Every supporter loves a goalscorer. The players who make memories from the ball being placed on the net to pulling it out to joyous cheers of their supporters are monuments Built in decades to come. These players did more than just good at scoring; they defined their era, broke records, and left an indelible imprint in the beautiful game.
The greatest ever strikers to play the game will be discussed.
1. Pele (Brazil)
Pele is often referred to as the King of Football. He merged a world class striker with an ace in the attack, as attacking football brought the best in him. Adding dribbling and combination play gave him effortless style. He was a global icon, especially after lifting 3FIFA World Cups with Brazil, making him a true global icon.
2. Ronaldo (Brazil)
Ronaldo also goes by “O Fenomeno” which means The Phenomenon. He had proper balance, eye popping ability, with explosive speed, dribbling at defenders, and to top it option a clinical finisher. A career plagued by serious injuries, his pure talent and plethora of goals created for him a legendary status which saw him lift 2 World Cups with Brazil.
3. Gerd Müller (Germany)
“The Bomber” perfects the art of poaching and stripping players from possession. He wasn’t the most technical player on the pitch, but his ability to sniff out chances in the box was uncanny. And because he could anticipate where a ball would land, he enjoyed smashing records of the number of goals scored. Along with winning the Champions League, he helped West Germany lift the 1974 World Cup and became the top scorer of that tournament.
4. Ferenc Puskás (Hungary)
Hungary’s national team had some remarkable years with players like Puskás shaking the grounds with his massive bursts of power and precise left-foot shots, averaging a goal a game. During the golden era of Real Madrid in the 50s, Puskás joined the club and continued to showcase his brilliant skills. Even to this day, the award for the best goal of the year features his name because he was that famous for scoring spectacular goals.
5. Romário (Brazil)
More and more witness wish to dissect Romário’s shooting techniques. Aside from being a two time winner of the best world fifa player, I’d argue he perfected the art of shooting at the goal, nabbed a few shots and retiring in peace. He remains infamous for extinguishing any competition Brazil had after singlehandedly leading them to win the World Cup in 1994, and to top it off, cementing a legacy to be remembered forever as jaws in the box.
6. Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
Van Basten injury problems really compelled him to retire early than he would have liked to. He would undoubtedly be amongst the very top players on this list. His combination of power, aerial prowess, and grace was unique. He scored 3 Ballon d’Or awards and immortalized himself in football history by scoring one of the most breathtaking goals ever with a volley in the Euro 1988 final.
7. Eusébio (Portugal)
One of the greatest players in soccer history, Eusébio made an unforgettable mark on the game of soccer. Dominating as a forward, he earned the nickname “The Black Panther” for his unmatched strength and speed. Eusébio was a star athlete during the 1960’s where he also managed to carry Portugal the number 3 spot in the world cup of 1966. During this era, very few players rivaled his ability to score with powerful shots and exceptional dribbling skill.
8. Thierry Henry (France)
One of the most iconic strikers in football history, Thierry Henry was an explosive combination of skill and speed. He achieved the remarkable feat of becoming Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer while also winning the FIFA World Cup in 1998 as part of the French national team renowned for his trademark left wing cut-ins where he curled the ball towards the far corner.
9. Alfredo Di Stéfano (Argentina/Spain)
The most prominent global talent in the maiden era of the UEFA Champions league was undeniably Di Stéfano. It was notable that he played as a forward but he took on several different roles simultaneously, including captain, playmaker, and goal- scorer. He was instrumental in Real Madrid’s unprecedented capture of five consecutive European Cups securing goals in all the finals.
10. Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
One of the most prolific goal scorers in modern football, Lewandowski is well-known for his clinical striking, consistency, and exceptional skills inside the box. His name is written in history books for Champions League winners…and several other awards as well. He secured multiple titles with Bayern Munchen and remain in the history books for the Bundesliga records he broke.
