10 Greatest Strikers of the 21st Century [Ranked]

A striker’s main objective is predominantly to put the ball in the back of the net, but the position has been extensively adapted since the turn of the century. Nowadays, players spearheading their attacks have the capability to drop deep and bring others into play before running forward and getting on the end of a low-driven cross.

That description fits Harry Kane perfectly. The England captain once explained how Jose Mourinho’s freedom-giving tactical setup helped him develop his all-around game. The Bayern Munich frontman isn’t the only forward in the 21st century who has displayed talent beyond finding the net.

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Thierry Henry‘s pace, Karim Benzema‘s hold-up play and Luis Suarez‘s trickery were a sight to behold during their careers. The iconic trio, who all put their striking abilities to the test in El Clasico, are featured in the list below. Here, GIVEMESPORT ranks the top 15 strikers who have dominated world football throughout the 21st century. This includes past and present stars who helped transcend the centre-forward role.

Ranking Factors

• Legacy-Defining Moments
• Individual Honours
• Team Trophies
• Importance to Club
• Importance to National Team
• Ability

15

Andriy Shevchenko

Career span: 1994–2012

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A Ballon d’Or winner in 2004, the cynics may choose to remember Andiry Shevchenko‘s missed penalty in the 2005 Champions League final – but the romantics among us remember him for what he was brilliant at: slaloming through attackers with ease and often putting the finishing touch on a well-worked team goal.

The Ukraine international never managed to reach the lofty heights expected of him when he moved to English shores to lead the line for Chelsea in 2006 – but his numbers at AC Milan (175 goals and 46 assists in 322 outings) is a solid enough return to see him on this list.

Vital to the Rossoneri during their period of dominance in the early noughties, Shevchenko – a one-time winner of the Champions League in 2002/03 – led the line with such prowess and guile that it struck utter fear into defenders. His instinctiveness also made him a brilliant poacher of goals, but don’t let that cloud over his talent: he could make something out of nothing too.

14

Erling Haaland

Career span: 2016–Present

Erling Haaland made a groundbreaking start to his Manchester City career, and his potency deserves recognition. The Norweigan superstar smashed the record for the most goals scored in a Premier League season when he netted 36 goals in 35 games – and he’s also become the quickest player to reach the 100-goal mark, too, doing so in 111 matches.

His international goal-getting record, too, is something to admire. For Norway, he’s plundered an eye-catching tally of 55 goals in 48 appearances and that number is expected to increase tenfold over the coming years.

Just 25 years of age, the Leeds-born marksman made his senior debut for Bryne in the Norwegian second tier at the age of 15 and he’ll likely continue to strike at an alarming rate until he reaches the latter stages of his career. A generational talent that comes round once in a blue moon, Haaland could reach unfathomable levels of goal-getting in the coming years.

13

Sergio Aguero

Career span: 2003–2021

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Before Haaland found unrivalled joy in scoring goals left, right and centre, Manchester City fans relied on the brilliance of Sergio Aguero. Albeit not as lethal as the Norway international, Aguero was smaller in size and created havoc in his own way. Intelligent, too, he’d often find pockets of space behind defenders before hustling his way into a goalscoring opportunity.

Let’s not forget that he – with the help of Martin Tyler – created one of the most iconic moments the Premier League has ever borne witness to. “Aguerooooo!” screamed Tyler as Aguero’s shot rippled the back of the net, thus securing the Citizens the title.

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His Barcelona stint aside, he’s put together a compelling case to be considered one of the greatest strikers of his generation. Diminutive, maybe, but the ever-lasting impact of the Argentine, who is widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever strikers, will prevail the test of time. His club career consisted of 385 goals and 113 assists in 685 appearances.

12

David Villa

Career span: 2000–2020

From humble beginnings, David Villa will forever be remembered as one of the best frontmen of his generation. Goalscoring came to with ease during the Spaniard’s career – and one of many famous strikes came in Barcelona’s 3-1 2009 UEFA Champions League final win against Manchester United as he curled his effort beyond the reach of Edwin van der Sar.

Central to Spain’s golden generation, the Euro 2008 Golden Boot winner remains La Roja’s highest goalscorer of all time with 59 strikes in 98 appearances, accruing to a goals per match rate of 0.60.

First becoming a household name while on the books of Valencia, it was a testament to Villa’s talent that he fit so seamlessly into one of world football’s greatest-ever teams as he moved to Barcelona in the summer of 2010. A one-time winner with the Catalans, he scored a grand total of 367 goals in his 729-match club career, which finally came to an end in 2020.

11

Didier Drogba

Career span: 1999–2018

If there was a striker who Premier League defenders struggled to contain in the last 20 years or so, it’s Didier Drogba. Not only a talented finisher, but the Ivorian – who scored 65 goals for his country – was a hustler and bustler of the highest order, rarely allowing his opponents time and space on the ball. He was as strong as an Ox, too!

Often spotted holding off defenders to aid his teammates around him, Ivory Coast’s all-time top goalscorer wreaked havoc in the English top flight, notably against Arsenal as he bagged 13 goals in 15 games against the Gunners.

A sharpshooter for the big occasion, the charismatic Drogba may not have scored as many goals as some on this star-studded list – but his all-round impact cannot be ignored. Few players combine success, leadership and popping up in big games with a moment to cherish better than Drogba, who scored 302 goals for Chelsea, did at the apex of his brilliantly-crafted career.

10

Samuel Eto’o

Career span: 1994–2019

Many in the football world believe Samuel Eto’o is the best African player in history – he is certainly up there with the very best – and Cameroon’s all-time top scorer more than merits his place among the best strikers of the 21st century. Fast, clinical and robust, he was unplayable at times during his Barcelona spell.

Eto’o posted 130 goals in 199 games for the Catalans, including a crucial equaliser in a 2-1 comeback win against Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final. He was also prolific for Spanish outfit Mallorca before his Nou Camp spell, managing 70 goals in 161 outings.

The Cameroonian became a European journeyman during his club days and was also deadly in Serie A with Inter Milan and the Premier League with Chelsea. He finished top of the La Liga goalscoring charts in 2006 with 26 goals and paved the way for similar African attacking talents like Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen.

9

Raul

Career span: 1994–2015

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Spanish football showed vast improvement in the 21st century, and several strikers made a name for themselves, including Real Madrid great Raul. The former Los Blancos captain caught defenders napping with his instinctive movement and possessed a left-footed strike that goalkeepers were scared to get a hand to.

Raul wrote his name in the history books at the Santiago Bernabeu, which included many memorable moments, goals, and a famous chip finish that earned him the nickname ‘La Palanca’. The six-time La Liga champion was Madrid’s all-time top scorer until the sport’s greatest-ever goalscorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, came on the scene. The ex-Schalke striker’s prolific nature followed him on international duty, as he found the net 44 times in 102 caps.

8

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Career span: 2001–2024

You knew you were in for an evening of entertainment if Zlatan Ibrahimovic was named in a team’s starting lineup. The 6ft5in Swede had swagger but backed it up with remarkable performances and a track record of scoring unearthly goals. One of those was a ridiculous overhead kick from 30 yards against England.

Ibrahimovic didn’t stick with one club for too long, which was good news for European fans. He displayed his exceptional striking abilities at AC Milan, Inter, Juventus in Italy, Barca in Spain, United in England and PSG in France. He was always at the top of his game, and his confidence and talent propelled him to superstardom.

7

Harry Kane

Career span: 2009–Present

Harry Kane is fascinating to watch in his pomp, and he’s been one of Europe’s most reliable forwards this century. The Premier League’s second-all-time top goalscorer’s high footballing IQ allows him to dumbfound the opposition with clever movement and positioning. He has a lethal right foot that, more often than not, finds the back of the net.

Bayern knew what they were getting when they splashed £82 million on Kane in the summer of 2023, and he’s already more than lived up to expectations. He sits on 109 goals in 116 games for the Bavarians and has easily become one of world football’s deadliest finishers. He was that anyway but his numbers in Germany are otherworldly.

Let’s not forget his heroics for England, which have seen him become his nation’s all-time top scorer. The ex-Tottenham Hotspur ace has captained the Three Lions to two consecutive European Championship runners-up finishes. He won the 2018 World Cup Golden Boot with six goals.

6

Robert Lewandowski

Career span: 2008–Present

Robert Lewandowski is the one striker you want in a one-on-one situation with a goalkeeper, as his consistency in front of goal is astounding. The Barca marksman leads the line with an all-round game that frightens defenders and allows his fellow attackers to shine. They can send a cross into the box for him to head home or link up with the Pole and use his creativity.

There might not have been a more reliable goalscorer over the past decade than Lewandowski, who struck 344 goals in 375 games for Bayern. He’s still rolling back the years at Camp Nou with a total of 109 goals in 163 games.

Proving that he is ageing like a fine wine and incapable of slowing down any time soon, these goalscoring feats have helped the two-time European Golden Boot winner’s clubs achieve huge success, including the sextuple with the Bavarians in 2020. That was the same year the 10-time Bundesliga Champion was the uncrowned winner of the Ballon d’Or.