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The Greatest Strikers of All Time
Shirt number: 9
These are strikers in the purest sense of the word : out-and-out strikers. Their sole job is scoring goals and they have excellent finishing abilities. There are several ways of achieving this and several types of striker. However, they will all play up-front, usually with either a centre-forward (target man) or a second striker and will rely on chances being set up by these players (or by wingers and attacking midfielders). In earlier eras these players could occupy any of the inside forward or centre forward positions. These strikers will play as close to the opponents goal as they can without being offside and are never expected to track back or perform other duties. It is more important that they provide an outlet and a presence in the penalty box. The complete striker is something special as they are often able to create and score their own goals (see below). Great strikers usually work in great partnerships and the descriptions below explain the logical pairings that tend to exist, although often the best partnerships don't follow these rules but instead create an intangible chemistry where pairings just 'click' or fail to gel.
In the Mid 2010s the striker role was being seriously questioned. Roma, Spain, and Barcelona all experimented with striker-less formations, using another forward or attacking midfielder up front, often interchanging or dropping back in a way to maintain possession. There was no permanent spearhead. In the 2014 World Cup many teams played with a 'false nine' - a forward that drifted and started from a deeper position, a role highlighted by Messi at Barcelona, but dating far back, for instance to the Hungary team of the 1950s.
The greatest 'pacy strikers' of all time
These strikers specialise in playing 'off the shoulder' of the last defender, making well-timed runs onto incisive through balls and beating the offside trap (although these players may often be frequently caught off-side during a game). They will principally use their pace to get into goalscoring positions, and also tend to have great dribbling ability. Their finishing is excellent and they can score from many angles outside the box. They are also great in one-on-ones with the keeper. Sometimes these players can be positioned (or drift) wide, coming inside to attack the goal (i.e. Thierry Henry). These players tend to work best when combined with centre forwards or second strikers.
Just Fontaine
Bloomer Eng 1890s/1900s
Pepi Bican Aus 1930s/40s
Fontaine Fra 1950s
Ademir Bra 1950s
Riva Ita 1968-74
Keita Mali 1960s/70s
Cha Bum-Kun S.Kor 1978-86
Careca Bra 1980s
Rossi Ita 1980s
Valdano Spa 1980s
Papin Fra 1980s/90s
Thierry Henry
Lineker Eng 1986-90
Klinsmann Ger 1980s/1990s
Bebeto Bra 1990s
Suker Cro 1990-2002
Henry Fra 1990s/00s
Kluivert Neths1990s/00s
F. Inzaghi Ita 1990s/2000s
Owen Eng 2000s
Eto'o Cam 2000s/10s
David Villa Spa 2000s/10s
Luis Suarez Uru 2010s
Klinsmann Ger 1980s/1990s
Bebeto Bra 1990s
Suker Cro 1990-2002
Henry Fra 1990s/00s
Kluivert Neths1990s/00s
F. Inzaghi Ita 1990s/2000s
Owen Eng 2000s
Eto'o Cam 2000s/10s
David Villa Spa 2000s/10s
Luis Suarez Uru 2010s
The greatest 'goal poachers' of all time
The 'poacher' or 'fox in the box' is usually a scorer of a great many goals but not a scorer of many great goals. Almost all goals are scored from within the penalty box (many from within the six-yard box) and result from approach play or saved shots from other players. The poacher seizes on loose balls in and around the box and puts them away. This is not as easy as it sounds. The great goal poacher instinctively knows when and where to be, he has fast reactions, and he can lose his marker and can score with great improvisation: with either foot, the head or even other body parts. He can turn tightly in space and score from acute and unusual angles. These players often offer nothing else to gameplay outside the box but can register amazing goal tallies. They always need to be combined with other talented second strikers or centre-forwards and tend to work best when combined with the former. To qualify for this list they have to be something special and have extraordinary goal tallies.
Gerd Muller
Leonidas Bra 1930s
N Simonian USSR 1950s
Jimmy Greaves Eng 1960s
Denis Law Sco 1962-74
Uwe Seeler Ger 1966-70
Gerd Muller Ger 1970s
Ian Rush Eng 1980s
Hugo Sanchez Mex 1980s
Romario Bra 1988-94
van Nisteltrooy Neths 1998-2008
Lewandowski Pol 2010s
Falcao Col 2010s
N Simonian USSR 1950s
Jimmy Greaves Eng 1960s
Denis Law Sco 1962-74
Uwe Seeler Ger 1966-70
Gerd Muller Ger 1970s
Ian Rush Eng 1980s
Hugo Sanchez Mex 1980s
Romario Bra 1988-94
van Nisteltrooy Neths 1998-2008
Lewandowski Pol 2010s
Falcao Col 2010s
The greatest 'complete strikers' of all time
The complete striker is a rare breed. They are difficult to define and worth their weight in goal. They have the attributes of several different types of striker and can perform several roles. For instance, they are often able to create and score their own goals (i.e. Ronaldo), or to act as a target man and also an off-the-shoulder striker (i.e. Torres). They can frequently operate effectively alone up front or offer versatility in their choice of striking partner. Their unpredictability makes them all the harder to defend against.
Ronaldo
Eusebio Por 1960s
Bettega Ita 1970s/80s
Rummenigge Ger 1978-86
Butragueno Spa 1980s
van Basten Neths 1988-1990
Shevchenko Ukr 1990s/00s
Weah Lib 1990s
Ronaldo Bra 2000s
Crespo Arg 2000s
Torres Spa 2000s
van Persie Neths 2000s/10s
Sergio Aguero Arg 2010s
Kane Eng 2010s
Bettega Ita 1970s/80s
Rummenigge Ger 1978-86
Butragueno Spa 1980s
van Basten Neths 1988-1990
Shevchenko Ukr 1990s/00s
Weah Lib 1990s
Ronaldo Bra 2000s
Crespo Arg 2000s
Torres Spa 2000s
van Persie Neths 2000s/10s
Sergio Aguero Arg 2010s
Kane Eng 2010s
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NB. If you are looking for Pele see the "Support Strikers" page - he was a no.10 : Support Strikers
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