Football, starting from day one, has produced a lot of excellent players, of whom some are now legends of the game.
One position that is always ranked at places where they are paramount is the striker’s position.
Since they are the people who score the goals that win matches, a lot of football fans admire them more than those players who play in different positions.
Therefore, most of them end up becoming legends of their various clubs.
Some of them are even regarded as the best strikers in football history due to how influential they are in the game.
Every striker not only scores goals but does so very stylishly and at a time when it is most needed.
Whether it is local derbies , Champions League matches or World Cup finals, football’s greatest strikers always gave those moments, which will be remembered for a long time to come.
Their techniques, intelligence, and killer instinct separated them from ordinary ones.
A striker can be great for something more than merely scoring goals. The greatest goal scorers in history got the right opportunity to create chances for themselves and their teammates.
In both their feet and head, from every possible angle, they applied their shooting accurately. Most importantly, they delivered at the highest pressure, especially when defenders were tasked to mark them.
What Defines Great Strikers?
The best traits that were found in the most successful strikers in football have to do with having a wonderful eye for goal and being able to find the back of the net from places nobody else ever would.
They always seem to know where to be at just the right time. Their positions are always perfect for receiving balls and possibly scoring.
What is also crucial as a striker is to be technical. They are able to trap difficult passes, run quickly in tight spaces, and score with pinpoint accuracy.
The best strikers in football history made scoring look easy in front of the world’s best defenders.
It was their mental capability that differentiated them from the rest.
They are always cool under pressure and never give up on chances that look impossible.
Some strikers’ physical attributes played an important role as well. Some also used their pace to run behind defense, some used strength, while others used a combination of both to overpower the defenders.
Top 20 Greatest Strikers Ever
These are the lists of the top 20 best strikers in football history. The rankings are according to the player’s achievements in terms of goal-scoring records, as well as having made an impact on how the game of football is played.
Each of them changed the whole football history for something different.
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1. Pelé
Regardless of the position he played, the majority of people believe Pelé to be the best striker of all time.
Although the exact number is still up for debate among football historians generally, he scored well over a thousand goals over the course of a long footballing career.
With three World Cups to his name with Brazil, Pelé has created a world record that remains unbroken to this date.
His World Cups of 1958, 1962, and 1970 showed the world how adaptable he was as a striker.
Very few players are capable of creating opportunities for teammates while scoring from almost any point on the field.
Pelé was the ideal combination of his technical abilities, athletic ability, and game understanding.
He used to score some amazing goals by dribbling past a line of defenders. His creative mind turned everyone into an artist and pushed football to the status of an art form during his lifetime.
His popularity extended well beyond his club and the national level. In the course of his career, he became the international face of football.
Even when you compare him to players who have come after him, he is still the greatest football legend in history.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best, players in football history. His goal-scoring prowess, even playing from the wide areas, is still amazing.
With 939 goals and still counting under his name, the Portuguese international is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in football history.
He has shown remarkable consistency throughout, particularly with regard to the maintenance of his elite scoring rate well past his late thirties.
The Portuguese international became a proper number 9 during his time at Real Madrid.
His aerial ability, powerful shooting, and in-the-box movement made him almost impossible to stop during his prime years.
On top of that, Ronaldo has a credible reputation in the Champions League as all-time top scorer, after scoring over 140 goals in the competition.
By scoring in many of Europe’s biggest matches, he has turned a good number of those goals into key contributions to title wins for his teams.
His work ethic and how disciplined he is on and off the pitch made it possible for him to prolong this scoring rate longer than most strikers.
3. Lionel Messi
Leo Messi has scored over 875 goals in his entire professional career, and for most of it, he played as an outright striker. His pace, dribbling skill, and shooting accuracy are unmatched.
For most of the years at his peak, he tormented defenses around the world as a devastating striker rather than as a playmaker.
This makes it very clear just how consistent he has been as a goalscorer throughout his career.
The genius from Argentina could score from any position on the field. His left foot, the “magic wand,” could score from even impossible angles and distances.
Messi dribbled his way out of any tight spot by creating unstoppable goal-scoring chances.
Messi’s goal record speaks for itself. By sheer number, he scored upward of 709 goals for just Barcelona, making him the highest in all club history.
The consistency that he showed through the years makes him one of the most prolific strikers ever to play the game.
His World Cup victory in 2022 made up for all of Messi’s legacy. That he could show up on the biggest stage shows the magnitude of his ability.
Those performances showcased, despite him playing a bit deeper, that he was still perhaps among the best strikers of all time in the game of football.
4. Ronaldo Nazário
Ronaldo Nazário certainly would have to go down as the most naturally blessed player ever in the world of football.
Until injury slowed him down, Ronaldo was far too good and completely restored the duties of the striker on the pitch.
A blend of incredible pace and extraordinary technique would have described the Brazilian phenomenon.
He left defenders bedridden with his many deadly step-overs. Some of the goals that Ronaldo scored made it practically impossible for anyone even to think of an attempt.
In the 2002 World Cup, Nazario was exceptional. He scored 8 goals in that tournament, a testimony to his ability to shine at the biggest stage of football.
On top of that, Ronaldo scored two goals in the 2002 World Cup final and won the Golden Boot, having lifted the World Cup twice with Brazil while being one of their most prolific scorers.
He scored 8 goals in that tournament, a testimony to his ability to shine at the biggest stage of football.
Because of such qualities, Ronaldo ended up being different from other normal strikers in that all he had to do was to finish up matches at critical moments.
He scored vital goals in finals and great matches during his career.
His injury-shortened peak years still kept him in the league of the highest goal scorers in history.
5. Gerd Müller
Gerd Müller was the ultimate penalty box predator: probably one of the most clinical finishers of all time.
The German striker, in fact, netted 68 goals in just 62 international matches, a beautiful special efficiency as far as scoring is concerned.
His positioning inside the penalty area was always perfect. Whenever needed, he was apt at being at the right place at the right moment to pounce on a loose ball.
His awareness and reaction speed were in a class of their own among his contemporaries.
During an era when defending was a much tighter job than today, the Bayern Munich legend scored over 566 goals for his club.
He was virtually impossible to mark in that crowded penalty area.
Müller was the World Cup victor and a member of the successful German European Championship team.
His goals were very vital in both tournaments. The kind of performances he put on in the last matches of those tournaments earned him the tag as one of the greatest clutch performers among the greatest strikers alive.
6. Marco van Basten
Because of his skill and ability to score goals, the Netherlands international, Marco van Basten, is ranked amongst the best strikers in football history.
Such quality of realizing a situation and putting the ball fantastically at really difficult angles is unmatched.
His volley goal in the 1988 European Championship final is still being considered as one of the best goals ever scored in football.
Van Basten was two-footed and could score from virtually anywhere. This ability made him so unpredictable, which made it hell for the defenders to get into their heads.
His three Ballon d’Or awards reflect how good he was as a striker and also how the football fans appreciated him.
He proved his skill so many times at Ajax for the most part of his career. He also played for Milan and was exceptional but was disturbed by recurring injuries.
Van Basten had officially declared himself self-retired at the age of 28 due to so many substantial injuries.
But his technical skills and goal prowess made him earn a place in the top temporal seats where great center forwards in the football world sit.
7. Romário
Inside the penalty area, Romário was a wizard who had extraordinary ball control and scoring range.
His movements, combined with his sense of creating scoring opportunities from the most awkward of angles, made him one of the trickiest players for defenders in tight spaces.
His strong balance, pace, and sharp shooting made him different from most other strikers.
Technically his instinct was such that he would score goals from tight spaces and awkward angles.
It was the 1994 World Cup that saw the capabilities of Romário being put to their maximum when he led Brazil in scoring to lift the World Cup.
The five goals and match-winning performances have inarguably indicated that he can perform with the best players in the game.
He was always accurate in shooting. Romário’s self-belief was incredible. He knew he could score in every match he played, which probably makes him one of the best.
8. Thierry Henry
The combination of power, speed, technical skill, intelligence, and precision defined Thierry Henry as a striker.
And so the Frenchman ranks among the best strikers in football history.
He could cut from a wide position on the wing, from a position through the middle, or by dropping deep to shoot.
Henry netted a remarkable 228 goals in 377 games for Arsenal, making him the Gunners’ top scorer of all time.
The kind of goalscoring that he offers tends to lead to crazy workdays for quick-thinking defenders.
He was electrifying on the counterattack, tearing away from his half-line to dribble through and shoot into the net past many defenders all over the ground.
Acceleration and top speed-wise, Henry ranks among the all-time greats.
He was fortunate to win both the World Cup and the Euro, scoring goals that helped France win both.
An average of one goal every two games out of his 123 senior appearances for the French national team suggests he was doing something right at the highest stage of the game.
9. Luis Suárez
Luis Suárez is up there as one of the scariest strikers ever. If there’s a man born with goal-scoring abilities, then it is Suarez. The guy’s a beast in the box, a total headache for defenders because of his touch, how he finishes, and his movement.
He started turning heads at Ajax, banging in around 100 goals in over 160 games. Then, in 2011, he went to Liverpool and became a Premier League star, winning the Golden Boot and almost getting the team a title.
In 2014, Suárez signed with Barcelona and teamed up with Messi and Neymar to form that crazy MSN trio.
He scored close to 200 goals for them, plus a bunch of league titles, cups, and a Champions League trophy. He was La Liga’s top scorer in the 2015-16 season.
After that, he went to Atlético de Madrid, showed he still had it, and helped them win La Liga in 2020-21. He’s currently reunited with Messi at Inter Miami in the MLS.
El Pistolero (Suarez) scored 69 goals for Uruguay, making him their all-time top scorer. He played in four World Cups and was instrumental in the Uruguay squad that won the 2011 Copa América.
For those who appreciate real beauty, the Uruguay international will be remembered for his zeal, ability to overcome almost impossible situations to score goals, and gutsy nature.
He gets a lot of booing in the stadiums, but something always happens at the end whereby the guy goes and scores from almost anywhere. Definitely one of the best strikers in football history.
10. Alfredo Di Stéfano
Di Stéfano managed to pull off the majority of his feats as a striker for Real Madrid in particular. The adeptness and class of the Argentine-Spaniard were an institution of world football that shall be no less.
His amazing feats at Real Madrid include winning them their first five European Cup titles, 8 Laliga trophies and 1 Spanish cup.
He netted in all five finals in a row, showcasing how influential he is, especially in big games.
He’s also known for tracking back to tackle in defense and distributing balls around the midfield.
He could also score some amazing goals that other strikers can only dream of.
His ability to dominate play in moments that are crucial in games has made him one of the biggest names in Real Madrid history.
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11. Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás’ left-foot shot is one of the strongest weapons in the history of football.
With Juventus and such impossible positions and distances to consider, nobody could cast a glance at Europe without shivering in their boots when this Hungarian forward came with a chance to score.
Puskás, in the early 1950s, was the deadliest player of the great Hungarian team ruling the world’s soccer scene.
The so-called “Magnificent Magyars” themselves changed the tactics of the game, with Puskás presenting the greatest scoring threat.
At Real Madrid, he formed a fearsome partnership with Alfredo Di Stéfano, and together, they had written some of the most glorious moments in the history of the Champions League.
For over 40 years now, one Puskás of 84 goals in 85 international appearances for Hungary has reigned.
It was from week to week, though, that he showed his prowess by scoring against the best defenders in the world on the international level.
12. Johan Cruyff
Naturally, Johan Cruyff wasn’t merely a striker but was absolutely prolific.
The Dutch legend could play anywhere in the attacking line and always seemed to manage to influence matches in a definitive way.
His cleverness and vision allowed him to create chances for himself and his teammates. He also understood football better than most other players and could read situations far beforehand.
The captain of the Netherlands took his country all the way to the World Cup final of 1974, where he put in more than his share of critical goals along the way.
His performance proved exemplary in demonstrating how a modern striker should conduct himself during a tournament.
Cruyff exercised tremendous influence over tactical developments in football.
Total football in his case was the ability to interchange positions, leaving the boundaries of freedom to players.
This tactical revolution changed the way in which the strikers approach their role on the pitch.
13. Roberto Baggio
An extraordinary player who brought technical brilliance and phenomenal creativity together to be one of Italy’s finest footballers.
Baggio was just magic on the ball. He could dribble past several defenders in tight areas, creating nonexistent scoring opportunities.
He combined balance and close control with the best that football has ever seen.
Baggio almost single-handedly drove Italy to the 1994 World Cup final.
The Ballon d’Or winner of 1993 put up a display of his character in that tournament, showing that he knows how to raise his game when it matters most.
Another wonderful facet of Baggio’s already terrific skill set was the taking of free kicks.
He would find the target from dead-ball situations, which was critical to the scoring success of his team in many important matches.
14. Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is probably one of the best strikers in football history and among the brightest forwards of all time.
What makes him unique as a forward is the way he links play and creates opportunities for his teammates while posing his constant threat of scoring.
The French striker is known for scoring some amazing Champions League goals in crucial moments.
He stepped up with many more match-winning goals in the knockout stages of the competition, helping Real Madrid to add to their Champions League titles.
Benzema’s technical abilities render goals that very few strikers can score. His first touch, positioning, and finishing make it extremely hard to tackle.
His performance standards and longevity at the highest level reflect his Ballon d’Or award in 2022.
Benzema proved for modern strikers that intelligence and techniques can be as important as pace and power.
15. Zlatan Ibrahimović
Ibrahimović’s career lasted much longer than most and included moments of personality and spectacular goals at every club.
The confidence of the Swedish forward and the ability to score such types of goals from incredible positions made him popular around the world.
Ibrahimović won league titles in different countries, which showcased his ability to adapt to all kinds of playing conditions and styles.
As far as retained length in scoring was concerned, Ibrahimović was quite remarkable, as he went on scoring up to his forties.
This unique combination of his dedication to fitness and such an unusual style of play permitted him to act longer than most strikers.
16. Gabriel Batistuta
Gabriel Batistuta was among the most powerful strikers ever to kick a football. The shooting of an Argentine and his physical presence in and around the penalty area made him extremely dangerous.
His loyalty to Fiorentina through their Serie B period showed his character and commitment to the club.
He could have joined another team after having many options on the table, but instead chose to assist Fiorentina back to the top flight of Italian football.
He put in a top performance in every match for Argentina during the World Cup.
Batistuta was always known to score winning goals at crucial intervals in a number of tournaments.
He was always among the most feared strikers in international football.
For a pure striker, his work rate was exceptional. He was willing to track back and help defend, as well as create opportunities for the teammates, which is a typical trait of a modern striker.
17. Alan Shearer.
He was the all-time leading scorer of the Premier League and remained pretty consistent in maintaining his record for such a long time in the English Premier League.
He scored 260 goals throughout his career in the Premier League and retained that record for more than 20 years.
Superb heading ability was also shown by Shearer, which made him dangerous from crosses and set pieces.
Perfect timing and technique in the air is the reason why he scored numerous goals with his head throughout his career.
His techniques and mental strength in and around the penalty area helped him score vital goals in important games for both club and country.
His loyalty to Newcastle United is reflected in the close association he has with the club in his hometown.
He could have won more trophies somewhere else but stayed put to play for his boyhood during his peak years.
18. Hugo Sánchez
He was one of the most acrobatic strikers in football history. The Mexican’s bicycle kicks and some of his more impressive finishes made him one of the most entertaining players in football during the 1980s.
He was a great goal scorer for Real Madrid and won many Golden Boots. Real Madrid’s reliance on the effectiveness of their number 7 only increased as the Spanish club’s titles piled up.
His physical strength was so extraordinary that he could score almost “magic” goals with attempts that couldn’t even be dreamed of by other players.
The acrobatics built up through training put Sánchez in a good position to make his worldwide-known signature play.
Sánchez became the favorite of many with his trademark celebration after scoring, as his exhilarating somersaults became almost as famous as the goals he scored to justify them.
19. Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish was one of the smartest strikers ever to play football. The man from Scotland could read the game so well and always made the right decisions, making him very effective for club and country.
During Kenny’s time at Liverpool, he was regarded as one of the greatest players in the club’s history. Together with Liverpool strikers, they formed some of the deadliest attacks in the history of English football.
The technique was brilliant for the Scottish forward and allowed him to score in tight and difficult positions.
Among those in his generation, Dalglish had one of the best first touches and finishing skills.
Leadership qualities were a major part of his career. He was a captain of both club and country and became a successful manager, showing a sound understanding of football tactics and psychology.
20. Raúl
Uppermost of Mr. Champions League before Cristiano Ronaldo, the goal-scoring champion in the history of the competition.
The Spanish striker came out best before the spectators of Europe’s football throughout his career.
His movement in the penalty box was just right. Always getting into space and being available for passes so as to create opportunities for scoring.
The anticipation and positioning made Raúl one of the most dangerous strikers in European football.
He was remarkably loyal to Real Madrid. He spent a greater part of his career with Real Madrid, as well as most of the time being one of the major players associated with the club’s value and tradition.
Rául’s technique and intelligence of football allowed him to remain effective even in his later age.
He understood the game and knew how to change his style of play according to different situations; therefore, it led to making his career so sturdy at the highest level.
Conclusion
The best strikers in football history typically stand for all things goal scoring and excellence in the game.
Of these 20 players, some lived the game and loved the game, their talents coming to light at critical moments when they needed to score.
The different things one could argue each player brought to football history were something completely different from how many were only pure goalscorers, how many were complete footballers, and how many really just rolled into the mythical figures.
Their exciting inspirations have lasted for some that are retired and will continue to go far beyond their careers for those that are still playing. They will be celebrated and preserved in memory for all time.
These legends remind anyone who cares, pretty much, that greatness in football can take many forms, whether from physique or from pace, technique, or intelligence.
Each made his or her way into the ranks of history as one of the greatest to ever set foot on the pitch.
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