Since the dawn of soccer, the position of striker has always been revered as one of the most prestigious and exciting in the game. The greatest strikers of all time transcend generations, leaving a legacy of skill, talent and unparalleled achievements;
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From the days when soccer was played on makeshift pitches to the majestic stages of modern stadiums, the greatest strikers of all time have always been the heroes who adorned the game with their masterful dribbling, precise shooting and ability to decide games at the most crucial moments. Their stories, full of moments of glory and extraordinary feats, remain etched in the minds and hearts of fans around the world.
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Who are the 20 greatest strikers of all time?
Pelé, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazário, Josef Bican, Romário and so many others have written their names in soccer history in golden letters, each leaving their own unique and unmistakable mark. From the dusty streets of Brazil to the immaculate fields of Europe, the greatest strikers of all time have taken soccer to new heights, inspiring millions along the way.
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Let’s take a look back at the greatest strikers of all time, who shaped the position of striker and left an unforgettable legacy in the world of soccer.
- Pelé
Titles: Three-time World Cup winner (1958, 1962, 1970), Interclub World Cup winner (1962, 1963), Copa Libertadores winner (1962, 1963, 1971).
History: He was born in Três Corações, Brazil. Pelé began his career at Santos at the age of 15 and soon became a world soccer legend.
Curiosity: Pelé scored more than 1,000 goals during his career, a mark that is still unrivaled today.
- Lionel Messi
Titles: 7 times winner of the Ballon d’Or, 10 times La Liga champion with Barcelona, 4 times winner of the UEFA Champions League, World Cup (2022) and Copa America (2021).
History: He was born in Rosario, Argentina. Messi began his career at Barcelona, where he became one of the club’s and world soccer’s greatest icons.
Curiosity: Messi holds the record for the most goals scored in a calendar year, with 91 goals in 2012.
- Cristiano Ronaldo
Titles: 5 times winner of the Ballon d’Or, champion of the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and UEFA Champions League.
History: He was born on Madeira Island, Portugal. Ronaldo began his career at Sporting Lisbon before becoming one of the world’s most recognized players at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
Curiosity: Well-known for his extraordinary work ethic and his dedication to fitness, which allowed him to maintain a high level of performance throughout his long career.
- Ronaldo
Titles: Two-time World Cup winner (1994, 2002), UEFA Cup winner, Confederations Cup winner.
History: Ronaldo, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, began his career at Cruzeiro before becoming a world icon at clubs such as PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
Curiosity: Ronaldo is known for his speed, skill and finishing ability, making him one of the most feared strikers of his era.
- Josef Bican
Titles: Czechoslovak champion, 5 times top scorer in the Czechoslovak League, 2 times top scorer in the World Cup.
History: Born in Vienna, Austria (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), Bican played for Czechoslovakia and Austria, as well as clubs like Slavia Prague and Rapid Vienna.
Curiosity: Bican is widely recognized as one of the greatest goalscorers in history, with an average of goals per game that defies modern logic.
- Romário
Titles: World Cup winner (1994), Copa América (1989, 1997), Brazilian Championship, Spanish Championship.
History: Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Romário had a successful career with clubs such as Vasco da Gama, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and Flamengo.
Curiosity: Romário is known for his exceptional finishing ability and his ability to score decisive goals at crucial moments.
- Gerd Müller
Titles: World Cup winner (1974), Ballon d’Or winner (1970), Bundesliga winner (8 times).
History: Born in Nördlingen, Germany, Müller spent his entire career at Bayern Munich, where he became the top scorer in the history of the club and the Bundesliga.
Curiosity: Müller had an incomparable goalscoring instinct and scored over 700 goals in his career.
- Ferenc Puskás
Titles: Olympic Champion (1952), 5 times winner of the Hungarian Championship, 3 times winner of the UEFA Champions League.
History: Born in Budapest, Hungary, Puskás shone at Honvéd and Real Madrid, where he became one of the greatest scorers in soccer history.
Curiosity: Puskás is known for his exceptional shooting technique and his impressive goalscoring record for the Hungarian national team.
- Robert Lewandowski
Titles: Bundesliga champion (multiple times), UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup.
History: Born in Warsaw, Poland, Lewandowski enjoyed success in German soccer with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, where he established himself as one of the best strikers in the world.
Curiosity: Lewandowski is known for his versatility, tactical intelligence and ability to score goals in a variety of ways.
- Eusébio
Titles: UEFA European Championship winner (1966), Ballon d’Or winner (1965), 11-time champion of the Portuguese First Division.
History: Born in Maputo, Mozambique (then Lourenço Marques, a Portuguese colony), Eusébio shone for Benfica and the Portuguese national team, where he is considered one of the greatest players in history.
Curiosity: Eusébio was known as the “Black Panther” for his speed, technical ability and instinct as a scorer.
- Luis Suárez
Titles: Winner of the Copa America, La Liga, Eredivisie, Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League.
History: Born in Salto, Uruguay, Suárez has enjoyed success at clubs such as Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid, standing out for his finishing ability and tactical intelligence.
Curiosity: Suárez is known for his relentless determination on the pitch and his ability to score decisive goals at crucial moments.
- Ferenc Deak
Titles: Olympic Champion (1952), 3-time Hungarian League Champion, UEFA Champions League Champion.
History: Born in Budapest, Hungary, Deak had a successful career in Hungarian soccer, excelling mainly at Honvéd and MTK Budapest.
Curiosity: Deak was known for his exceptional vision and his ability to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.
- Johan Cruyff
Titles: Three-time UEFA Champions League winner, 10-time Eredivisie champion, Ballon d’Or winner (3 times).
History: Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Cruyff is a soccer legend, famous for his time at Ajax and Barcelona, where he introduced the famous style of play known as “total soccer”.
Curiosity: Cruyff was a visionary on and off the pitch, credited for his contributions to the tactical development of the game and for his revolutionary philosophy in soccer.
- Di Stefano
Titles: 5 times UEFA Champions League winner, 2 times La Liga top scorer, 8 times La Liga champion.
History: Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Di Stefano is considered one of the greatest players of all time, having played for River Plate, Millonarios, Real Madrid and the Argentine national team.
Curiosity: Di Stefano was known for his versatility, technical skill and ability to influence the game from various positions on the pitch.
- Bobby Charlton
Titles: World Cup winner (1966), Ballon d’Or winner (1966), UEFA Champions League winner.
History: Born in Ashington, England, Charlton is a Manchester United and England legend, known for his finishing ability and exceptional vision.
Curiosity: Charlton survived the Munich air disaster in 1958, which killed several of his teammates, and continued to shine in soccer after the tragedy.
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Titles: Serie A champion (multiple times), Ligue 1, La Liga, Eredivisie, Premier League.
History: Born in Malmö, Sweden, Ibrahimovic is known for his spells at top clubs such as Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and AC Milan.
Curiosity: Ibrahimovic is famous for his strong personality and his incomparable ability to score goals in every possible way, from acrobatic kicks to precise headers.
- Marco Van Basten
Titles: Three-time Eredivisie champion, Ballon d’Or winner (3 times), UEFA Champions League winner.
History: Born in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Van Basten is considered one of the greatest strikers in the history of soccer, excelling with Ajax and AC Milan.
Curiosity: Van Basten is remembered for his refined technique, exceptional aerial ability and the memorable bicycle kick he scored in the final of Euro 1988.
- Thierry Henry
Titles: Premier League, La Liga, World Cup, European Championship.
History: Born in Les Ulis, France, Henry had a stellar career with Arsenal, Barcelona and the French national team, becoming one of the greatest goalscorers in Premier League history.
Curiosity: Henry is known for his electrifying speed, technical skill and deadly finishing accuracy, making him one of the most feared players of his era.
- Karim Benzema
Titles: Champion of the UEFA Champions League (multiple times), La Liga, World Cup.
History: Born in Lyon, France, Benzema shone at Lyon and Real Madrid, where he became one of the top scorers in the club’s history.
Curiosity: Benzema is known for his ability to score decisive goals and for his ability to create chances for his teammates.
- Samuel Eto’o
Titles: Three-time UEFA Champions League winner (2006, 2009, 2010), African Cup of Nations winner, Spanish League, Serie A.
History: Born in Nkon, Cameroon, Eto’o enjoyed a successful career at clubs such as Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea, standing out for his speed, skill and instinct as a goalscorer.
Curiosity: Eto’o is the African player with the most goals in UEFA Champions League history and is widely regarded as one of the continent’s greatest players.
These are just a few of the greatest strikers of all time, whose contributions to soccer have transcended the field of play and become an integral part of the sport’s global culture.
List of the 20 best strikers of all time
- Pelé
- Lionel Messi
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Ronaldo
- Josef Bican
- Romário
- Gerd Müller
- Ferenc Puskás
- Robert Lewandowski
- Eusébio
- Luis Suárez
- Ferenc Deak
- Johan Cruyff
- Di Stefano
- Bobby Charlton
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic
- Marco Van Basten
- Thierry Henry
- Karim Benzema
- Samuel Eto’o
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