The Best 15 Strikers in World Football Ranked (2025)

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

Best strikers in the world right now: in pictures

15

Matheus Cunha

Wolves and Brazil

It looks as if Matheus Cunha is heading into the prime years of his career, and could well be about to seal a marquee transfer to Man Utd this summer.

The Brazilian has hit double figures for Premier League goals in the last two seasons to help keep Wolves in the top flight, with his current 2024/25 tally the best goalscoring campaign of his career to date.

Ruben Amorim has called Cunha “quality”, and we could soon see the pair working together at Old Trafford.

14

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 now has more than 900 career goals for club and country and has been showing no signs of slowing down.

13

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’s continued to find the back of the net for fun in England.

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.

12

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig and Slovenia

Towering striker Benjamin Sesko could soon be in line for a move away from the Red Bull group after starring for both RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig in recent years.

Called “the new Erling Haaland”, Sesko is going from strength to strength and has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in recent months.

His Transfermarkt value continues to increase and stands at a career-high €65m today, so clubs may be wise to sign the 21-year-old sooner rather than later.

11

Marcus Thuram

Inter Milan and France

Marcus Thuram recently made history 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, is at the peak of his powers.

10

Hugo Ekitike

Eintracht Frankfurt and France

With numerous European giants on the hunt to sign a new striker, Hugo Ekitike is becoming a man in demand after impressing for Eintracht Frankfurt.

The 22-year-old made his loan move to Frankfurt from Paris Saint-Germain permanent in 2024 and has since 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”, who is now wanted by the likes of Man Utd and Liverpool.

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 temporary move to Turkey for the 2024/25 season, where he is the current Super Lig top scorer.

The 26-year-old continues to be linked with a move to the Premier League amid long-term interest from Chelsea, and if he does move to Stamford Bridge, the Blues would be getting “one of the best centre-forwards in the world”, as dubbed by Alvaro Morata.

8

Julian Alvarez

Atletico Madrid and Argentina

Julian Alvarez was always the understudy to Erling Haaland at Man City, but after leaving the Etihad for Atletico Madrid in 2024, has become the main man under Diego Simeone.

The Argentine has been Atletico’s top La Liga scorer for the 24/25 campaign and is showing why he has been hailed as “extraordinary” by Guardiola before leaving City.

City have replaced Alvarez with Marmoush, however, the former is now valued at a whopping €90m by Transfermarkt.

7

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, 27, appears to be in the prime of his career and even Lionel Messi backed him to win the Ballon d’Or just last year.

6

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting CP 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. A reunion with Ruben Amorim at Man Utd has been mooted, and the stats show he is ready for the Premier League.