The 25 Best Strikers in World Soccer

You can have the most technically gifted full back, the toughest box-to-box midfielder, and the smoothest playmaker—but none of it truly matters without a striker who knows how to find the back of the net.

The game has evolved, and so have the roles of strikers. They’re no longer just goal scorers but multi-dimensional players contributing in all areas. Still, scoring goals remains the ultimate currency.

While the best strikers aren’t judged solely on their tally, many still produce breathtaking numbers season after season.

Here’s Sports Illustrated’s definitive ranking of the top 25 strikers in the world right now.

25. Patrik Schick

Patrik Schick is the definition of “great touch for a big lad.” He may look gangly and slightly awkward, but his technique tells a very different story.

After a few quieter seasons, the Czech international rediscovered his best form in 2024–25, stepping up brilliantly while Victor Boniface was sidelined with injury.

Schick grabbed the opportunity with both hands, scoring 27 goals in all competitions and establishing himself as Bayer Leverkusen’s first-choice striker. So impressive was his resurgence that Boniface departed the following summer, while Schick added another 22 goals the next season.

24. Samu Aghehowa

Samu Aghehowa in action for Porto. — Samu Aghehowa was only outscored by Viktor Gyökeres in the Portuguese top flight during the 2024–25 season. | IMAGO/NurPhoto

For years, the archetypal center forward was the smaller, technical striker—think Luis Suárez, Sergio Agüero or Antoine Griezmann. Recently, though, the pendulum has swung back toward the big man.

At 6-foot-4 and 90kg, Spanish international Samu Aghehowa is the perfect example. A modern target man, he dominates in the air, shrugs off defenders and charges forward with frightening power, yet possesses the touch, timing and finishing instincts to match.

The young striker has been outstanding for Porto, scoring in just about every way imaginable—from tap-ins and bullet headers to thunderous volleys and spectacular overhead kicks.

23. Jean-Philippe Mateta

Some of the best players take longer to bloom, and Jean-Philippe Mateta certainly falls into that category.

The powerful Frenchman joined Crystal Palace on loan in January 2021, but struggled to make much of an impact during his early years at Selhurst Park. He scored just 10 goals in his first 67 appearances, often coming off the bench as a late-game option.

Everything changed in 2023–24, when Mateta finally exploded into life. Suddenly, the 6-foot-4 forward looked like a complete striker—clinical with both feet, dominant in the air, composed in front of goal and surprisingly quick for his size.

His transformation has continued, with 51 goals over the past three seasons earning him a place in the France setup and, before long, goals on the World Cup qualifying stage.

A late bloomer, perhaps, but Mateta is making up for lost time.

22. Mason Greenwood

Mason Greenwood Fenerbahce — Greenwood knows where the net is. | Cemal Yurttas/Anadolu/Getty Images

Across the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons, Mason Greenwood was arguably Ligue 1’s most clinical finisher, scoring a combined 37 goals for Marseille. He finished as the league’s top scorer in his first season before earning a Team of the Season selection the following year.

A move to Fenerbahçe followed for 2026–27, and so far, Greenwood has shown little sign of slowing down.

21. Ollie Watkins

It’s no coincidence that Aston Villa’s remarkable rise coincided with Ollie Watkins’ arrival in 2020.

Signed from then-Championship side Brentford, Watkins made the step up look effortless, quickly becoming a reliable source of goals—including a remarkable 27-goal haul in 2023–24.

Before he arrived, Villa had narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 17th. Since then, their league finishes have been 11th, 14th, 7th, 4th, 6th and 4th, transforming them from relegation candidates into genuine Champions League contenders and even quarterfinalists in 2024–25.

Watkins obviously wasn’t solely responsible, but his contribution was enormous. Now, though, Villa must find a way to replace their talisman, with Watkins having taken his talents to the riches of the Saudi Pro League.

20. Donyell Malen

Donyell Malen was a dangerous player at Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa, but his pace was often used from out wide, limiting the best parts of his game.

Since moving to AS Roma, however, Malen has flourished through the middle. His explosive speed, intelligent movement, ability to run in behind and clinical finishing have made him a nightmare for defenders.

He scored 14 goals in 18 Serie A appearances during his first half-season in Italy, then opened 2026–27 with a hat trick.

Malen finally looks like he’s playing in the position that brings out the very best in him—and Rome has quickly fallen in love.

19. Igor Thiago

Igor Thiago of Brentford — Igor Thiago has been a revelation. | Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

When Ivan Toney left Brentford for the Saudi Pro League, the Bees moved quickly to find his replacement, spending heavily on Igor Thiago despite the Brazilian having little experience at the highest level. The transfer was agreed in February 2024, but a serious preseason knee injury delayed his Brentford debut until May 2025.

The wait proved worthwhile. Thiago wasted little time settling into the role of Brentford’s new attacking focal point, showing the same ruthless finishing that had made him such an intriguing prospect.

He ended his first Premier League campaign with an outstanding 22 goals, finishing second in the scoring charts behind only Erling Haaland.

18. Cristiano Ronaldo

A somewhat shocked Cristiano Ronaldo. — Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy his age. | IMAGO/Mikolaj Barbanell

Yes, he might be in his forties, and yes, he’s now plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League—but Cristiano Ronaldo’s eye for goal and winning mentality remain as sharp as ever.

Just look at his recent exploits for Portugal: eight goals in the 2024–25 Nations League—more than any other player—including the winner in the semi-final and a crucial equaliser in the final against Spain, which Portugal went on to win on penalties.

At this point, it’s almost ridiculous. Whether for club or country, when Ronaldo, soccer’s first billionaire, plays, he scores. He’s an anomaly. A goalscoring machine. One of the greatest of all time.

17. Viktor Gyokeres

Ninety-seven goals. That’s how many Viktor Gyökeres scored in just two seasons with Sporting CP, helping the club win back-to-back league titles. Yes, 97.

It’s a ridiculous number—unmatched by any other player in world soccer over the same period and one of the most prolific scoring stretches in recent history.

His move to Arsenal was inevitably less productive by comparison, but 21 goals in all competitions and 14 in the Premier League is hardly a failure. More importantly, his goals came when they mattered, with Gyökeres playing a decisive role in helping the Gunners finally end their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.

He couldn’t keep scoring at Sporting’s absurd rate, but he still delivered exactly what Arsenal needed: goals when it mattered most.

16. Serhou Guirassy

Serhou Guirassy’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable.

In just a few years, the Guinean has gone from a struggling Ligue 2 striker to a world-class goalscorer who finds the net with remarkable consistency.

His breakthrough came on loan at Stuttgart in 2022–23, where he scored 14 goals in 28 games. The move was made permanent, and he exploded the following season with 30 goals in 30 appearances, earning a move to Borussia Dortmund.

He was even better in his debut campaign at Signal Iduna Park, scoring 38 goals, including 13 in the Champions League, to finish as the competition’s top scorer and cement his status among the elite. Another 22 goals followed the next season, proving the breakout was no fluke.

15. Alexander Isak

A few eyebrows were raised when Newcastle broke their transfer record to sign Alexander Isak in 2022 after a relatively underwhelming final season at Real Sociedad. Three years, 62 goals and a British-record £125 million ($169 million) move to Liverpool later, the Magpies’ gamble looked like a masterstroke.

At St. James’ Park, the Swede developed into one of the most complete and devastating forwards in world soccer, capable of finishing in just about every way imaginable—from cheeky chips and thunderous strikes to those trademark curled efforts into the bottom corner.

Liverpool, however, has been a very different story. A disrupted preseason caused by his protracted transfer, inconsistent form and recurring injury problems limited Isak to just two goals in his debut campaign at Anfield.

The talent has never been in question. Now, though, Isak has a point to prove—and a $169 million price tag hanging over him.

14. Benjamin Sesko

Benjamin Šeško has long been the darling of fans and transfer obsessives, who have touted the Slovenian as a future superstar. For a while, though, the hype outpaced the production.

That changed in 2024–25, when Šeško finally delivered on his enormous potential, scoring 21 goals in all competitions for RB Leipzig. His first season at Manchester United in 2025–26 followed a similar trajectory: a slow start gave way to a blistering finish, with the striker scoring nine goals in his final 14 Premier League appearances to help the Red Devils secure third place.

With his aerial dominance, genuine two-footed finishing and razor-sharp movement inside the box, Šeško increasingly looks like the real deal.

The hype was enormous. Now the goals are starting to match it.

13. Robert Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski may now be plying his trade in Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire, but honestly, he probably didn’t need to leave Europe just yet.

Now well into his veteran years, the Polish striker is still getting the job done. In 2025–26, he scored 19 goals in all competitions as Barcelona won La Liga for the second straight season, despite no longer being an automatic starter.

Across four seasons at Barça, Lewandowski scored 120 goals in 193 appearances, won three La Liga titles and earned three Team of the Season selections. Even as his role diminished, his finishing remained a cut above.

At his age, there may be fewer minutes in the legs—but there are still plenty of goals in the boots.

12. Marcus Thuram

Marcus Thuram of Inter — Marcus Thuram has been a great free transfer for Inter. | IMAGO | Marco Canoniero

Well, what a free transfer Marcus Thuram has turned out to be for Inter Milan.

The Frenchman arrived in the fashion capital of the world off the back of some eye-catching seasons with Borussia Mönchengladbach and settled into Italian soccer without missing a beat.

Stepping into the void left by Romelu Lukaku, Thuram quickly formed a formidable partnership with Lautaro Martínez and became a key part of Inter’s 2023–24 and 2025–26 Scudetto-winning sides. He has scored more than 50 goals across all competitions for the Nerazzurri, while his link-up play, hold-up ability and versatility to drift wide have made him a nightmare for defenders.

For a player who arrived for nothing, Thuram has delivered an awful lot of something. Brilliant business by Inter.

11. Matheus Cunha

Matheus Cunha is an absolute joy to watch.

The Brazilian can do just about everything: drift inside to pick up the ball and split defenses with a pass, glide through challenges, burst in behind to finish calmly, or unleash a curling effort from distance. And he does it all with a swagger that is unmistakably Cunha.

His brilliance for Wolves in 2024–25 was arguably the biggest reason they survived relegation, with the Brazilian carrying their attack almost single-handedly at times. A move to Manchester United followed, where the goals and flair continued to flow.

And Wolves? Without their star man, they unsurprisingly went down.

10. Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen’s exploits in Serie A more than justified the hefty fee Napoli paid to lure him from Lille back in 2020.

He burst into life as the spearhead of a vibrant Napoli attack, playing a pivotal role in their historic 2022–23 campaign – firing in goals with relentless consistency as the club clinched their first Serie A title in over 30 years.

Things eventually soured in Naples, however, paving the way for a surprise move to Galatasaray in 2024–25. While the switch to Turkey took him out of the weekly spotlight of Europe’s biggest leagues, it certainly hasn’t stopped him doing what he does best: putting the ball in the net.

The move may have made Osimhen less visible, but it shouldn’t change how he’s viewed. Put him anywhere, against anyone, and there’s a very good chance he’ll score.

9. Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool could do with a replacement for Hugo Ekitiké. | Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

A move to Eintracht Frankfurt proved transformative for Hugo Ekitike, who had struggled to find his footing at PSG after an early big-money switch from Reims in 2022.

The Frenchman rediscovered the flair and confidence that once marked him as a rising star. With Omar Marmoush departing for Manchester City, Ekitike stepped up superbly—thriving in the Bundesliga's open spaces and showcasing his elegant movement, sharp finishing, and deceptive strength.

That breakout 2024–25 campaign earned him a move to Liverpool, where he immediately looked at home before an injury interrupted a hugely encouraging debut season.

Once fully fit, there’s little reason to think Ekitike won’t pick up exactly where he left off.

8. Ferran Torres

It’s taken Ferran Torres a while to get the recognition he deserves, but the world is finally taking notice.

One of the biggest obstacles in his career has been finding a defined role, an issue that followed him from Manchester City to Barcelona and even into the Spanish national team.

Give him the No. 9 role, though, and Torres looks a different player. Clinical in front of goal and relentless without the ball, he combines sharp finishing with high-intensity pressing.

He proved it with Barcelona, scoring 40 goals across 2024–25 and 2025–26 as they won back-to-back La Liga titles, before scoring the only goal in the 2026 World Cup final to seal Spain’s triumph.

Now at PSG, he finally has the chance to make the No. 9 role his own.

After years of uncertainty, Torres may have finally found his perfect position.

7. João Pedro

João Pedro was never the most consistent scorer before arriving at Chelsea. His breakout 2023–24 season brought 20 goals, but he never reached more than 11 in any other campaign.

What he always provided, though, was plenty: relentless work rate, excellent link-up play, an aggressive edge and that unmistakable Brazilian flair.

Now at Stamford Bridge, he’s finally added sustained goalscoring to the mix. He scored three times at the 2025 Club World Cup, followed that with 20 goals in all competitions in his first full season in 2025–26, and carried that form into preseason before finding the net again in the new campaign.

The result is a wonderfully unpredictable forward who can create, battle and finish—and looks increasingly dangerous with every game.

6. Julian Álvarez

Julian Alvarez — Julián Álvarez could play for his third club in Europe come 2026–27. | João Gregorio/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Julian Álvarez found himself cast as Erling Haaland’s understudy at Manchester City—a role that naturally limited his impact and game time. Yet, even in limited minutes, the Argentine proved a constant menace and played a crucial part in the Cityzens’ dominance.

Determined to step out of Haaland’s shadow, Álvarez made the move to Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2024. After a brief period of acclimatisation, he quickly found his stride and has since racked up over a half-century of goals for his new club.

Combining the intelligence and clinical finishing of great Argentine strikers of days gone by—think Hernán Crespo, Gonzalo Higuaín, Diego Milito— with the relentlessness of a true Simeone soldier and the blistering pace that allows him to wreak havoc behind defences, Álvarez is now carving out his own legacy away from the shadows.

5. Lautaro Martínez

Powerful, precise, and endlessly tenacious, Lautaro Martínez is a striker who fuses old-school grit with modern dynamism. He presses like a midfielder, finishes like a poacher, and leads like a seasoned veteran. There’s a certain elegance to his edge—a player who does the dirty work yet still shines when the lights are brightest.

What sets Lautaro apart is his relentless consistency. He’s scored over 20 goals in all but one of the past seven seasons for Inter Milan—a remarkable feat given the sheer volume of work he puts in off the ball.

Even more impressive is that he’s rarely led the line alone at San Siro, often operating within a front two alongside the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Thuram, Joaquín Correa or Edin Džeko.

4. Ousmane Dembélé

Injuries, inconsistency, the pressure of a mammoth price tag, and the challenge of playing alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar meant Ousmane Dembélé never truly hit his stride at Barcelona.

There were flashes of brilliance—particularly after Xavi took charge—but it wasn’t until his 2023 move to Paris Saint-Germain, and more specifically his second season in the French capital, that Dembélé finally emerged as the world-class talent many had long anticipated.

His first campaign at PSG was solid if unspectacular. But everything changed following Kylian Mbappé’s departure to Real Madrid.

Luis Enrique handed Dembélé the keys to the attack and moved him into a more central role. The Frenchman responded by becoming the focal point of one of the greatest seasons in PSG’s history, scoring 35 goals and adding 16 assists as the club completed a historic quadruple, including its first Champions League crown. That extraordinary campaign earned him the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Now firmly established as PSG’s leading man, Dembélé backed it up again in 2025–26, helping the club retain both Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

3. Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland, premier league, soccer — Haaland recently debuted his new, buzzed look. | Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Haaland might not have the natural flair or marketability of some, but when it comes to doing the one thing a striker is hired to do—put the ball in the back of the net—he’s arguably the very best in the world.

Towering at 6'5" with a terrifying burst of pace, the Norwegian superstar is soccer’s answer to Ivan Drago—unstoppable and utterly relentless.

His goal-scoring prowess swiftly earned him a move to Manchester City in 2022, and Haaland has since thoroughly silenced anyone who doubted his ability to replicate his terrifying form in the ruthless Premier League.

There’s a simplicity to Haaland’s game that’s almost unsettling. He’s inevitable.

2. Kylian Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé is the full package—and then some. Blistering pace (arguably the fastest attacker on the planet), razor-sharp dribbling, intelligent movement, raw strength, and a near-supernatural eye for goal—the Frenchman has it all.

While the 2024–25 and 2025–26 campaigns weren’t Real Madrid’s finest seasons as a team, that didn’t stop Mbappé from lighting up the Bernabéu. In his debut season, he netted a staggering 44 goals across all competitions—more than any player has ever scored in their first season for the club. He then followed that up with 42 more goals the following year.

And here’s the truly terrifying part: once his supporting cast catches up to his rhythm and tempo, his output, and his overall performances, are only going to improve.

1. Harry Kane

It’s hard to recall a striker more naturally gifted at finding the back of the net than Harry Kane.

A half-chance? A quarter-chance? Doesn’t matter—if Kane’s anywhere near the box, you’d be wise to brace for a goal. His instinct is devastating, his spatial awareness almost supernatural. Before he pulls the trigger, he barely even looks at the goal—just one touch out of his feet and he lets fly, and more often than not has the net rippling.

A Premier League icon and the division’s second-highest scorer of all time with 213 goals, Kane has taken his ruthless efficiency to Bayern Munich—and picked up silverware at long last. After years of near misses at Spurs, he's now backing up his brilliance with trophies to match.

And, rather conveniently, those long-time critics? They've gone suspiciously quiet.

The 25 Best Strikers in World Soccer—Ranked