Nowadays, being a striker is no longer just about putting the ball in the back of the net; strikers are expected to hold the ball up, link play, press, run the channels and harass defenders. That means several factors have to be considered to rate the best strikers in the world.
Top strikers possess excellent finishing ability, off-the-ball movement, tactical intelligence to find space, strength to hold off defenders, as well as good aerial abilities.
FootballOrbit brings you the best strikers in the world in 2025.
1. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
PSG’s all-time top goalscorer, Kylian Mbappe made his long-awaited move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, after several years of speculation.
Although a natural winger, the fierce competition for places, coupled with his skillset, saw him deployed as a striker by Real.
Expectedly, he hit the ground running…
Mbappe famously netted an hat-trick in the El Clasico, becoming the first Real Madrid player in 30 years to net a hat-trick against Barcelona.
Furthermore, he bagged another sensational hat-trick against Man City in the UEFA Champions League to knock them out.
Eventually, he broke Iván Zamorano’s 32-year record for most goals scored by a Real Madrid player in their debut season.
Likewise, he also broke Alfredo Di Stéfano’s 71-year-old record for most goals for the club in a debut season in La Liga.
He helped Madrid win the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup at the end of his first season, scoring in both finals.
Ultimately, Kylian Mbappe scored 44 goals and provided 5 assists in 59 appearances in all competitions, and was named Real Madrid’s Player of the Season.
Also, he won the Pichichi Trophy (La Liga topscorer), as well as his first European Golden Shoe at the end of the 2024/25 season.
2. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
The all-time English top goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League, Harry Kane has scored over 400 senior career goals.
In 2024/25, he became the fastest player to reach 50 goals in the Bundesliga. He scored 50 goals in 43 Bundesliga games, overtaking Erling Haaland’s previous record of 50 goals in 50 games.
Kane continued showing why he is among the best strikers in the world throughout the season, and would eventually clinch the first trophy of his career as Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga title.
Moreover, he finished the season as the league’s topscorer for the second consecutive season, and was named the Bundesliga Player of the Season.
In total, Harry Kane made 51 appearances, scored 41 goals, and laid on 14 assists in all competitions.
3. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Touted as a prodigy right from his teenage years, Erling Haaland has developed into one of the most fearsome strikers in the world.
In his debut Premier League season, he broke the record for the most goals scored by a player in a single season, with 36.
At the end of that season, his 52 goals across all competitions was the most ever for a Premier League player.
His efforts helped Man City to a treble, including their first Champions League title.
One of the highest paid footballers in the world, Haaland has proven to be consistent at the highest level.
In March 2025, Haaland overtook Alan Shearer to become the fastest player to reach 100 goal involvements in the Premier League — doing so in 94 matches!
Later, in June, he scored his 300th career goal in a 5-2 win over Juventus in a FIFA Club World Cup group stage match.
Thus, becoming, at the age of 24 years and 340 days, the second-youngest player in the 21st century to reach the landmark — only behind Kylian Mbappé.
At the end of the season, Erling Haaland had netted 34 goals, and bagged 5 assists in 48 matches.
4. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
With over 600 goals and more than 150 assists, Robert Lewandowski is already one of the best strikers ever.
Last season, the Polish striker reminded the world why he’s still among the best marksmen on the planet.
He overtook Gerd Müller’s record to become the third highest scorer in the history of the five major European football leagues with 366 goals in total.
Also, he made it his 14th consecutive season in which he scored at least 20 goals at club level, surpassing Lionel Messi’s record.
Lewandowski made history by scoring his 100th Champions League goal, becoming only the third player to pass the 100-goal mark in the Champions League.
In December, he netted a goal against Real Betis, which saw him reach 16 goals in his first 16 La Liga matches in a season — equalling another record set by Messi in 2018/19.
In April 2025, Lewandowski surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo as the player with the most goals past the age of thirty-five in the Champions League (14).
Furthermore, he notched his 100th and 101st goals for Barcelona against Athletico Bilbao on the final matchday of the season. This made him join the small group of players to have scored 100 goals with three different clubs, and only the third player from the 21st century to do so after Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.
Despite his advanced age, the 37-year-old incredibly netted 42 goals in 52 matches across all competitions.
Lewandowski helped Barca win a domestic treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana.
His efforts saw him named in the La Liga Team of the Season for the third season in a row.
5. Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
Alexander Isak is a true modern striker, offering an aerial presence with his 6’4″ frame, while possessing notable pace and skills with the ball at his feet — allowing him to manoeuvre through tight spaces and outsmart defenders.
His composure in front of goal and ability to use both feet is also remarkable. While his link-up play and passing abilities allow teammates to join the attack.
Furthermore, Isak has been a revelation in the Premier League since joining Newcastle from Real Sociedad for a club-record fee in 2022.
Last season, he scored in a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the EFL Cup final, securing Newcastle’s first domestic title since 1955.
At the end of the season, the Swede was one of six nominees for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
Alexander Isak scored 27 goals, and assisted 6 in 42 matches across all competitions in 2024/25.
However, his consistent performance has seen Liverpool keenly interested in signing him.
6. Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)
Viktor Gyokeres is known for his physicality, pace and stamina.
Last November, he scored a memorable hat-trick for Sporting against Man City in the Champions League.
Furthermore, in 2024/25, the Swedish striker became the first player to score against every Primeira Liga team, he has faced in a single season.
At the end of the season, he helped Sporting win their first domestic double since the 2001/02.
Moreso, he scored an astonishing 54 goals in 52 games, whilst providing 13 assists.
Ultimately, he bagged 97 goals and 28 assists in just 102 matches during his time with the Portuguese champions!
On the 26th of July 2025, Gyökeres signed for Arsenal for a fee of £55 million, potentially rising to £63.5 million with add-ons, penning a five-year deal with the Gunners.
7. Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Quick and agile, Lautaro Martinez is known for his dribbling skills, prolific goalscoring, positioning in the box, physical strength and aerial prowess.
The Argentine equally possesses good link-up play and defensive work-rate, and is capable of assisting goals in addition. This is evident in his fruitful partnerships with the likes of Mauro Icardi, Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Thuram over the years.
Last season, Martinez contributed 24 goals and 7 assists in 53 appearances as he led Inter to a thrilling run to the UEFA Champions League final.
8. Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray)
Victor Osimhen is famous for his explosive pace, aerial ability and fighting spirit.
The Nigerian made a surprising loan transfer to Turkish giants, Galatasaray.
He quickly endeared himself to the club’s faithful as he finished the season as the league top scorer, helping the club win the domestic double.
In total, the striker played 41 games in all competitions, and scored 37 goals, with 8 assists to chip in.
Victor Osimhen’s efforts persuaded Galatasaray to splash €75 million to sign him permanently this summer. This made him become the most expensive player in Turkish football history.
9. Julian Alvarez (Athletico Madrid)
A typical modern day striker. Julian Alvarez’s ability to connect with the midfield while making space for teammates to exploit makes him thrive in numerous tactical system.
A reliable backup for Erling Haaland at Man City, Alvarez joined Athletico Madrid on a in 2024 on a six-year deal reportedly worth up to €95 million (£81.8 million).
The transfer was a club-record sale for City.
He wasn’t fazed by the hefty price tag though, and instantly settled down in Spain.
Eventually, the 25-year-old scored a respectable 29 goals, and provided 8 assists in 57 matches across all competitions.
Julian Alvarez’s exploits in his debut season in Madrid saw him named in the La Liga Team of the Season in 2024/25.
10. Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)
After establishing himself at Stuttgart, Serhou Guirassy joined Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2024.
At the Signal Iduna Park, he maintained his form as one of the best strikers in world football.
Last season, he became the third player ever in Dortmund history (after Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland) to score ten goals in a single Champions League campaign.
Also, he became the first African player to score a hat-trick against Barcelona in the Champions League, and the player with the most goals scored against Barcelona in a single edition of the competition, with five in total.
Guirassy ended his first Champions League season with Dortmund with fourteen matches played, thirteen goals scored and four assists provided — emerging as joint-topscorer alongside Barcelona’s Raphinha.
Hence, he became the second African player to achieve this feat, only after George Weah in 1994/95.
At the end of the 2024/25 campaign, the Guinean striker played 50 games, and registered 38 goals and 9 assists.
Serhou Guirassy was included in the Bundesliga Team of the Season for the second consecutive season.
Moreso, he was among the joint topscorers at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
11. Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool)
Hugo Ekitike had a fantastic outing last season. He formed a formidable partnership with Omar Marmoush in the first half of the campaign, but later spearheaded Eintracht Frankfurt’s attack when the Egyptian departed for Man City in January.
Ekitike ended 2024/25 with 48 appearances, 22 goals, and 12 assists in all competitions.
His performances helped Frankfurt finish in 3rd place in the Bundesliga, securing a spot in the 2025/26 Champions League.
At the end of the campaign, the Frenchman was included in the 2024/25 Bundesliga Team of the Season.
In July 2025, Ekitike joined Liverpool in a transfer worth up to €95 million (£82.4 million.
Furthermore, he made his debut for Liverpool in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, scoring his first goal for the club in an eventual 3-2 loss on penalties following a 2-2 draw in normal time.
On his Premier League debut, he scored and assisted a goal apiece in a thrilling 4-2 win over Bournemouth.
Notable Mentions
- Omar Marmoush (Manchester City)
- Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
- Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United)
- Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah)
- Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid)
- Mason Greenwood (Marseille)
- Jonathan David (Juventus)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)
