Our comprehensive round-up of the 10 best strikers in the world in 2023.
The biggest names in football are found in the attacking third and mega transfer fees are forked out on number nines because of their deadly impact and match-winning moments. Quite frankly, a good striker is worth their weight in gold.
As the players that stick the ball in the back of the net, attackers hog the limelight on the back pages and collect individual gongs like they’re going out of fashion. Therefore, a key question needs answering – who is the best striker in the world?
Narrowing them down to the top 10 is a tough task, but someone has to do it so we’ve had a crack at compiling a list based on long-term success as well as their current level of ability. We sure you’re probably going to disagree with us…
The occasional dip in form is being ignored as trophies, key stats and their impact for club and country are the currency we’re dealing in.
Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Gabriel Jesus are just three of the names that have failed to make the cut, which gives you a clue of the strength in depth below. Let’s get to the top 10.
Check our more football features: Best players of all time | Best players in the world 2023 | Best midfielders 2023 | Best defenders 2023 | Best goalkeepers 2023 | Best young players 2023 | Best teams in the world 2023
10. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)
A controversial end to his second spell at Old Trafford and subsequent free transfer to Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia has probably taken a bit of gloss off the final years of Cristiano Ronaldo’s career, but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be remembered as one of the best players in the history of the game.
A return of 24 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United in their disastrous 2021/22 campaign was a fine return and he became the first man to score at five World Cups when netting for Portugal at Qatar 2022.
Ronaldo is a prolific goalscorer, a prolific trophy winner and even has an international airport named in his honour. Does it get any better than that?
9. Neymar (Al Hilal)
Neymar is undoubtedly one of the most talented players to have ever graced the game thanks to his killer first touch and sensational dribbling skills.
The former Santos star did his best work at Barcelona as part of the famed MSN attack alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, while he also played a huge role in establishing PSG as the dominant team in France.
Neymar is level with the iconic Pele as the leading goalscorer for Brazil, but it looks his CV will end up looking a little undercooked without a Champions League or World Cup title after quitting PSG for the riches on offer in Saudi Arabia.
8. Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
Lautaro Martinez has emerged as one of the world’s leading forwards after hitting the 20-goal mark in back-to-back Serie A seasons.
The Argentina international is racking up the silverware for club and country, with the 2021 Copa América and 2022 World Cup on his CV as well as a Serie A title and two Coppa Italia crowns.
One of the more elegant forwards on this list, Martinez is capable of dropping deep to link play in addition to running in behind.
7. Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Probably the least established name on the list but, arguably, one of the most exciting with his electric pace and off-the-ball runs.
Victor Osimhen was scoring at a decent rate for former club Lille and current side Napoli, but he took his game to new heights in the 2022-2023 season by leading the Italian club to Serie A glory for the first time since 1990.
It is likely to be the first of many titles for Osimhen and a mega-money move to one of the continent’s biggest clubs is surely on the cards.
6. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Harry Kane is the all-time leading goalscorer for Tottenham and England – however, a lack of silverware makes it tough to include him in the top five.
Individual honours including three Premier League Golden Boots and the 2018 World Cup Golden Boot no doubt take pride of place on the mantelpiece in the Kane household, but he hit his 30th birthday without a league or cup to his name. It seems that was the inspiration behind his mega-money move to Bayern Munich where a crack at the Champions League surely awaits.
As well as being a deadeye finisher, Kane has evolved his game over the years by dropping deep and linking up play.
5. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
A man that is ageing like a fine wine, Robert Lewandowski continues to find the back of the net at an astonishing rate. He bagged 23 goals in his maiden campaign for Barcelona, although that is slightly down on the frankly absurd numbers he posted for Bayern Munich, to inspire the Catalan club to La Liga glory in 2022-2023.
A big, strong lad that is hardly lacking a turn of foot, the Polish international does his best work in the box thanks to his superb positioning, movement and finishing.
What hasn’t he won? Well, the Ballon d’Or but he would have landed the prestigious award in 2020 had voting not been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
4. Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)
The most recent winner of the Ballon d’Or enjoyed a second wind as Real Madrid’s main man in attack following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from the Bernabeu in 2018.
Karim Benzema enjoyed his best ever season in 2021/22 as his 44 goals in 46 games in all competitions helped Los Blancos to Champions League and La Liga glory, although a switch to Saudi Arabia has effectively brought the curtain down on his career at the top.
He combines terrific movement in the box with an incredible ability to find the back of the net, which makes him a fine focal point in attack.
3. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
At the age of 35, Lionel Messi proved at the Qatar World Cup that there is still plenty of magic left in his boots after inspiring Argentina to the biggest prize in the game.
There’s really not much left to say about Messi at this point in his career. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner – which is sure to be eight later this year – has won all there is to win, he’s left his mark on the game and remains a joy to watch.
The GOAT… but he’s not number one on this list!
2. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
What hasn’t been said about Erling Haaland? The part-man, part-robot is a goalscoring machine and the most deadly number nine in the game.
The 22-year-old Norwegian is scoring at a rate of almost a goal a game for Manchester City following a blockbuster switch from Borussia Dortmund last summer, although there has been some grumbles about other aspects of his game.
As well as individual honours such as the 2020 Golden Boy, Haaland has a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup on his CV after a spectacular first season in England.
1. Kylian Mbappé (PSG)
If money was no object and you could take any player in the world for your team, Kylian Mbappé would surely be the most popular pick.
Dancing feet, lightning pace and clinical finishing makes the Frenchman the most exciting footballer on the planet and his hat-trick against Argentina in the World Cup final underlines his status as the top dog in the game as the Messi and Ronaldo era draws to a close.
The Champions League is the only major title missing from his trophy cabinet and the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner is bound to land the Ballon d’Or sooner or later.
Who is the best striker in the world?
At the age of 24, Kylian Mbappé has the world at his feet and he’s just about got the edge on Erling Haaland as they emerge as the top dogs in the post-Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry era.
While Champions League success has eluded him, you would expect Mbappé will get his hands on that prize at some point to go alongside the World Cup in his trophy cabinet.
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