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Top 15 number 9 footballers: best strikers in football history
Jackline Wangare, Steve Njuguna
updated at April 19, 2024 at 11:08 AM
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The number 9 role is arguably the most prestigious on the football pitch. Traditionally, the number 9 footballer is a striker or centre-forward. They are the most advanced offensive player on the team, and their main responsibility is to score goals. Here are some of the greatest number 9 footballers to play the position in football history.
Source: UGC
Table of Сontents:
The list of the best number 9 footballers has both old and current players. Legends like Gerd Muller and Ronaldo the original "Fenomeno" were true titans of the game, while strikers like Robert Lewandowski are redefining what it means to be a number 9 in the modern era. These strikers represent the pinnacle of number 9 play, both past and present.
Top number 9 footballers of all time: 15 best
No | Name |
1 | Ronaldo Nazário |
2 | Alfredo Stéfano |
3 | Gerd Müller |
4 | Marco van Basten |
5 | Thierry Henry |
6 | Gabriel Batistuta |
7 | Robert Lewandowski |
8 | Luis Suárez |
9 | Zlatan Ibrahimović |
10 | Alan Shearer |
11 | Christian Vieri |
12 | Miroslav Klose |
13 | Erling Haaland |
14 | Michail Antonio |
15 | George Weah |
Best number 9 striker in the world
Most players in the no 9 position are tasked with being the focal point in attack. Most of the great players on this list not only scored many goals but did it with style and panache. Here is a list of the best number 9 footballers in the world.
15. George Weah
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: George Manneh Oppong Weah
- Date of birth: 1 October 1966
- Age: 57 years old (as of 2024)
- Place of birth: Monrovia, Liberia
George Weah was one of the top strikers in the 1990s. He changed how people saw the number 9 position by being fast and skillful. Weah won the Ballon d'Or in 1995. He is considered one of the best African footballers ever because he played amazingly for teams like AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, and his home country, Liberia. George Weah's ability to dribble past opponents and finish with precision earned him the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1995, a rare feat for an out-and-out striker.
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14. Michail Antonio
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Michail Gregory Antonio
- Date of birth: 28 March 1990
- Age: 34 years old (as of 2024)
- Place of birth: Wandsworth, London, United Kingdom
Michail Antonio has played many roles for West Ham, but striker seems to be his best fit. Last season, Michail Antonio did well with 10 goals and 5 assists. His strong start earned him Player of the Month and has West Ham fans hopeful for a top-six finish.
13. Erling Haaland
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Erling Braut Haaland
- Date of birth: 21 July 2000
- Age: 23 years old (as of 2024)
- Place of birth: Leeds, United Kingdom
Haaland is a ruthless finisher with both feet and his head. He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and can convert even half-chances into goals. Erling Haaland is considered as one of the best players and among the top 10 best number 9 in the world. He is known for his speed, strength, positioning, and finishing inside the box.
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12. Miroslav Klose
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Miroslav Josef Klose
- Date of birth: 9 June 1978
- Age: 45 years old (as of 2024)
- Place of birth: Opole, Poland
Miroslav Klose etched his name in football folklore as the all-time leading goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history. Renowned for his impeccable timing and aerial ability, Klose's predatory instincts made him a constant threat in the penalty area. Miroslav Klose's remarkable record on the biggest stage cements his legacy as one of the greatest number 9s to grace the game.
11. Christian Vieri
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Christian "Bobo" Vieri
- Date of birth: 12 July 1973
- Age: 50 years old (as of 2024)
- Place of birth: Bologna, Italy
Christian Vieri was a force to be reckoned with during his prime. Blessed with strength, aerial prowess, and a thunderous shot, Vieri terrorized defenses in Serie A and beyond. Christian Vieri 's knack for scoring crucial goals earned him a place among the elite number 9s in football history.
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10. Alan Shearer
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Alan Shearer
- Date of birth: 13 August 1970
- Age: 53 years old (as of 2024)
- Place of birth: Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Former England striker Alan Shearer is among the top 10 best number 9 footballers in the history of the English Premier League with 260 goals. He also had 30 goals for the English national team. Alan Shearer was one of the first two players inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.
9. Zlatan Ibrahimović
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Zlatan Ibrahimović
- Date of birth: 3 October 1981
- Age: 42 years old (as of 2024)
- Place of birth: Malmö, Sweden
The mercurial Swede has performed consistently since debuting in 1999 at Malmo. He has played for several of Europe's elite teams, including Ajax, AC Milan, Barcelona, Inter Milan, PSG and Manchester United. Zlatan Ibrahimović broke the Serie A record for the oldest goal scorer in the competition when he scored against Udinese in March 2023.
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8. Luis Suárez
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz
- Date of birth: 24 January 1987
- Age: 37 years old (as of 2024)
- Place of birth: Salto, Uruguay
Nicknamed ' El Pistolero' (The pistol), Luis Suárez has been phenomenal at the club and international levels. He won the 2011 Copa America with Uruguay. He has also starred for Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. At Barcelona, he was part of their successful 2015/16 'MSN' trio alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar. He is one of the best number 9 players in Premier League history.
7. Robert Lewandowski
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Robert Lewandowski
- Date of birth: 21 August 1988
- Age: 35 years old (as of 2024)
- Place of birth: Warsaw, Poland
Lewandowski has been a household name in global football within the past ten years. The Poland captain has been prolific for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern and now at La Liga side Barcelona. Robert Lewandowski won the Bundesliga top goalscorer award in seven separate seasons. He also won the Best FIFA men's player awards in 2020 and 2021.
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6. Gabriel Batistuta
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Gabriel Omar Batistuta
- Date of birth: 1 February 1969
- Age: 55 years old (as of 2024)
- Place of birth: Reconquista, Argentina
Nicknamed ' Bati-gol', Batistuta was Argentina's immediate heir to the great Diego Maradona. After starting in Argentina, he made his mark in Italy with Fiorentina, Roma and Inter Milan. Internationally, Gabriel Batistuta won the 1991 and 1993 Copa America titles for Argentina.
5. Thierry Henry
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Thierry Daniel Henry
- Date of birth: 17 August 1977
- Age: 46 years old (as of 2024)
- Place of birth: Les Ulis, France
French striker Thierry Henry is considered the best number 9 footballer of all time. He is the club's record all-time goalscorer with 228 goals. He also played for Monaco, Juventus, Barcelona and New York Red Bulls. With the French national team, he won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
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4. Marco van Basten
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Marcel "Marco" van Basten
- Date of birth: 31 October 1964
- Age: 59 years old (as of 2024)
- Place of birth: Utrecht, Netherlands
Marco van Basten was the centrepiece of the Dutch's golden generation of the 80s. He started with Dutch giants Ajax winning three titles in 6 years and the European cup in 1987. Van Basten then moved to AC Milan, where he won 3 more league titles and another two European cups. For the Netherlands, he won the European Championships in 1988. Van Basten was named the Ballon D' or winner three times and the FIFA World Player of the year in 1992. He retired aged 28 in 1994 due to a knee injury.
3. Gerd Müller
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Gerhard "Gerd" Müller
- Date of birth: 3 November 1945
- Died: 15 August 2021 (age 75 years)
- Place of birth: Nördlingen, Germany
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Gerd Müller is arguably the best number 9 of the 20th century. Müller dominated the 70's, winning the 1972 European championships and the 1974 FIFA World Cup. With Germany, he won 3 European championships and 4 Bundesliga titles. In 2004, Pelé named Gerd Müller in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.
2. Alfredo Stéfano
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé
- Date of birth: 4 July 1926
- Died: 7 July 2014 (age 88 years)
- Place of birth: Barracas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Alfredo Stéfano played in Colombia and Argentina, winning multiple accolades before landing in Spain in 1953 to play for Real Madrid. He won the European Cup 5 times with the club as long as numerous domestic accolades. Alfredo Stéfano scored 410 goals for the club, a total only surpassed by Cristiano Ronaldo.
1. Ronaldo Nazário
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Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima
- Date of birth: 18 September 1976
- Age: 47 years old (as of 2024)
- Place of birth: Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fondly referred to by his fans as ' R9', Ronaldo Nazário De Lima is widely considered the most significant number 9 in history. The Brazilian won multiple accolades with PSV, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC Milan. His most significant impact on football was at the World Cup, where he won the 1994 and 2002 editions.
Who is the best number 9 in football history?
Some of the best number 9 football players include players like Gerd Muller, Ronaldo Nazario, Alan Shearer, and Robert Lewandowski. They are renowned for their phenomenal goal-scoring records.
Who are the best number 9 footballers in 2024?
Some of the best number 9 footballers in 2024 include players like Kylian Mbappé, Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane.
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Who is best number 9 in football history?
Ronaldo Nazario is considered to be the greatest number 9 of all time. He scored a staggering amount of goals throughout his career at club and international level.
Who plays number 9 in football?
In soccer, the number 9 typically serves as the striker or center-forward, occupying the forefront of the field and relied upon by teammates to score goals.
Who has the best number 9 jersey in football?
Strikers like Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski are dominating right now, scoring tons of goals and leading their teams to trophies.
What is a pure number 9?
In football, a "pure number 9" refers to a striker who embodies the traditional role of a center forward. They are the team's primary goal scorer. Their main responsibility is to be in the box, create scoring opportunities for themselves, and put the ball in the net.
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The number 9 footballers redefined the forward position in football with their consistency and greatness. The reason they rank high above the others is the fact that their actions and achievements define the template of how a footballer should play.
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Jackline Wangare
Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Sports Brief covering sports and lifestyle topics. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University and as a Content Creator (Briefly.co.za, Legit.ng, Tuko.co.ke, Yen.com.gh).
Steve Njuguna
Steve Njuguna is a media professional with close to a decade of experience in the sports media industry. He has previously worked as a sports journalist with Bamba Sports TV, Vybez Radio and The Nairobian newspaper.
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