The 10 Best Strikers in the World
The 10 Best Strikers in the World
MILLIONS
September 17, 2025
Kylian Mbappé tops the list of the best strikers in the world in 2025, with 43 goals and 5 assists for Real Madrid. Harry Kane (39 goals, 14 assists) and Alexander Isak (27 goals, 6 assists) occupy second and third place respectively. Viktor Gyökeres leads the scoring charts (54) with Sporting CP, while Erling Haaland (33 goals) occupies fifth place. The ranking considers goals, expected goals (xG), impact in important matches, and consistency. Other notable names include Robert Lewandowski (42 goals) and emerging talents such as Julián Álvarez (29 goals). Mbappé's exploits in the Champions League and his dominance in LaLiga cement his top spot.
Just as football fans closely follow the performances of these world-class strikers, many enjoy taking the excitement a step further on platforms like Hidden Jack, where the thrill of predicting outcomes and testing your luck adds another layer to the beautiful game.
The role of the striker in modern football goes beyond scoring goals; it's about adapting to different systems, creating chances and leading the attack with intelligence and style. Each season, only a few manage to stand out and earn a place as world-class goalscorers. The ranking blends established legends with rising stars such as Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, who have already proven their worth in world football.
There is a reason why forwards are so often the centre of attention. After all, goals are the key to winning games, although there are many other ways in which forwards can help a team. Whether it's holding up play, creating chances or simply making good use of space, forwards can be useful not only in attack but often in defence as well. Here, we analyse our complete list of the best strikers in the world. This will answer one simple question: who is the best striker in the world right now? To make our list of the best strikers in the world in 2025 more transparent, we have also revealed our ranking factors in this section.
List of the Best Forwards in the World
Although many new names have made their presence felt in the major European leagues, they have not yet broken into the list of the 10 best forwards in the world. Let's find out who is the best forward in the world in 2025:
Note: xG is based on performances in the 2024/25 season across all competitions and may vary slightly depending on the data source. We have taken data from FootyStats.
How We Ranked the Best Strikers in the World
Who is the Best Striker in the World Right Now?
Strikers who contributed decisively to winning league titles, European titles or international tournaments ranked higher. So, who is the best striker in the world right now? Let's find out!
10. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Ollie Watkins' performance with Aston Villa this season has gone largely unnoticed. The English striker has scored an impressive 17 goals and provided 14 assists, demonstrating his strong attacking output. His campaign has been key in helping Aston Villa secure fifth place in the league.
Although his form has dipped compared to the 2023/24 season, his contribution last season combined with his current statistics make him one of the best strikers in the world.
Season stats (2024/25, all competitions):
- Club: Aston Villa
- Appearances: 54
- Goals: 17
- Assists: 14
- xG: 15.91
9. Mateo Retegui (Atalanta)
The Argentine striker has drawn attention with his scoring ability and creativity on the pitch for Atalanta. Last season, Retegui managed nine goals for his club, but he has since taken a big step forward. His ability to control the game and score from different positions makes him one of the standout forwards in 2025.
In the recently concluded season, he produced 28 goals and 9 assists in 49 appearances. His impact was crucial in Serie A, helping Atalanta finish third in the league with 74 points from 38 games.
Season stats (2024/25, all competitions):
- Club: Atalanta
- Appearances: 49
- Goals: 28
- Assists: 9
- xG: 17.99
8. Julián Alvarez (Atlético Madrid)
Julián Álvarez is steadily establishing himself among the top 10 forwards in the world in 2025 thanks to his standout performances with Atlético Madrid. His link-up play, movement, and ability to create space for teammates make him a perfect modern forward, adaptable to any tactical system.
After a strong 2023/24 season in the Premier League with 19 goals and 14 assists, Álvarez has stepped up again. In the 2024/25 season, he delivered 29 goals and 8 assists across 57 matches, improving on his output from his Manchester City days.
Season stats (2024/25, all competitions):
- Club: Atlético Madrid
- Appearances: 57
- Goals: 29
- Assists: 8
- xG: 15.45
7. Robert Lewandowski (FC Barcelona)
The 36-year-old Polish striker had a strong season with FC Barcelona following a less impressive previous year. He scored 26 goals and provided 9 assists in all competitions for his club. Considered one of the world’s top strikers, Lewandowski regained his form and tallied an impressive 42 goals and 3 assists in 52 matches during the 2024/25 season.
His ability to capitalise on half-chances and his clinical finishing place him high on the list. Barça’s number nine finished just behind Kylian Mbappé in the rankings. In LaLiga alone, he scored 25 goals and narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot. These figures are a testament to his quality, especially playing alongside one of the world’s best midfielders, Pedri.
Season stats (2024/25, all competitions):
- Club: Barcelona
- Appearances: 52
- Goals: 42
- Assists: 3
- xG: 22.73
6. Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
Argentinian striker Lautaro Martínez has been a key figure in Inter Milan's campaign, maintaining strong form from last season. His ability to find scoring positions and his clinical finishing have been central to Inter’s attack.
Martínez leads Inter's line as captain and remains the club's top scorer for the 2024/25 season. Although Inter were unsuccessful in defending their title, Martínez has scored an impressive 24 goals and provided 7 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions. His performances continue to place him among the best strikers in the world.
Season stats (2024/25, all competitions):
- Club: Inter Milan
- Appearances: 52
- Goals: 24
- Assists: 7
- xG: 11.18
5. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
It is difficult to discuss the best striker in the world without mentioning Erling Haaland. The powerful Norwegian continues to dominate the English Premier League with Manchester City. Despite a slower start to the season, Haaland scored 22 goals that helped City finish in the top three.
Although he hasn’t matched last year’s performance due to time out with injury, he remains one of the Premier League’s top forwards. Observers will be keen to see how he performs without Kevin De Bruyne, who recently moved to Napoli. Haaland’s consistency and scoring ability keep him among the world’s elite strikers.
Season stats (2024/25, all competitions):
- Club: Manchester City
- Appearances: 47
- Goals: 33
- Assists: 5
- xG: 22.06
4. Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting CP)
Swedish centre forward Viktor Gyökeres has been in exceptional form since 2023 and has been instrumental for Sporting CP in the Primeira Liga. During the 2024/25 season, he showcased his scoring prowess by winning the league's Golden Boot with 39 goals.
The striker is set to join last season’s runners-up in the 2025 English Premier League, and it will be interesting to see how he competes against the league’s top forwards. Despite playing in Portugal, Gyökeres’ phenomenal goal-scoring ability earns him a spot among the best strikers in the world.
Season stats (2024/25, all competitions):
- Club: Sporting CP
- Appearances: 52
- Goals: 54
- Assists: 13
- xG: 33.06
3. Alexander Isak (Newcastle United)
Newcastle United's rise has been one of the most inspiring stories of the season in the English Premier League, with Alexander Isak playing a key role. His adaptability allows him to constantly find himself in scoring positions for the Magpies.
The Swedish striker scored 25 goals in the Premier League last season and continued his excellent form in 2024/25, adding 27 goals and 6 assists across 42 appearances. While his statistics may not be as eye-catching as some others on this list, his influence in big games and consistency in scoring against top teams establish him as one of the world’s best forwards.
Season stats (2024/25, all competitions):
- Club: Newcastle United
- Appearances: 42
- Goals: 27
- Assists: 6
- xG: 20.54
2. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Harry Kane has proven himself as one of the top two strikers in the world. The English forward joined Bayern Munich in last season’s summer transfer window and has been sensational ever since, scoring 31 goals in his first season away from home.
Despite Bayern finishing third in the Bundesliga and missing out on major trophies, Kane maintained his excellent form and focus. His performances highlight why he is considered one of the world’s best strikers, and he also celebrated the first trophy of his career during this period.
Season stats (2024/25, all competitions):
- Club: Bayern Munich
- Appearances: 49
- Goals: 39
- Assists: 14
- xG: 22.11
1. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
Despite injuries this season, Kylian Mbappé remains one of the best strikers in the world in 2025. He played a key role in PSG’s dominance of Ligue 1 last season, scoring 45 goals and providing 11 assists. After transferring to Real Madrid, he managed 43 goals and 5 assists in LaLiga during the 2024/25 season, overcoming a slow start.
The French striker also scored a hat-trick against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, helping Los Blancos reach the round of 16. He finished as LaLiga’s top scorer, regained his form at the perfect moment, and won his first European Golden Boot. Mbappé has undoubtedly been Real Madrid’s standout player this season.
Season stats (2024/25, all competitions):
- Club: Real Madrid
- Appearances: 56
- Goals: 43
- Assists: 5
- xG: 28.62