Strikers are those who have an easy task on paper but a brutally difficult one in reality: score goals, win matches, and leave your imprint in the hearts of fans forever.
In a sport that is constantly evolving, where forms fluctuate and fashions come and go, there is one thing that is inviolate: good strikers are the heartbeat of any title-winning side.
From veteran pros rewriting the record books to young sensations lighting up stadiums with each touch, the modern-day striker takes many forms: the poacher, the creator, the workhorse, the magician.
Today, we profile the 10 best strikers in world football currently. Based on their 2024/25 seasons, influence, consistency, and sheer footballing ability.
- 10. Dusan Vlahovic – Juventus
- 9. Jonathan David – LOSC Lille
- 8. Inaki Williams – Athletic Club
- 7. Alexander Sørloth – Atletico Madrid
- 7. Marcus Thuram – Inter Milan
- 6. Serhou Guirassy – Borussia Dortmund
- 5. Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid
- 4. Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona
- 3. Erling Haaland – Manchester City
- 2. Viktor Gyökeres – Sporting CP
- 1. Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
10. Dusan Vlahovic – Juventus
2024/25 Stats (Juventus):
- Serie A: 28 appearances, 10 goals, 4 assists
- Champions League: 9 appearances, 4 goals, 1 assist
- Italy Cup: 2 appearances, 1 goal
When Dusan Vlahovic signed for Juventus in January 2022, he was one of the most coveted young forwards in Europe.
There was fanfare, especially when he inherited Cristiano Ronaldo’s number 7 jersey. But Vlahovic was unfazed. “The number seven jersey represents nothing,” he remarked, before admitting he wanted number 9.
That summed him up as focused, unfussy, and fixated on being a true center-forward.
In a system that hasn’t always played to his strengths, he has continued to deliver. Juventus have been a defensively-minded side, but the Serbian has managed to carve out his chances with limited service.
With 10 goals in 28 Serie A matches and 4 more in Europe this season, he remains a beacon of hope for a team in transition.
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9. Jonathan David – LOSC Lille
2024/25 Stats (LOSC Lille):
- Ligue 1: 32 appearances, 16 goals, 5 assists
- Champions League: 10 appearances, 7 goals, 2 assists
- UCL Qualifiers: 4 appearances, 2 goals, 2 assists
Canada’s finest forward continues to fly under the radar, but Jonathan David‘s numbers speak volumes.
Since arriving in Lille in 2020, he’s quietly racked up nearly 100 goals, becoming one of the most consistent strikers in Ligue 1. This season, he’s hit new heights with standout performances in both the domestic league and the Champions League.
David blends sharp positioning with quick feet, making him a nightmare for defenders.
He’s a complete forward: strong enough to hold up play, smart enough to find space, and clinical enough to punish the slightest lapse.
8. Inaki Williams – Athletic Club
2024/25 Stats
- La Liga: 34 appearances, 6 goals, 8 assists
- Europa League: 12 appearances, 5 goals
- Supercopa: 1 appearance
Inaki Williams may not boast the raw goal tallies of others on this list, but few strikers work harder.
A tireless runner, selfless presser, and reliable leader, he’s more than a striker; he’s Athletic Club’s heartbeat. Since 2018, he’s worn the sacred number 9 shirt in Bilbao, following in the footsteps of legends like Zarra and Pichichi.
This season, Williams became the first Athletic player since Ernesto Valverde to provide three assists in a single match, a huge proof of his evolved, team-first approach.
7. Alexander Sørloth – Atletico Madrid
2024/25 Stats
- La Liga: 34 appearances, 17 goals, 2 assists
- Copa del Rey: 7 appearances, 4 goals
Once considered a journeyman striker after stints at Crystal Palace and RB Leipzig, Alexander Sørloth has rewritten his story.
His 23-goal season with Villarreal turned heads across Europe, prompting Atletico Madrid to activate his release clause. It was a gamble, but one that’s already paying off.
Sørloth’s power, aerial ability, and surprising turn of pace have made him an effective weapon for Diego Simeone.
Though adjusting to a deeper squad with more rotation, he’s proven he’s no one-season wonder.
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7. Marcus Thuram – Inter Milan
2024/25 Stats
- Serie A: 32 appearances, 14 goals, 7 assists
- Champions League: 13 appearances, 4 goals, 2 assists
Thuram is not just the son of a legend anymore, he’s building his legacy. After an impressive stint in Germany, he’s taken Serie A by storm with Inter Milan.
Strong, agile, and intelligent, Thuram has become a modern target man capable of contributing far beyond goals.
He was pivotal as Inter clinched their 20th league title, often drifting wide to create space, combining brilliantly with Lautaro Martinez, and leading the press.
His trademark celebration—waving a jersey like a flag—now flies high over Milan.
6. Serhou Guirassy – Borussia Dortmund
2024/25 Stats (Borussia Dortmund):
- Bundesliga: 30 appearances, 21 goals, 4 assists
- Champions League: 14 appearances, 13 goals, 5 assists
Serhou Guirassy’s breakout 2023/24 season with Stuttgart, where he scored 28 Bundesliga goals, was no fluke. Dortmund recognized his talent and brought him in to fix their goal-scoring woes.
Fast forward a year, and the Guinean striker has delivered emphatically.
Guirassy finished as the joint-top scorer in the Champions League, underlining his knack for performing on the grandest stage. He’s physically dominant, technically sharp, and mentally relentless.
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5. Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid
2024/25 Stats
- La Liga: 33 appearances, 29 goals, 3 assists
- Champions League: 14 appearances, 7 goals
- Copa del Rey: 4 appearances, 2 goals
- UEFA Super Cup: 1 goal
Mbappe may have made his name as a winger, but at Real Madrid, he’s embraced the role of central striker. Denied his preferred number 7 by Vinicius Jr., the French superstar has worn the number 9—and lived up to it.
With over 30 goals this season, Mbappe has formed a deadly partnership with Jude Bellingham and Vinicius. His intelligence, finishing, and speed make him a lethal outlet.
Reluctant number 9 or not, he’s every bit the complete striker.
4. Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona
2024/25 Stats (Barcelona):
- La Liga: 33 appearances, 25 goals, 2 assists
- Champions League: 13 appearances, 11 goals
- Copa del Rey: 3 appearances, 3 goals
- Supercopa: 2 appearances, 1 goal, 1 assist
At 36, Lewandowski remains a master craftsman. After a relatively quiet 2023/24 campaign, the Polish striker has returned to his devastating best under new manager Hansi Flick.
Barcelona has tailored its system to play more directly, giving Lewandowski the service he thrives on.
With 25 league goals and another 11 in the Champions League, Lewandowski is proving that age is just a number. He remains the benchmark for intelligent movement, ruthless finishing, and professionalism.
Flick said it best: “Lewandowski has been the best number 9 in the world over the past decade.”
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3. Erling Haaland – Manchester City
2024/25 Stats
- Premier League: 29 appearances, 21 goals, 3 assists
- Champions League: 9 appearances, 8 goals
- FA Cup: 3 appearances, 1 goal, 1 assist
Haaland is a goal-scoring machine. His stats read like a video game: 21 goals in 29 Premier League games, 8 in Europe, and multiple hat-tricks.
He started this season by smashing the record for most goals in the first five matches of a Premier League campaign: 10, breaking Mick Quinn’s 1992 record.
Despite injury setbacks, Haaland continues to terrorize defenders. His ability to get shots off every 5.3 touches underlines his ruthless efficiency.
A classic poacher with modern-day physicality.
2. Viktor Gyökeres – Sporting CP
2024/25 Stats
- Liga Portugal: 33 appearances, 39 goals, 8 assists
- Champions League: 8 appearances, 6 goals
- Taca de Portugal: 6 appearances, 4 goals, 3 assists
From Coventry benchwarmer to Portuguese superstar, Gyökeres has made a meteoric rise. The Swedish striker rejected Premier League offers to join Sporting CP, and the gamble has paid off spectacularly.
Gyökeres has bulldozed his way through defenses all season long.
With 39 league goals and a remarkable European campaign, he’s Sporting’s battering ram and playmaker. If there’s a more complete striker in terms of strength, work-rate, and goal output, you’d struggle to name him.
1. Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
2024/25 Stats
- Bundesliga: 34 appearances, 36 goals
- Champions League: 11 appearances, 10 goals
- DFB Pokal: 2 goals
Harry Kane’s debut season in Germany might not have delivered trophies, but it delivered goals, plenty of them.
The England captain has shattered Bundesliga scoring records while proving that his class transcends leagues. Elegant on the ball, devastating in the box, and a born leader, Kane is the archetypal number 9.
He didn’t get his usual number 10 at Bayern, so he took the number 9—and has owned it. He’s brought creativity, leadership, and elite finishing to a Bayern side that needed direction post-Lewandowski
Honorable Mentions:
- Romelu Lukaku (Roma) – Rediscovered some of his old fire, but just falls short of the top 10.
- Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) – One of the most improved strikers in Europe.
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) – Outscored by Thuram this season, but still a constant threat.
- Artem Dovbyk (Girona) – A breakout season in La Liga.
- Julian Alvarez (Man City) – More of a hybrid forward, but deadly when central.
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