The striker is the position on the pitch that best embodies greatness. What distinguishes competent forwards from great legends is their ability to regularly score goals, perform under duress, and bear the weight of expectation. The game has seen some of the most complete, vicious, and memorable goal scorers in history within the last 20 years. players whose names have come to represent achievement, power, and magical events.
However, what really distinguishes a great striker? As one of the most comprehensive forwards of his time, Thierry Henry, once clarified:
“The qualities of a perfect striker include intelligence, movement, poise, and rising when it counts most, in addition to goals.”
In light of this, goal totals aren’t the only factor used to rank the Best Strikers of the 21st Century. Our assessment is based on six main pillars:
Consistency: Not fleeting outbursts of skill, but consistent excellence throughout several seasons.
Goals Ratio: The highest level of clinical finishing and efficiency as indicated by goals per game.
Trophies are significant club and worldwide awards that demonstrate achievement and influence.
Individual Brilliance and Award: Technical proficiency, epiphanies, and impact that goes beyond numbers.
League Competitiveness: The calibre and level of difficulty of the leagues they competed in.
Club Size and Pressure: The largest clubs in the world are subject to the weight of expectations.
Since greatness is determined by more than just numbers but also by the legacy that a player leaves behind, we have also taken into account how well-respected these athletes are by their peers, including competitors, coaches, and legends.
10. Côte d’Ivoire’s Didier Drogba
Career Stats: 18 Trophies, 121 Assists, 302 Goals, and 688 Games
Participating clubs included Shanghai Shenhua, Galatasaray, Guingamp, Marseille, Chelsea, Le Mans, Montreal Impact, and Phoenix. Ascending
Didier Drogba was one of the few strikers who truly embraced the “big-game” mindset. His remarkable record of 10 goals in 10 finals for Chelsea, several of which were game-winning goals, solidified his reputation as a decisive, brave forward. A testament to his quality and consistency in one of the most competitive leagues in the world, he was also the first African player to score 100 Premier League goals.
Drogba’s style of play fused deadly finishing, aerial dominance, and extraordinary physical strength. He was unpredictable and dangerous at the top level due to his technical skill and knowledge, so it wasn’t just physical power.
He was so respected even by his opponents. Rio Ferdinand infamously acknowledged:
It was a nightmare to play against Drogba. He had it all: technique, strength, and intelligence. One of the hardest attackers I’ve ever encountered.
In addition to scoring goals, Drogba’s legacy is based on his ability to perform when it counted most, which is a hallmark of the best attackers in history.
9. Spain’s David Villa
Career totals: 367 goals, 89 assists, 729 games, and 16 trophies
Clubs Played for: Melbourne City, New York City FC, Real Zaragoza, Valencia, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Sporting Gijón, Kobe, Vissel
David Villa was the epitome of a complete forward, combining clinical finishing, technical mastery, and quick movement. Despite his lack of physical strength, defenders at the greatest level were constantly in danger due to his knowledge, timing, and space-exploiting skills.
Villa was aptly summarised by his colleague Andrés Iniesta after Spain’s historic 2010 World Cup victory:
Villa posed a continual danger. He was icy cold in front of goal and always found room. A full forward.
Villa, the second-leading scorer in Spain’s history, was well-known for his poise under pressure, quick thinking, and two-footed finishing. He had a reputation for performing well on football’s biggest stages, whether they were in La Liga, international competitions, or on various continents. He could score goals from inside or outside the box.
8. Sergio Agüero (Argentina)
Career statistics: 21 career trophies, 113 assists, 385 goals, and 685 games.
Teams they represented included Barcelona, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, and Independiente.
Legends, coaches, and teammates have always praised Sergio Agüero. Many people consider him to be one of the acquisitions that helped Manchester City become the dominant force it is today.
The tales have the following to say about him:
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola:
“The greatest striker this team has ever had, Sergio is a legend.” He is irreplaceable, as evidenced by his numbers.
Lionel Messi, a teammate of Barcelona and Argentina:
“I’ve never seen a better finisher than Kun. It is astounding how quickly he can alter a game.
Premier League legend Alan Shearer:
“Agüero is among the best strikers to have ever played in the Premier League; he is incredibly elegant, lethal in the box, and has an incredible goal total.”
Agüero holds the record for the most Premier League hat-tricks in history and was the recipient of the Premier League Golden Boot once. In addition to being the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals for a single club, he is also the foreign player with the most goals for a single Premier League club and the all-time top scorer for Manchester City.
7. France’s Thierry Henry
Career statistics: 21 career trophies, 174 assists, 360 goals, and 794 games.
Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona, and the New York Red Bulls were among the clubs they played for.
With his speed, technique, power, and movement, Thierry Henry was one of the best attackers of his generation. He was one of the most feared forwards in world football because of his ability to score goals from wherever.
The legendary football player Zinedine Zidane:
“Thierry Henry is arguably the world’s best striker.” He can score goals from anywhere and possesses speed, strength, and mobility. You really cannot fight him off.
While at Arsenal, Henry was the Premier League’s top scorer four times, won the European Golden Boot twice, and was crowned the league’s finest player twice. He is considered by many to be the best striker to have ever played in the Premier League.
6. The Englishman Harry Kane
607 games, 390 goals, 105 assists, and one career trophy are among his career stats.
Tottenham Hotspur, Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City, Leicester City, and Bayern Munich were among the teams they played for.
Harry Kane finally got his hands on silverware in Germany in 2025, ending a 33-year wait for a major trophy in his career. Kane was frequently disregarded despite his remarkable individual accomplishments until he left Tottenham, his boyhood club, to win his first major championships.
Kane earned the European Golden Boot in his first season with Bayern Munich. Prior to that, he won the Euro 2024 Golden Boot, several Premier League Golden Boots, and the top scorer title at the 2018 World Cup.
Kane is famous for his clinical finishing with both feet, his aerial dominance, and his ability to score from all areas of the pitch. In addition to scoring goals, he is well-known for his ability to link up plays by dropping deep, making accurate passes, and providing assists. His technical skill and insight are uncommon for a conventional No. 9.
5. The Swedish Zlatan Ibrahimović
Career stats: 32 career trophies, 203 assists, 493 goals, and 827 games.
Malmö FF, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and LA Galaxy are among the clubs they have played for.
Nobody has to say that Zlatan is the greatest. The statistics support his knowledge of it. The tall Swede dominated at every stop while playing for top teams in Spain, England, France, the Netherlands, and Italy.
Zlatan’s goals are masterpieces rather than tap-ins. Standing at 6’5″ (1.95m), he is renowned for his exceptional combination of physical domination, technical skill, and extraordinary imagination. His remarkable agility and balance for his size enable him to execute his signature acrobatic finishes, volleys, and bicycle kicks.
Zlatan earned the Ligue 1 top scorer championship three times and the Serie A top scorer prize twice. His spectacular overhead shot against England in a friendly game in Stockholm on November 14, 2012, is one of the most famous goals in football history, and it earned him the FIFA Puskás Award in 2013
4. Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o
Career statistics: 21 career trophies, 368 goals, and 754 games.
Real Madrid, Leganés, Espanyol, Mallorca, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Everton, Sampdoria, Antalyaspor, Konyaspor, and Qatar SC were among the clubs they played for.
When a renowned analyst and former colleague of Eto’o’s from Arsenal, Thierry Henry, characterises Eto’o as:
“One of the greatest strikers in the game’s history,”
That means exactly what we all know. Devastating speed and deadly finishing were Eto’o’s two main weapons. His lightning-fast pace made it nearly impossible for defenders to keep up, particularly during counterattacks. Eto’o, who is renowned for his precision finishing and his trademark curled shots to the far post, was ice-cold in front of goal.
Eto’o, a real big-game performer for both club and country, flourished under duress. He was the tournament’s best scorer twice and led Cameroon to two Africa Cup of Nations championships. Eto’o delivered when it counted most.
3. Frenchman Karim Benzema
Career statistics: 33 career trophies, 193 assists, 458 goals, and 858 games.
Clubs played for included Al-Ittihad, Real Madrid, and Lyon.
When Karim Benzema won the Ballon d’Or in 2022, he achieved the highest level of football in the world. His win is still regarded as one of the most significant in the history of the award; Benzema defeated Sadio Mané by 356 votes, the second-largest margin of victory ever.
However, Benzema’s magnificence transcends individual honours. Even in the Saudi Pro League, he is the type of striker that plays for the team without expecting anything in return. Under his direction, Al-Ittihad defeated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and Al Hilal SFC to win two trophies, including the league title.
Benzema has been the top scorer in the Club World Cup, Ligue 1, the UEFA Champions League, and La Liga, despite never having won the European Golden Boot. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time due to his unique blend of technical skill, intelligence, and finishing ability.
2. Poland’s Robert Lewandowski
Career statistics: 38 career trophies, 158 assists, 560 goals, and 859 games.
Delta Warsaw, Znicz Pruszków, Lech Poznań, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona were among the clubs that participated.
Although it doesn’t lessen his amazing reputation, Robert Lewandowski is regarded as one of the best players who has never won the Ballon d’Or. He is a two-time FIFA Best Men’s Player, a two-time European Golden Boot winner, and a UEFA Player of the Year.
Lewandowski has been an unrelenting, clinical striker for both club and nation. He buries opportunities, scores from any distance, and uses his physical presence to combine finishing with aerial dominance, making him a nightmare for defenders when he’s in the box.
Many people think Lewandowski should have won the 2020 Ballon d’Or, but the award was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, depriving him of what many perceived as a well-earned, certain victory, similar to Benzema’s resounding victory in 2022.
Lewandowski’s goal totals of 101 goals in 147 games for Barcelona and an incredible 344 goals in 375 games for Bayern Munich speak for themselves. His ability to perform at his peak long into his mid-30s is live evidence that age is nothing more than a number.
1. Uruguayan Luis Suárez
Career stats: 23 career trophies, 271 assists, 506 goals, and 829 games.
Groningen, Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Club Nacional, and Inter Miami were among the clubs they represented.
Luis Suárez has excelled in every venue where he has performed, both individually and as a team. He demonstrated his class on the grandest stages by winning the European Golden Boot twice, once at Liverpool and again at Barcelona, during the heyday of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
When Barcelona released Suárez, many believed his career was over, but he answered his detractors by leading Atletico Madrid to the La Liga championship the very next season. In just 32 games, he scored 21 goals and dishevelled three assists, helping them win the championship.
Suárez met up with his long-time buddy Lionel Messi at Inter Miami in 2024. He was still producing at the age of 37, making 37 games in Major League Soccer and dishing up 12 assists and 25 goals. Suárez, who is 38 years old, is still playing at the highest level possible thanks to his unwavering hunger, tenacity, and goal-scoring instincts.
NOTABLE MENTIONS
| Rank | Full Name |
| 11 | Klaas-Jan Huntelaar |
| 12 | Gonzalo Higuaín |
| 13 | Miroslav Klose |
| 14 | Robin van Persie |
| 15 | Edinson Cavani |
| 16 | Edin Džeko |
| 17 | Romelu Lukaku |
| 18 | Erling Haaland |
| 19 | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang |
| 20 | Lautaro Martínez |
xz
