Who are the top 20 best strikers in the world? Profiles, stats, more

Who are the top 20 best strikers in the world? Profiles, stats, more

Helix Odhiambo, Jackline Wangare

The best strikers in the world prove their value every time they step on the pitch. Beyond scoring goals, forwards also contribute to the defensive aspect of football by holding the ball and creating chances. Let's explore their details.

Best strikers in the world
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

The best strikers in the world have scored over 25 goals per season for their club and international teams. They have the power to change the outcome of a match when in possession of the ball or create chances.

Who are the best strikers in the world in 2023?

The iconic contributions of the strikers remain significant to football's history. These are some of the best strikers in the world ever. They are ranked by the number of goals scored.

20. Phil Foden

best strikers in the world in 2023
Phil Foden celebrates scoring for Manchester City during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England. Photo: Visionhaus
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Philip Walter Foden
  • Date of birth: 28 May 2000
  • Age: 22 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Stockport, England
  • Club: Manchester City
  • Appearances: 200
  • Goals: 55

Phil Foden primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and is widely regarded as one of the best young strikers in the world of football. Foden has already made over 100 appearances for Manchester City and has won several trophies, including two Premier League titles and an FA Cup.

19. Dominic Calvert-Lewin

best young strikers in the world
Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on January 6, 2023 in Manchester, England. Photo: Matthew Ashton
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Dominic Nathaniel Calvert-Lewin
  • Date of birth: 16 March 1997
  • Age: 25 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Sheffield, England
  • Club: Everton
  • Appearances: 246
  • Goals: 73

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is known for his aerial ability, strength, and work rate. He has been a regular starter for Everton since 2016 and has scored over 40 goals for the club. Dominic has also represented his country internationally, debuting for the England national team in 2020.

18. Darwin Núñez

best strikers in the world
Darwin Nunez of Liverpool FC during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg one match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Anfield on February 21, 2023 in Liverpool, England. Photo: Alex Livesey
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro
  • Date of birth: 24 June 1999
  • Age: 23 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Artigas, Uruguay
  • Club: Liverpool
  • Appearances: 168
  • Goals: 80

Darwin Núñez is a right-footed player with an athletic frame and excellent acceleration. His sprinting speed is the defining feature of his athletic abilities. He excels at attacking open spaces and creating shots in various situations.

17. Diogo Jota

best strikers in the world ever
Diogo Jota of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park on February 25, 2023 in London, England. Photo: Catherine IvilI
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Diogo José Teixeira da Silva
  • Date of birth: 4 December 1996
  • Age: 26 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Porto, Portugal
  • Club: Liverpool
  • Appearances: 310
  • Goals: 102

Diogo Jota is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for the Premier League club Liverpool and the Portugal national team. He mainly plays as a forward and can also operate as a winger. He began his career at the Porto academy and played for Pacos de Ferreira, Atlético Madrid, Wolves and Liverpool.

16. Simy Nwankwo

best strikers in football
Simy Nwankwo of Benevento Calcio during the Serie B match between Benevento Calcio and Ascoli Calcio at Stadio Ciro Vigorito on October 02, 2022 in Benevento, Italy. Photo: Ivan Romano
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo
  • Date of birth: 7 May 1992
  • Age: 30 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Onitsha, Nigeria
  • Club: Benevento
  • Appearances: 377
  • Goals: 118

Simy Nwankwo is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Benevento on loan from Salernitana. He began his career with FC Ifeanyi Ubah and has since featured for several clubs, including Gil Vicente, Crotone, and Portimonense. He is known for his prolific goal-scoring ability and has scored over 100 goals in his career.

15. Ollie Watkins

top 20 strikers in the world in 2023
Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa in action during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Aston Villa at Goodison Park on February 25, 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Photo: Simon Stacpoole
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Ollie Watkins
  • Date of birth: 30 December 1995
  • Age: 27 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Newton Abbot, England
  • Club: Aston Villa
  • Appearances: 347
  • Goals: 121

Ollie Watkins is an English professional footballer who currently plays as a forward for Premier League club Aston Villa and the England national team. He began his career at Exeter City. He has represented England at various youth levels.

14. Gabriel Jesus

who are the best strikers in the world
Gabriel Jesus of Brazil in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group G match between Cameroon and Brazil at Lusail Stadium in Lusail City, Qatar. Photo: Visionhaus
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Gabriel Fernando de Jesus
  • Date of birth: 3 April 1997
  • Age: 25 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: São Paulo, Brazil
  • Club: Arsenal
  • Appearances: 339
  • Goals: 128

Gabriel Jesus is a talented and versatile forward who can play in various attacking positions. Jesus is well-known for his quickness, technical abilities, dribbling ability, creativity, finishing, movement, and work ethic.

13. Andre Silva

who is the best striker in the world
Andre Ramalho of PSV during the Dutch Eredivisie match between PSV v Fc Twente at the Philips Stadium on February 26, 2023 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Photo: Pim Waslander
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: André Miguel Valente da Silva
  • Date of birth: 5 November 1995
  • Age: 27 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Baguim do Monte, Portugal
  • Club: RB Leipzig
  • Appearances: 378
  • Goals: 140

Andre Silva is a professional soccer player who has played for Porto and AC Milan. He is known for his pace, agility, and ability to score goals, which have made him one of the most sought-after strikers in the world. He has won several awards and trophies over his career.

12. Luis Muriel

Who is the No 1 striker in the world?
Luis Muriel of Atalanta BC looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and US Lecce at Gewiss Stadium on February 19, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy. Photo: Emilio Andreoli
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Luis Fernando Muriel Fruto
  • Date of birth: 15 April 1991
  • Age: 31 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Santo Tomas, Colombia
  • Club: Atalanta
  • Appearances: 431
  • Goals: 141

Muriel represented Colombia at the U20 level in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Although he is usually deployed as a centre-forward, he is a versatile forward who can play in various offensive positions.

11. Lautaro Martínez

Who are the 10 best strikers in the world?
Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale gestures during the Serie A match between Bologna FC and FC Internazionale at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna, Italy. Photo: Emmanuele Ciancaglini
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Lautaro Javier Martínez
  • Date of birth: 22 August 1997
  • Age: 25 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Bahía Blanca, Argentina
  • Club: Inter Milan
  • Apperances: 275
  • Goals: 177

Lautaro Martínez is a professional soccer player who plays for Inter Milan in Serie A. He began his professional career in his homeland with Racing Club before transferring to Inter in 2018. Since then, he has become an integral part of the team, scoring important goals and becoming a fan favourite. He is known for his pace, agility, and ability to find the back of the net.

10. Erling Haaland

best young strikers in the world
Erling Haaland of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England. Photo: Clive Rose
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Erling Braut Haaland
  • Date of birth: 21 July 2000
  • Age: 22 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
  • Club: Manchester City
  • Appearances: 233
  • Goals: 188

Erling Haaland began his career at his hometown club Bryne at five. He has established himself as one of the top strikers in the world, scoring an incredible 188 goals. He is known for his power, speed, and ability to score from any angle or distance.

9. Gerard Moreno

best strikers in the world in 2023
Gerard Moreno of Villarreal CF holds the ball during the LaLiga Santander match between Villarreal CF and Girona FC at Estadio de la Ceramica, January 22, 2023, Vila-real, Spain. Photo: David Aliaga
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Gerard Moreno Balagueró
  • Date of birth: 7 April 1992
  • Age: 30 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Santa Perpètua, Spain
  • Club: Villarreal
  • Appearances: 448
  • Goals: 207

Gerard Moreno made his reserve debut, coming on as a late substitute. He has played for Villarreal, Mallorca, and Espanyol, where he won the 2021 Europa League and two Zarra Trophies.

8. Kylian Mbappe

best strikers in the world
Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain runs with the ball during the Ligue 1 match between Olympique Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain at Orange Velodrome in Marseille, France. Photo: Aurelien Meunier
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Kylian Mbappé Lottin
  • Date of birth: 20 December 1998
  • Age: 24 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Paris, France
  • Club: Paris Saint-Germain
  • Appearances: 318
  • Goals: 231

Kylian Mbappe is a world-class player known for his dribbling abilities, exceptional speed, and finishing. In 2018 and 2019, he was named to the FIFA FIFPro World11. Because of his ability with both feet, he frequently plays as a winger.

7. Romelu Lukaku

best strikers in the world ever
Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale looks on during the Serie A match between Bologna FC and FC Internazionale at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna, Italy. Photo: Emmanuele Ciancaglini
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Romelu Lukaku Bolingoli
  • Date of birth: 13 May 1993
  • Age: 29 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Antwerp, Belgium
  • Club: Inter Milan
  • Appearances: 567
  • Goals: 270

Lukaku is a left-footed striker with a strong physique and a keen eye for goal. He has been known to use his strength to get past defenders. He was the first Premier League player to join Jay-Z's management agency Roc Nation Sports.

6. Harry Kane

best strikers in football
Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspurcelebrates scoring their teams second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea FC in London. Photo: Chloe Knott
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Harry Edward Kane
  • Date of birth: 28 July 1993
  • Age: 29 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Walthamstow, London, England
  • Club: Tottenham Hotspur
  • Appearances: 485
  • Goals: 284

Harry is a professional footballer from England who captains the national team. He is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in football. He is also one of the highest Premier League goalscorers of all time.

5. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

top 20 strikers in the world in 2023
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 26, 2023 in London, England. Photo: Robin Jones
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Pierre-Emerick Emiliano François Aubameyang
  • Date of birth: 18 June 1989
  • Age: 33 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Laval, France
  • Club: Chelsea
  • Appearances: 602
  • Goals: 304

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is known for his speed, finishing ability, and off-the-ball movement. He announced his retirement from international football on 18 May 2022. He appeared in 72 Gabonese national team games and scored 30 goals.

4. Karim Benzema

top 10 strikers in the world in 2023
Karim Benzema of Real Madrid reacts during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain. Photo: Denis Doyle
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Karim Mostafa Benzema
  • Date of birth: 18 December 1987
  • Age: 35 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Lyon, France
  • Club: Real Madrid
  • Appearances: 798
  • Goals: 422

Karim is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Real Madrid and captains the club. He is a creative and prolific forward widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time.

3. Robert Lewandowski

who are the best strikers in the world
Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona follows the action during the LaLiga Santander match between UD Almeria and FC Barcelona at Juegos Mediterraneos in Almeria, Spain. Photo: Aitor Alcalde Colomer
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Robert Lewandowski
  • Date of birth: 21 August 1988
  • Age: 34 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Warsaw, Poland
  • Club: Barcelona
  • Appearances: 776
  • Goals: 565

Robert Lewandowski is the captain of the Polish national team and a professional footballer from Poland. He is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, having scored over 200 goals in the Bundesliga since joining Bayern in 2014.

Lewandowski signed a four-year contract, making him the most expensive Polish player in history and the most expensive sale in Bayern Munich's history.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

who is the best striker in the world
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates after scoring a goal during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Wahda and Al Nassr at King Abdulaziz Stadium in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Stringer/Anadolu Agency
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
  • Date of birth: 5 February 1985
  • Age: 38 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
  • Club: Al Nassr
  • Apperances: 957
  • Goals: 709

Cristiano Ronaldo is a professional soccer player from Portugal. He is widely considered as one of the greatest players of all time. He has played for several top clubs, including Manchester United and Real Madrid, and is the all-time top scorer for the Portuguese national team. He is a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, the highest individual honour in soccer and an icon of the sport.

1. Lionel Messi

Who is the No 1 striker in the world?
Leo Messi of Paris Saint-Germain runs with the ball during the Ligue 1 match between Olympique Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain at Orange Velodrome in Marseille, France. Photo: Aurelien Meunier
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Lionel Andrés Messi
  • Date of birth: 24 June 1987
  • Age: 35 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
  • Club: Paris Saint-Germain
  • Appearances: 872
  • Goals: 711

Who is the No 1 striker in the world? Lionel Messi is regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time, having won six Ballon d'Or awards. He is well-known for his finishing ability, positioning, quick reactions, and ability to make attacking runs to get past the defensive line.

Who is the best striker in the world?

Below is a summary of the top 20 strikers in the world in 2023.

Rank

Name

Goals

1

Lionel Messi

711

2

Cristiano Ronaldo

709

3

Robert Lewandowski

565

4

Karim Benzema

422

5

Pierre-Emerick

304

6

Harry Kane

284

7

Romelu Lukaku

270

8

Kylian Mbappe

231

9

Gerard Moreno

207

10

Erling Haaland

188

11

Lautaro Martínez

177

12

Luis Muriel

141

13

Andre Silva

140

14

Gabriel Jesus

128

15

Ollie Watkins

121

16

Simy Nwankwo

118

17

Diogo Jota

102

18

Darwin Núñez

80

19

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

73

20

Phil Foden

55

Who are the 10 best strikers in the world?

The top 10 strikers in the world in 2023 are:

  1. Lionel Messi
  2. Cristiano Ronaldo
  3. Robert Lewandowski
  4. Karim Benzema
  5. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
  6. Harry Kane
  7. Romelu Lukaku
  8. Kylian Mbappe
  9. Gerard Moreno
  10. Erling Haaland

Who is the greatest striker of all time?

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. He was one of the most successful and well-known sports figures of the twentieth century. In 700 games, he scored a total of 655 goals. Pelé died on December 29, 2022, at 3:27 p.m., due to multiple organ failure, a complication of colon cancer.

The best strikers in the world are often considered to be those who consistently score goals while also having a strong presence in the attacking third of the pitch. In addition to their goal-scoring abilities, these strikers are known for their determination, which allows them to make an impact throughout the entire match.

READ ALSO: Ranking the 25 best women volleyball players in the world

Sportsbrief.com recently published a list of the top 25 female volleyball players in the world. Volleyball is one of the most popular sports in the world. Many professional volleyball players make their living from the sport.

In today's world, there are many elite female volleyball players who have accomplished a lot in their careers.They are known for their stamina, strength, good pivoting skills, and motivation.

NEXT NEWS