Who Are The 10 Best Strikers In The World?

Some will look at the gulf between transfer fees paid for attackers and defenders, and think “if a defender can do his job as well as a striker can do his, why don’t they cost the same amount of money?”

A reasonable question, and one which also applies to individual awards such as the Ballon d’Or and FIFA best player - but the answer is a simple one. Think of the strikers of old: Andriy Shevchenko, Ronaldo Nazario, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Thierry Henry - though there were exceptions, these world class goal grabbers would be the most recognised players on their respective team sheets.

Frequent scoring leads to more recognition, exposure, coverage and marketing opportunities, which can see a striker snow-ball from a solid goal scorer to a world class phenomenon. So, when sides are scouting and negotiating for a new marksman, they are paying as much for the brand of the player as their talent - defenders, though equally talented, usually find themselves passed over by the media, resulting in more reasonable transfer fees despite their obvious skill.

In recent years, transfer fees have risen substantially, and the striker market has taken on a whole new dimension of cost. This summer in particular, the transfer market has been awash with rumours concerning European striking talent.

The pool runs deep, and the sheer number of top class frontmen means that with so many in demand at the same time, clubs keep raising the transfer fee as various teams attempt to out-bid one another.

They can’t be blamed - there are more world class strikers available this summer than at any time in the past decade, and each are linked with high-profile moves and big pay days.

So here, Football Park has made the bold claim that they can identify who is the best striker in the world on current form. Using statistics from the 2024/25 season, goal and assist output will determine where they place in the top 10. Strap yourselves in, and prepare for some BIG numbers.

For those who hate spoilers, look away now. The following list contains the names of those included in this list.

• Erling Haaland
• Viktor Gyokeres
• Karim Benzema
• Harry Kane
• Victor Osimhen
• Robert Lewandowski
• Aleksandar Mitrovic
• Serhou Guirassy
• Ousmane Dembele
• Cristiano Ronaldo

10. Erling Haaland - Manchester City

Goals Per Game: 0.7 Assists Per Game: 0.09 Combined: 0.79 G/A Per Game. Value: €180m

It is no surprise that the Norwegian is on this list, but it certainly is surprising that he placed so far down it. Finishing just 0.01 ahead of Alexander Isak in the combined goals and assist ranking, the Scandinavian Destroyer was fortunate to pip the Swede to 10th.

Haaland has rightfully been labelled as the best striker in the world since his move to Man City in 2022. With 121 goals in just 142 City appearances, Haaland’s numbers are unheard of in the Premier League.

Erling Haaland joined Man City three years ago today.

The numbers since speak for themselves. pic.twitter.com/pVlZGSWMye

— Sports Illustrated FC (@SI_FootballClub) June 13, 2025

But a poor season by Manchester City’s standards saw them finish third in the Premier League, and without a trophy for the first time since 2017 - as a result, Haaland’s form dropped below his own unbelievably high standards.

31 goals across all competitions is still a mightily impressive figure, and it proved enough to make this list. But the Norwegian, who is still only 24, is used to averaging around a goal per game, and will want to drag his numbers back up that level in 2025/26.

9. Robert Lewandowski - Barcelona

Goals Per Game: 0.81 Assists Per Game: 0.06 Combined: 0.87 G/A Per Game. Value: €12m

At the ripe old age of 36, Lewandowski is showing that age is just a number when it comes to scoring. Though he may have lost a yard in pace, the Potent Pole's instincts are sharper than ever, and saw him contribute 42 goals across all competitions as his Barcelona side lifted the La Liga title, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup.

1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Barcelona goals for Robert Lewandowski

That's a century of goals for three different clubs 🤖 pic.twitter.com/QqkYRws47R

— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 25, 2025

Lewandowski has been playing at the top level for 15 years now, a run kickstarted by a fortunate move to Borussia Dortmund in 2010. On his travels to sign a contract at Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers, the eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull forced airports to ground flights across Europe, forcing the Pole to play out the rest of the season with Lech Poznan.

As they say, the rest is history. He sealed a move to Borussia Dortmund at the end of that season, and became a verified deity to the BVB. 103 goals in four seasons with the Black and Yellow earned him a move to German giants Bayern Munich, where he cemented his iconic status.

Though now in his twilight years, Lethal Lewa remains a permanent threat, and will punish the smallest lapse in judgement with lethal precision.

8. Crisitano Ronaldo - Al Nassr

Goals Per Game: 0.85 Assists Per Game: 0.1 Combined: 0.95 G/A Per Game. Value: €12m

Though the Saudi League is considered by many to be less challenging than the top flights of England, Spain, France, Germany and Italy, Ronaldo still needs to compete with a host of talented defenders across the division.

Netting 35 times against the likes of Danilo Pereira, Kalidou Koulibaly, Joao Cancelo, Nacho Fernandez and Chris Smalling, Ronaldo proved that even at the age of 40, he still has the ability to make experienced defenders look like fools.

19 years ago, a 21-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first World Cup goal against Iran.

The start of 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 highlights on the biggest of stages 🌟 pic.twitter.com/litCKbceMt

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 17, 2025

Though his side failed to pick up a trophy this season, Ronaldo was the shining light of the team, and together with attacking cohorts Jhon Duran, Sadio Mane and Angelo Gabriel, hauled them to third place, while also scoring the second most goals of any team in the Saudi Pro League.

We may only have one or two years left of watching the Portuguese great, and at some point his form will dip. Our advice? Watch him before he’s gone - still the king of entertainment, and still full of self-belief, Ronaldo will try anything to drag his team back into a game.

7. Serhou Guirassy - Borussia Dortmund

Goals Per Game: 0.75 Assists Per Game: 0.2 Combined: 0.95 G/A Per Game. Value: €45m.

Becoming the joint winner of the Champions League golden boot takes no shortage of skill to begin with - but when you achieve just that after being knocked out in the quarter finals, then you know you belong in the very upper echelons of the game.

Dortmund striker and Guinea international Guirassy did just that - 13 goals in just 14 UCL games, which saw him finish tied at the top with Barcelona winger Raphinha. Combined with his 21 Bundesliga goals, Guirassy’s season haul of 34 goals in 45 games deserves huge respect and admiration.

Serhou Guirassy will be one problematic forward for defenders at this #FIFACWC 🟡

His numbers for Dortmund are INSANE 😮‍💨🔥 pic.twitter.com/oUY0ZkRG54

— SportyTV (@SportyTV_) June 16, 2025

It is amazing that he is not one of the many strikers being targeted this summer. Yes, he may be edging ever closer to 30, but a market value of €45 million and a scoring record as prolific as his should certainly be drawing more attention than it currently is.

If any title challenging team is looking for a bargain deal instead of €80 million Hugo Ekitike or €75 million Benjamin Sesko, Guirassy would provide a more than adequate replacement target.

6. Aleksandar Mitrovic - Al Hilal

Goals Per Game: 0.77 Assists Per Game: 0.19 Combined: 0.96 G/A Per Game. Value: €18m

Another one who moved to Saudi Arabia for a big pay-rise, former Fulham frontman Mitrovic has developed into a hell of a striker since departing England in January of 2024.

Netting 40 times in 43 games in his first season, the Serbian followed it up with an equally impressive 28 in 36 this campaign, one which was affected by injury, limiting his game time with some of his appearances coming from off the bench as he recovered.

Aleksandar Mitrovic scores Al-Hilal hat-trick against Karim Benzema's Al-Ittihad 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LESL8iGTb3

— GOAL (@goal) September 2, 2023

Still, his numbers were good enough to land him sixth in the Saudi Pro League scoring charts, and with players such as Ronaldo, Ivan Toney and Karim Benzema ahead of him, he couldn’t complain much about the result.

Though his side failed to defend their Super League title, they did manage to pick up the Super Cup along the way, earning Mitrovic his fourth trophy in a year and a half with the club. If he can maintain his blistering form, and avoid fitness scares, there is no reason why more shouldn’t follow.

5. Ousmane Dembele - PSG

Goals Per Game: 0.67 Assists Per Game: 0.3 Combined: 0.97 G/A Per Game. Value: €90m

It seems Dembele has finally started to deliver on the immense hype he was given so early in his career. A quadruple, made up of the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France, Trophee des Champions and, of course, a brilliant Champions League win, the Frenchman has gone from a failed prodigy to a Ballon d’Or contender in a matter of months.

Brought from Borussia Dortmund for an eye-watering €148 million by Barcelona in 2018, Dembele flattered to deceive for the Catalans - though he was clearly a hugely talented individual, he rarely took his opportunity when one of Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez were out of the starting eleven, and had to settle for a rotational role alongside Antoine Griezmann.

🚨 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Ousmane Dembélé remains the clear favorite on every single betting page to win the Ballon d'Or.

— @oddschecker pic.twitter.com/7jAP2SsrHV

— The Touchline | Football Coverage (@TouchlineX) June 17, 2025

Eventually, he grew tired of waiting, and moved to PSG in the summer of 2023 for a cut price of €50 million. Though he looked rejuvenated in the French capital, his first season figures of six goals and 12 assists hardly indicated a renaissance was coming.

However, this season Dembele adjusted his game, allowing him to play in the a more central position as a false nine (which we are listing as a striking position), and with the explosive nature of fellow attackers Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, and Desire Doue playing on the outside, Dembele became the perfect lightning rod for PSG’s attacks.

4. Karim Benzema - Al Ittihad

Goals Per Game: 0.75 Assists Per Game: 0.27 Combined: 1.02 G/A Per Game. Value: €7m

Moving to the Saudi Pro League just a year after winning the Ballon d’Or, many questioned Benzema’s decision. Why leave Real Madrid when at the peak of your powers? However, the answer for Benzema was simple - he had nothing left to prove.

He had escaped the shadow of Ronaldo, cemented himself as a Real Madrid legend, won trophies in every tournament he participated in, and frankly, would have been looking for a new challenge. The sudden influx of successful European players transitioning to Saudi Arabia caught his attention, and his move to Al Ittihad has unquestionably been a success.

Eight years ago to the day, Karim Benzema dropped this in the Champions League semi-final. ✨😍🇫🇷pic.twitter.com/dxtfTUb0ub

— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) May 10, 2025

Though his arrival failed to bring trophies in their first season together, the most recent campaign saw them achieve success, winning the Pro League title as well as the King’s Cup, in which Benzema finished third in the scoring standings in both.

Much like Ronaldo and Lewandowski, Benzema is within the final kicks of his career, but like the other two, he has also shown that a world class striker's instinct doesn’t wain with age - he is still as lively as ever in the box, and with another year on his contract, he still has plenty more to give.

3. Harry Kane - Bayern Munich

Goals Per Game: 0.80 Assists Per Game: 0.27 Combined: 1.07 G/A Per Game. Value: €75m

Harry Kane’s goal-scoring record was not what was so special about the 2024/25 season. What made it special was that it marked the first time that England’s greatest-ever striker had lifted a major trophy above his head, as his Bayern side walked to the Bundesliga title.

HARRY KANE LIFTS HIS FIRST-EVER MAJOR TROPHY 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Mopvd6y4Xe

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 10, 2025

Kane has long been labelled as one of the finest finishers in the game, and combined with his creative ability (he notched 11 assists this season), he is also in the argument for being one of the most complete strikers of all time. However, one critical thing was missing if he was going to be put into the same bracket as some of the greats: silverware.

Well, the wait is over, and the relief was there for all to see. With that particular monkey off his back, next season could be a scary one for Bundesliga defenders. With a trophy in the bag, Kane will play with freedom and reckless abandon, and with such a well developed striking instinct already, he could be yet to have his best season.

Flanked by the likes of Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala, Kingsley Coman and Michael Olise, Kane found the net on 38 occasions this season, winning the Bundesliga golden boot in the process. Next season, with Olise and Musiala developing with each passing game, he could well reach 50.

2. Victor Osimhen - Galatasaray

Goals Per Game: 0.9 Assists Per Game: 0.19 Combined: 1.09 G/A Per Game. Value: €70m

We couldn’t complete a best strikers list without this man. While the events of last summer may have seen has stocks fall, there is no denying the raw ability the Nigerian has in front of goal.

Osimhen is a physical specimen. He has the physicality to bully defenders out of the way, effectively using his frame as a battering ram which, combined with his outrageous close control and creativity, saw him dominate proceedings in the Turkish Super Lig this season.

Osimhen is HIM pic.twitter.com/SPDtIvhUMK

— Trey (@UTDTrey) June 16, 2025

Netting 26 goals in 30 league games, Osimhen also scored seven goals in six in the Europa League, illustrating that while he may be taking a hiatus away from Europe’s top five league, he still knows exactly how to score against some of the very best.

With teams such as Man United, Chelsea and even Real Madrid linked with the Napoli striker, Osimhen won’t be back in the Turkish leagues any time soon, it is simply a matter of when, not if, he gets his move to another big European club.

1. Viktor Gyokeres - Sporting Lisbon

Goals Per Game: 1.03 Assists Per Game: 0.25 Combined: 1.28 G/A Per Game. Value: €75m

First place was wrapped up before we even started the list. You knew it. We knew it. Viktor Gyokeres has been on a different level to everyone else over the last 18 months, and on current form can be called the best striker in the world in terms of output.

Of course there are arguments - “He’s a Brighton reject, he couldn’t hack it in the Premier League” or “he’s putting up these numbers in an easy league”. Both of these are true, to an extent. Gyokeres couldn’t hang at the highest level during his time at Brighton, and instead honed his craft on a number of loan moves, most notably at Coventry, when he netted 21 Championship goals as the Sky Blues made the play-offs.

🚨 Still a bit mad that Viktor Gyokeres has already played for Swansea City, Brighton and Coventry City in his career. pic.twitter.com/n0aEV63lNe

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) June 14, 2025

His move to Sporting happened the same summer, and despite unbelievable success in the country, the arguments that the league is easier are warranted - outside of Benfica and Porto, Sporting Lisbon don’t really have any other domestic rivals.

But in any league, if you are averaging over a goal per game, you deserve a chance at the very top, and it seems only a matter of time until the Super Swede is given his chance. He’s netted 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting - linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, it looks like he’ll take whichever club he goes to by storm.