstrated that he was a top player who never relied on his stature but instead used it to his advantage while playing for prestigious clubs in Germany, Italy, and Spain.
4Edin Dzeko
Height: 1.93m
Throughout his lengthy and illustrious career, Edin Dzeko shown that his talent could be applied to many nations and leagues, and he experienced great success. His style of play was very successful in the Bundesliga, Serie A, or the Premier League. The Bosnian ace was a true weapon in attack, skilled both on foot and in the air.
Despite not having a lot of speed, he was able to outplay defenders by using his timing and movement skills as well as his ability to link up and finish in a variety of ways. He scored a long-range volley for Roma against Chelsea with his weaker foot, and his career is filled with memorable moments that demonstrate how good he was as a larger striker.
3Olivier Giroud
Height: 1.93m
Olivier Giroud was an outstanding forward who led France to the 2018 World Cup as their main offensive weapon despite not scoring a goal. Giroud, who was never gifted with speed, had to develop his abilities in a different way. As a result, he became the best link-up man and could score incredible goals with either foot or head.
This was exemplified by his four goals for Chelsea against Sevilla in 2020, where he demonstrated his all-around technical skill with a chipped finish with his right, a placed finish with his left, a spectacular header, and a decisive penalty. He demonstrated his ability to connect with a wide range of players during his career, including providing Jack Wilshere with the incredible flick assist in that game-winning goal against Norwich in 2013–14. They no longer produce them like Giroud.
2Peter Crouch
Height: 2.01m
Peter Crouch was a magnificent football player and one of the greatest ‘big men’ we have ever seen, but his post-football career has been in entertainment. In addition to being a vital member of Liverpool in the Premier League and Champions League and playing alongside the best teams at the time, he had a stellar goal record for England.
Despite his six-foot-seven frame, Crouchy had excellent feet and could trap passes, lay off, and even dribble past defenders. He was also lethal in the air. His several overhead kick goals that defied gravity were the best demonstration of his technical skill, and his 30-yard volley for Stoke City during the 2011–12 season was the career-defining event that cemented his legacy.
1Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Height: 1.95m
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the self-described “God” of men, is unique among tall strikers. He possessed a remarkable level of technical skill that allowed him to dribble past several players and score goals like a deft five-foot-seven winger despite his tall stature. He was a totally unique player. The Swede could blast an overhead kick from a distance or even score from 40 yards out on the half-volley.
He was a striker’s cheat code, which is why he played for the greatest clubs in Europe. Ibrahimovic was a versatile player who won nearly every award he was eligible to win while playing in a variety of leagues and systems, from Manchester United to Barcelona, thanks to his excellent first touch.
