The Best Strikers in World Football Ranked

Every team wants a world-class centre-forward to lead their line, and there is arguably a lack of top strikers in today’s game compared to previous generations.

Scoring goals on a regular basis is a priceless attribute, and all clubs want a proven finisher in their ranks, but they can come at a huge price.

That being said, there are still a plethora of elite strikers at the top of their games, but who is the best number nine around today?

Ranking factors

To help rank the strikers in order, we have considered the following criteria:

Current form – how well a player has performed in the past few months

Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their team’s performances

Role – how unique their skillset is

Reputation – what others say about them

18

Cristiano Ronaldo

Al Nassr and Portugal

Arguably one of the best players to have ever graced the game, Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong at the age of 41 and has actually scored more goals since turning 30 than he did before.

He’s been plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League for Al Nassr since 2023 and has continued to find the back of the net on a regular basis, even if he fell a little flat at the World Cup.

Ronaldo is pushing to achieve 1000 career goals for club and country, and while he’s far from what he once was, there always has to be a place for the great man on this list.

17

Kai Havertz

Arsenal and Germany

Signed as a midfielder from Chelsea, it’s safe to say that Kai Havertz’s move to the Emirates Stadium was not met with universal approval.

That said, he’s been a revelation in the famous red of Arsenal, transforming from an inconsistent playmaker into a truly elite number 9. He drops deep, he links play, he can create, and he’s also now pretty prolific in front of goal.

The Gunners missed him for a while with injury, but he roared back to open the scoring in May’s Champions League final defeat.

16

Samu Aghehowa

Porto and Spain

The former Atletico Madrid man is now renowned as one of the best young centre-forwards in the business, and it’s easy to see why. Previously subject of interest from Chelsea, he ultimately signed for Porto and has not looked back since.

In 2024/25, the Spaniard found the net on 27 occasions in 45 outings for his club side, before adding a further 20 in 2025/26.

15

Benjamin Sesko

Manchester United and Slovenia

Previously compared to Erling Haaland for his wiry yet powerful frame, Sesko rose to stardom in Germany, much like his Norwegian counterpart.

The Slovenian centre-forward bagged 21 goals in all competitions throughout 2024/25, earning interest from not just United but also at Arsenal.

A slow start at Old Trafford was followed by an explosion in early 2026 under Michael Carrick, with the 23-year-old scoring ten times in all competitions between January and May.

14

Serhou Guirassy

Borussia Dortmund and Guinea

The definition of a late bloomer, Guirassy has become one of the most menacing strikers in world football over the last few years. In 2024/25, the 29-year-old Guinea international scored as many as 38 goals in 50 games, before plundering a further 22 last season.

He’s not quite built up the same reputation as some of the names on this list, but his performances over in Germany deserve a mention.

13

Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool and France

Hugo Ekitike became a man in demand after impressing for Eintracht Frankfurt, with Liverpool winning the race to secure his services for an initial £69m.

The 22-year-old previously made his loan move to Frankfurt from Paris Saint-Germain permanent in 2024 and enjoyed his best-ever season in front of goal. PSG are doing just fine themselves without Ekitike; however, they will surely be kicking themselves regarding the decision to sell the “next Mbappe”, even if his bright start at Liverpool has been hampered by injury.

12

Marcus Thuram

Inter Milan and France

Marcus Thuram made history in 2025 with the quickest goal to be scored in a Champions League semi-final following his clever flick against Barcelona.

The French forward has had the best goalscoring season of his career in 2024/25, before netting a further 18 in 2025/26, and at 28, appears to be at the peak of his powers.

11

Robert Lewandowski

Chicago Fire and Poland

Robert Lewandowski has been a prolific goalscorer for the entirety of his career, enjoying stunning spells with Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona

Now at MLS side Chicago Fire, the Poland international has hit over 700 career goals, and if he plays into his 40s, he could quite easily hit 800 before his retirement.

10

Alexander Isak

Liverpool and Sweden

Alexander Isak is regarded as one of the world’s best centre-forwards after starring in the Premier League for Newcastle United, and his record £125m transfer to Liverpool was the saga of the 2025 summer window.

Jamie Carragher, at the beginning of 2025, actually called Isak the “best striker in the Premier League”, and while his start to life at Anfield hasn’t gone to plan, 2026/27 might well be the time for a resurgence.

9

Viktor Gyokeres

Arsenal and Sweden

Few would have expected Viktor Gyokeres to be one of the best strikers in the world a few years ago when he was at Coventry City in the Championship. However, Isak’s Sweden colleague is now deservedly regarded among the elite after starring with Sporting CP and Arsenal.

Gyokeres scored 43 times in his debut season in Portugal and proved he wasn’t a one-season wonder by finding the back of the net more than 50 times in 24/25.

Since moving to the Emirates, it hasn’t all been plain sailing, although he did finish as the Gunners’ top scorer as they claimed a first league title in 20 years, netting 21 goals in all competitions.