Top 15 Greatest Football Strikers of the 21st Century – November 2025 Definitive Ranking

      The striker is the soul of football — the player who turns half-chances into history, who carries entire nations, and who lives for the moment the ball hits the net. Since 2000, we’ve been blessed with the most lethal, iconic, and complete No.9s the game has ever seen. As of November 2025, here is the definitive ranking of the 15 greatest strikers of the 21st century — based on goals, trophies, individual awards, big-game moments, and pure impact on the sport.

15. Harry Kane (England)

400+ career goals at 32, Premier League all-time top 10, Bundesliga top scorer 2024/25, England’s record scorer. The complete modern striker — hold-up play, vision, and ice-cold finishing.

14. Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden)

570+ goals, league titles in 4 countries, still scoring at 41. The ego, the acrobatics, the clutch moments — Zlatan didn’t follow the game; the game followed him.

13. Luis Suárez (Uruguay)

500+ goals, 2 La Liga titles, Champions League, Copa América. The bite, the genius, the loyalty at Liverpool — football’s most controversial genius.

12. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)

3 Champions Leagues, 4 African Player of the Year awards, 56 international goals. The most decorated African striker ever — the original African superstar.

11. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)

The big-game king. Champions League final hero, 4 Premier Leagues, 65 international goals. The man who made Chelsea European royalty.

10. Sergio Agüero (Argentina)

Premier League’s greatest ever moment — THAT 93:20 goal. 427 career goals, 5 Premier Leagues, the ultimate super-sub and clutch finisher.

9. Edinson Cavani (Uruguay)

400+ goals, Ligue 1 all-time top scorer, Copa América winner. The ultimate poacher who ran like a midfielder and finished like a god.

8. David Villa (Spain)

World Cup + Euro winner, 400+ career goals, Spain’s all-time top scorer until recently. The silent assassin who never got the credit he deserved.

7. Wayne Rooney (England)

Manchester United’s all-time top scorer (253), 5 Premier Leagues, Champions League. The teenage phenom who became a club legend.

6. Karim Benzema (France)

2022 Ballon d’Or, 5 Champions Leagues, 450+ Real Madrid goals. The most complete No.9 of his generation — vision, link-up, and ice-cold finishing.

5. Robert Lewandowski (Poland)

650+ career goals, 11 league titles, Champions League, still scoring 40+ a season at 37. The most clinical finisher of the 21st century.

4. Thierry Henry (France)

Invincibles captain, 2 Premier Leagues, 4 Golden Boots, 175 PL goals. The man who redefined what a striker could be — pace, skill, arrogance, genius.

3. Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil)

2 World Cups, 2 Ballon d’Or, 414 career goals despite injuries. The original Ronaldo — the most naturally gifted striker ever. At his peak, unstoppable.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

900+ career goals, 5 Ballon d’Or, 5 Champions Leagues, Euro 2016 winner. The ultimate goal machine — athleticism, mentality, and sheer will to be the best.

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina)

830+ career goals, 8 Ballon d’Or, World Cup 2022, 10 La Liga, 4 Champions Leagues. The greatest player ever — and the greatest striker of the 21st century by a mile.

Conclusion

From Ronaldo Nazário’s raw talent to Messi’s perfection, these 15 strikers defined an era. Who’s your #1? Who did I miss? Drop your take in the comments — I reply to every one!

Disclaimer: Stats correct as of November 22, 2025. See our Privacy Policy for details.