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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.

Picture
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

Picture
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

                                                

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.

Picture
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

                                                                                      



 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.


Picture
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



NB. If you are looking for Pele see the "Support Strikers" page - he was a no.10 :  Support Strikers 


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