Every team wants a world-class centre-forward to lead their line, and there is arguably a lack of top strikers in today’s game compared to previous generations.
Scoring goals on a regular basis is a priceless attribute, and all clubs want a proven finisher in their ranks, but they can come at a huge price. That being said, there are still a plethora of elite strikers at the top of their games, but who is the best number nine around today?
Ranking factors
To help rank the strikers in order, we have considered the following criteria:
Current form – how well a player has performed in the past few months Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their team’s performances Role – how unique their skillset is Reputation – what others say about them
Rank
Player
Age
Club
Nation
Harry Kane
32
Bayern Munich
England
Erling Haaland
25
Man City
Norway
Kylian Mbappe
26
Real Madrid
France
Alexander Isak
25
Liverpool
Sweden
Julian Alvarez
25
Atletico Madrid
Argentina
Viktor Gyokeres
27
Arsenal
Sweden
Robert Lewandowski
37
Barcelona
Poland
Lautaro Martinez
27
Inter Milan
Argentina
Victor Osimhen
26
Galatasaray
Nigeria
Hugo Ekitike
23
Liverpool
France
Marcus Thuram
27
Inter Milan
France
Omar Marmoush
26
Man City
Egypt
Cristiano Ronaldo
40
Al Nassr
Portugal
Benjamin Sesko
22
Man Utd
Slovenia
Joao Pedro
24
Chelsea
Brazil
15 Joao Pedro Chelsea and Brazil
Joao Pedro quickly made an impact at Chelsea after signing for £60m from Brighton by helping the Blues win the Club World Cup in the USA.
The Brazilian, now valued at a career-high €50m, also started the 2025/26 Premier League season on fire and looks set to be Chelsea’s first choice striker for years to come.
Club World Cup
2025
14 Benjamin Sesko Man Utd and Slovenia
Towering striker Benjamin Sesko impressed for both RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig in recent years, which resulted in a big-money move to Man Utd in 2025.
Called “the new Erling Haaland”, Sesko’s Transfermarkt value continues to increase and stands at a career-high €70m today, and still just 22, the Red Devils may have a monster on their hands.
13 Cristiano Ronaldo Al Nassr and Portugal
Arguably one of the best players to have ever graced the game, Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong at the age of 40 and has actually scored more goals since turning 30 than he did before.
He’s been plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League for Al Nassr since 2023 and has continued to find the back of the net on a regular basis.
Ronaldo is now approaching 950 career goals for club and country and has been showing no signs of slowing down, continuing to feature regularly for Portugal.
Ballon d’Or
2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
Best FIFA Men’s Player
2008, 2016, 2017
European Championship
2016
Premier League
2007, 2008, 2009
La Liga
2012, 2017
Serie A
2019, 2020
Champions League
2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
FIFA Club World Cup
2009, 2015, 2017, 2018
UEFA Super Cup
2014, 2016, 2017
Nations League
2019
FA Cup
2004
League Cup
2006, 2009
Community Shield
2007
Italian Cup
2021
Copa del Rey
2011, 2014
Spanish Super Cup
2012, 2017
Italian Super Cup
2018, 2020
Portuguese Super Cup
2003
12 Omar Marmoush Man City and Egypt
After starring for Eintracht Frankfurt, Omar Marmoush got his big move to Man City in January 2025, and he continued to find the back of the net for fun.
Pep Guardiola called the Egypt international “the best player in the Bundesliga” after signing Marmoush for City, and he already has a Premier League hat-trick to his name.
11 Marcus Thuram Inter Milan and France
Marcus Thuram made history in 2025 with the quickest goal to be scored in a Champions League semi-final following his clever flick against Barcelona.
The goal highlights Thuram’s quality, and he is now valued at €75m by Transfermarkt, a figure which has more than doubled since moving to Inter Milan from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2023.
The French forward has had the best goalscoring season of his career in 2024/25, and at 27, appears to be at the peak of his powers.
Serie A
2024
Italian Super Cup
2023
Nations League
2021
10 Hugo Ekitike Liverpool and France
Hugo Ekitike became a man in demand after impressing for Eintracht Frankfurt, with Liverpool winning the race to secure his services for an initial £69m.
The 22-year-old previously made his loan move to Frankfurt from Paris Saint-Germain permanent in 2024 and enjoyed his best ever season in front of goal.
PSG are doing just fine themselves without Ekitike, however, they will surely be kicking themselves in regards to selling the “next Mbappe”.
Ligue 1
2023, 2024
French Super Cup
2023
9 Victor Osimhen Galatasaray and Nigeria
Galatasaray struck gold by signing Victor Osimhen on loan from Napoli last summer, with the Nigeria international continuing to do what he does best – score goals.
Osimhen fell out with Napoli chiefs last summer which resulted in his move to Turkey for the 2024/25 season, and that has now become permanent. The striker has been called “one of the best centre-forwards in the world” by Alvaro Morata.
8 Lautaro Martinez Inter Milan and Argentina
Alvarez’s international teammate, Lautaro Martinez, is next on the list, with the Inter Milan star a regular source of goals for the Serie A giants since 2018.
In fact, Martinez has hit double figures for Serie A goals in all eight of his campaigns in Italy and has now surpassed 150 goals in all competitions for Inter.
Now Inter captain, Martinez appears to be in the prime of his career and even Lionel Messi backed him to win the Ballon d’Or just last year.
7 Robert Lewandowski Barcelona and Poland
Robert Lewandowski has been a prolific goalscorer for the entirety of his career and is continuing to find the back of the net at the highest level for Barcelona at the age of 37.
Lewandowski has led the line superbly with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha starring out wide. The Poland international has now hit 700 career goals, and if he plays into his 40s, he could quite easily hit 800 before his retirement.
Champions League
2020
FIFA Club World Cup
2021
Bundesliga
2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
La Liga
2023, 2025
UEFA Super Cup
2020
DFB-Pokal
2012, 2016, 2019, 2020
Copa del Rey
2025
German Super Cup
2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Spanish Super Cup
2023, 2025
Ekstraklasa
2010
Polish Cup
2009
Polish Super Cup
2009
6 Viktor Gyokeres Arsenal and Sweden
Many wouldn’t have expected Viktor Gyokeres to be one of the best strikers in the world a few years ago when he was at Coventry City in the Championship.
However, the Sweden international is now deservedly regarded among the elite after starring on the European stage with Sporting CP.
Gyokeres scored 43 times in his debut season in Portugal and has proven this year that he wasn’t a one-season wonder by finding the back of the net more than 50 times in 24/25. He has now got his return to England with a big-money move to Arsenal and has continued to find the back of the net.