Top 50 Strikers of the 21st Century – Ranked Lowest to Highest
Evaluating strikers over the course of the 21st century is no easy task. Rather than focusing on full careers or longevity alone, this list is based on each player’s peak 4–5 year period — where they showcased their elite abilities at the top level. The ranking excludes those who peaked mainly in the 1990s and celebrates players who truly defined the modern era of goalscoring excellence.
50. Jamie Vardy
Vardy’s late rise through the leagues to Premier League glory with Leicester is one of football’s great stories. His incredible speed, pressing, and finishing helped redefine what an elite striker could look like outside the traditional mold.
49. Ciro Immobile
While he struggled outside Italy, Immobile’s domestic dominance with Lazio is undeniable. His goalscoring consistency in Serie A puts him among the most prolific in the modern game.
48. Nicolas Anelka
Anelka was a nomadic striker with spells at top clubs like Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, and PSG. Although his consistency varied, his raw talent and intelligence earned him success across Europe.
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47. Roy Makaay
Makaay was a clinical finisher, particularly noted for his time at Deportivo La Coruña and Bayern Munich. His ability to find space and finish efficiently made him a quiet but deadly presence in the box.
46. Mario Jardel
Known for his outrageous goal tallies in Portugal, Jardel’s peak was short but spectacular. Though limited internationally, his sheer numbers at Porto and Galatasaray were jaw-dropping.
45. Romelu Lukaku
Lukaku’s blend of strength and scoring instinct saw him thrive in the Premier League and Serie A. His key role in Inter’s title-winning season revived his reputation at the elite level.
44. Antonio Cassano
Cassano was as unpredictable as he was talented. Despite an inconsistent career, his technique, vision, and creativity made him stand out during his peak years with Roma and Real Madrid.
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43. Mario Gómez
Gómez was a classic number nine—tall, powerful, and instinctive in front of goal. His prolific spells at Stuttgart and Bayern Munich highlighted his ability to lead the line with clinical precision.
42. Lautaro Martínez
Still in his prime, Lautaro combines relentless movement with intelligent link-up play. His performances with Inter Milan and Argentina suggest a trajectory that could see him rise higher on future lists.
41. Diego Milito
Milito was instrumental in Inter’s 2010 treble-winning campaign, scoring in all key finals. Though not always in the spotlight, his peak was brilliant and incredibly decisive.
40. Edin Džeko
Džeko’s adaptability has been impressive, scoring goals consistently in Germany, England, and Italy. His aerial ability and composure have made him a dependable target man for over a decade.
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39. Giovane Élber
A top Bundesliga striker in the early 2000s, Élber helped lead Bayern Munich to domestic and European success. He was a clever, mobile forward with a knack for timely finishes.
38. Antonio Di Natale
Di Natale was a technical maestro and a loyal servant to Udinese, consistently among Serie A’s top scorers. His elegant style and finishing made him a cult hero in Italy.
37. Henrik Larsson
Larsson’s Celtic legacy is immense, and he also made key contributions at Barcelona and Manchester United. His movement and eye for goal allowed him to succeed well into his 30s.
36. Dimitar Berbatov
Berbatov’s style was effortless, blending first touch, control, and finishing with a calm elegance. He starred for Tottenham and Manchester United, often delivering with class in big moments.
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35. Roberto Firmino
A modern false nine, Firmino was pivotal to Liverpool’s pressing system and fluid attack. Though not a prolific scorer, his intelligence and teamwork elevated everyone around him.
34. Filippo Inzaghi
One of the best poachers in football history, Inzaghi thrived on instinct and timing. He won everything with Milan and Italy, scoring crucial goals despite never being the most technical.
33. Luca Toni
Toni’s physical dominance and finishing power saw him succeed late in his career, winning the World Cup and the European Golden Shoe. He was a constant aerial and box threat.
32. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang brought electric pace and lethal finishing to Dortmund and Arsenal. At his peak, he was one of Europe’s most feared counter-attacking strikers.
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31. Diego Costa
Costa combined aggression with a strong scoring record, leading Atlético and Chelsea to league titles. His physicality and mentality made him a nightmare for defenders.
30. Patrick Kluivert
Though his best may have been in the late ’90s, Kluivert still shone into the 2000s for Barcelona. He brought technique and finesse to the number nine role.
29. Adriano
Adriano’s left foot was thunderous, and he had all the tools to be unstoppable. While his career was ultimately short-lived at the top, his Inter peak was extraordinary.
28. Miroslav Klose
Germany’s all-time top scorer, Klose was a consummate professional and brilliant tournament striker. His work rate and positioning were key to his long-lasting success.
27. David Trezeguet
Trezeguet was a clinical finisher and a hero at Juventus. His partnership play and precision made him a model poacher.
26. Carlos Tévez
Tévez brought relentless intensity and grit, matched with technical flair. He succeeded across Argentina, Brazil, England, and Italy, always leaving a mark.
25. Gonzalo Higuaín
Often underappreciated, Higuaín scored heavily in Spain and Italy. His movement and intelligence made him a top-tier striker at Madrid, Napoli, and Juventus.
24. Diego Forlán
Forlán’s form with Villarreal, Atlético, and Uruguay in the late 2000s was sensational. He was technically brilliant and delivered on the biggest stages.
23. Edinson Cavani
Cavani was a tireless worker and reliable scorer at Napoli and PSG. His movement and hunger were unmatched, making him a consistent performer for over a decade.
22. Radamel Falcao
Falcao’s peak at Atlético Madrid was nothing short of world-class. Injuries curtailed his rise, but during his prime, he was one of the best finishers in the world.
21. Hernán Crespo
A stylish and composed striker, Crespo was excellent at timing runs and finishing cleanly. He excelled in Serie A and on the international stage with Argentina.
20. Christian Vieri
Vieri combined physicality with instinctive finishing, leading Inter’s line with power. His early-2000s form was among the best in Europe.
19. Michael Owen
Owen had electric pace and incredible timing in his early 2000s peak. Injuries cut him short, but his Ballon d’Or-winning form remains unforgettable.
18. Fernando Torres
At Liverpool, Torres was unplayable—fast, technical, and lethal in front of goal. His Champions League-winning spell at Chelsea added silverware to his legacy.
17. David Villa
Villa was the complete striker—mobile, intelligent, and consistent for both club and country. Spain’s all-time top scorer, he played a key role in their golden generation.
16. Erling Haaland
Still early in his career, Haaland’s numbers and physical dominance are already historic. His trajectory suggests he could rise even higher in future rankings.
15. Robin van Persie
Van Persie was a technically gifted striker with a thunderous left foot. His peak at Arsenal and title-winning season with Manchester United showed his true brilliance.
14. Harry Kane
Kane is a modern great, combining deep playmaking with ruthless finishing. His consistency in the Premier League and role as England’s top scorer place him firmly in the top 15.
13. Ruud van Nistelrooy
Van Nistelrooy was a predator in the box, thriving on movement and one-touch finishes. His time at Manchester United and Real Madrid saw him dominate the scoresheets.
12. Didier Drogba
Drogba was a big-game player, scoring in multiple finals for Chelsea. His physicality, leadership, and clutch moments made him an icon in English football.
11. Antoine Griezmann
Griezmann’s versatility and football IQ set him apart, excelling as both a scorer and creator. His performances for Atlético and France have been consistently elite.
10. Samuel Eto’o
Eto’o won everything with Barcelona and Inter, always scoring in the biggest games. His speed, instinct, and competitive drive made him a modern legend.
9. Zlatan Ibrahimović
A serial winner and one of football’s most unique personalities, Zlatan succeeded in nearly every major league. His technique and longevity are hallmarks of greatness.
8. Sergio Agüero
Agüero’s Premier League legacy is massive, becoming Manchester City’s all-time top scorer. His agility, sharp finishing, and consistency make him an all-timer.
7. Raúl
Though his best started in the ‘90s, Raúl remained a force in the early 2000s. His intelligence, leadership, and record-breaking numbers with Real Madrid were legendary.
6. Andriy Shevchenko
Shevchenko was a Ballon d’Or winner with Milan, known for his movement and clinical edge. His early-2000s form was truly elite across Europe.
5. Karim Benzema
Benzema evolved from support act to superstar, culminating in a Ballon d’Or in 2022. His intelligence, creativity, and clutch goals define a long, successful peak.
4. Wayne Rooney
Rooney was the heartbeat of Manchester United and England, capable of scoring, assisting, and controlling play. His all-around game was unmatched during his prime.
3. Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski’s goalscoring stats are staggering, especially in Germany. With perfect movement, precision, and professionalism, he’s among the most complete strikers of all time.
2. Luis Suárez
Suárez was fierce, technical, and supremely intelligent. From Ajax to Barcelona, his ability to carry teams and score consistently at the highest level was peerless.
1. Thierry Henry
Henry tops the list for revolutionizing the striker role in the 2000s. His speed, flair, creativity, and goals made him not just prolific—but iconic.
