Ranked! The 8 Greatest Strikers in the History of Football

For any team, strikers arguably hold the utmost value. Their ability to clinch victories and swiftly change the course of a match renders them the most coveted players in football.

The debate over whether a striker's sole duty is to score goals persists through the ages, contributing to the discourse on what defines the greatest striker.

However, this question lacks a straightforward answer. While some excel as lethal finishers within the penalty area, others are celebrated for their versatility and all-around game.

Navigating through these distinctions is a challenging task, but we've endeavoured to tackle it head-on.

Sports Brief unravels the exploits of the eight greatest strikers of all time.

Best strikers in football history

8. Thierry Henry

Per Transfermarkt, Henry achieved nearly every major accolade, winning the World Cup with France in 1998, the European Championships in 2000, and the Confederations Cup in 2003. His club success includes lifting the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona and securing two Premier League titles with Arsenal.

Despite his remarkable achievements, Henry surprisingly never clinched the Ballon d'Or. However, he was voted Footballer of the Year eight times. Additionally, he sits seventh in the all-time Premier League goalscorer list with 175 goals.

7. Eusebio

Eusebio enjoyed a remarkable career at Benfica, scoring 317 goals in 301 appearances and helping the club secure 17 trophies, including the 1961/62 European Cup and eleven league titles.

Despite his prolific success at the club level, Eusebio surprisingly failed to win any major honours with Portugal. His closest attempt was in 1966, where he finished as the tournament's top scorer with nine goals as Portugal secured third place.

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Individually, Eusebio's achievements include winning the Ballon d'Or in 1965 and earning two Footballer of the Year awards in 1970 and 1973. With a total of 623 career goals, he ranks twelfth on the all-time leading goalscorer list in football history.

6. Romario

The Brazilian star enjoyed success both at club and international levels, clinching the World Cup in 1994, two Copa America titles in 1988/89 and 1996/97, and the Confederations Cup in 1997.

Romario is celebrated as a PSV Eindhoven legend, having secured eight trophies during his tenure at the club. He also holds the sixth position on the club's all-time leading goalscorer list, with an impressive tally of 128 goals.

Romario's individual accolades include winning the Best FIFA Men's Trophy in 1994 and being named the Player of the Year in 1989. However, despite his stellar career, the Ballon d'Or eluded him as an individual honour.

5. Gerd Muller

Muller's accolades include winning the European Championships with Germany in 1972 and securing the World Cup just two years later, per UEFA. As Bayern Munich's leading goal scorer of all time, he netted an impressive 568 goals during his tenure with the German giants. Muller also clinched three European Cups, four league titles, and four German Cups while representing Bayern.

In terms of individual honours, Muller claimed the Ballon d'Or in 1970 and earned the title of Footballer of the Year in 1967 and 1969. Additionally, he emerged as the top scorer 17 times across five different competitions during his illustrious career.

4. Alfredo Di Stefano

Di Stefano is widely acclaimed as a Real Madrid icon, having amassed an impressive sixteen trophies during his tenure with the club.

His trophy cabinet includes a remarkable haul of five European Cups and eight La Liga titles, making him the player with the most trophies among those listed. Di Stefano also holds the fourth position on Real Madrid's all-time leading goalscorer list, having netted 308 goals in just 396 appearances for the club.

In addition to his team achievements, the striker also garnered individual accolades, including two Ballon d'Or trophies. Furthermore, he emerged as the top scorer across four competitions, achieving this feat an astonishing ten times during his illustrious career.

3. Ferenc Puskas

Across his illustrious career, which notably included a stint at Real Madrid, Puskas amassed an astonishing 709 goals in 718 appearances for the various teams he represented. During his tenure with the Spanish giants, he secured 10 trophies. Notably, Puskas stands alone among the listed players in having clinched an Olympic gold medal, achieved with Hungary in 1952.

Puskas's dominance extended to La Liga, where he claimed the top spot in the scoring charts four times while donning the Real Madrid jersey. His most prolific season saw him net 28 goals during the 1960/61 campaign.

Despite his remarkable achievements, Puskas surprisingly never clinched the Ballon d'Or during his career, and his individual accolades remain relatively sparse considering his immense talent and stature.

2. Ronaldo Nazario

Despite grappling with injuries, Ronaldo boasted a phenomenal goal-scoring record. The striker clinched two Ballon d'Or trophies and was crowned the Best FIFA Men's Player thrice, achieving this honour with three different clubs (Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid).

Ronaldo's illustrious career also saw him secure five trophies for Brazil, including two FIFA World Cups in 1994 and 2002. Notably, during the 2002 tournament, he emerged as the top scorer, claiming the Golden Boot with eight goals, a pivotal contribution to Brazil's triumph.

1. Pele

Pele tops the charts with the highest goal tally among all players listed here, accompanied by a remarkable collection of 17 trophies throughout his illustrious career.

The Brazilian holds the unique distinction of being the only footballer to have clinched the World Cup three times (1958, 1962, and 1970).

His astounding goal-scoring record of 756 goals in 858 career appearances is nothing short of remarkable, securing him the second spot on Brazil's all-time leading goalscorers list.