A striker, or forward, in football is one of the most prominent and impactful positions in a team. As the player primarily responsible for scoring goals, a great striker can often be the difference between victory and defeat. Their ability to convert chances into goals can significantly influence the outcome of a match. A prolific forward not only enhances the team’s attacking threat but can also inspire the squad to achieve great successes, including league titles, cups, and even trophies on the international stage.
The criteria for ranking is –
- Talent, consistency and goal scoring stats
- Competitiveness of the League they play in
- Contribution to team in terms of trophies
All stats mentioned have been accumulated from transfermarkt.co.in
Here we take a look at the most lethal and clinical finishers in Europe’s top leagues –
10. Benjamin Šeško (Slovenia/RB Leipzig)
Benjamin Šeško is one of the upcoming strikers to look out for in Europe. Playing for RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga, this year he has scored a total of 22 goals along with seven assists in 41 games for Leipzig. He has also scored five goals in six appearances for his country in the UEFA Nations League.
The lanky 21-year-old is a reliable scoring option upfront. At 6 feet 4 inches tall, he has immense physicality along with great hold up play to cause problems for the opposition defences. He can also create space for other players by moving on the flanks and is good with both feet. Despite his size, Šeško is mobile and can press high up the pitch and makes intelligent forward runs to disrupt defences.
Šeško is already attracting a lot of interest from top clubs in Europe. Still very young and his peak years yet to arrive, Benjamin Šeško has great potential to be one of the most feared marksmen in Europe in the coming years.
9. Dušan Vlahovi? (Serbia/Juventus)
Dušan Vlahovi? had joined Juventus from Fiorentina in a big money move in the 2022 January transfer window on the back of his exceptional performances for the La Voila in the Serie A. He has since been influential for the Old Lady also winning them the Italy Cup scoring the winner against Atalanta this year. In 2024, he has 24 goals and 3 assists in 44 games to his name. The 2024/25 season is going particularly well for him with 12 goals and 2 assists in 22 games so far.
The 22-year-old Serbian is a massive presence for Juventus upfront. He is known for his technique, physicality and an eye for goal. Vlahovi? is a strong ball carrier who can overpower defenders and retain possession with his strength. He can also dribble past defenders with ease and is very clinical in the box both with his head and feet. In addition, he can also beat the keeper from long range with powerful shots.
Such is his potential that his playing style has been compared to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland. Even though Juventus isn’t doing well in the Serie A as they currently lie outside of the Top 4, Vlahovi? holds the key for the club to retain a place in the Champions League next season and guide his club to trophies in other competitions.
8. Omar Marmoush (Egypt/Eintracht Frankfurt)
Omar Marmoush is having a stellar year with his club Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany. In the 2024/25 season so far, he has scored a massive 18 goals and racked up 12 assists which has ensured his club sits in third position in the Bundesliga Table currently.
In 2024, the Egyptian forward had a total of 23 goals and 16 assists for his club. Omar Marmoush has been simply sensational for his club; he can not only score but also excels creatively. He is a versatile player that can play as a winger, as an attacking midfielder or as a centre-forward. His technical ability and dribbling are a great asset, he is highly effective from freekicks and possesses a strong shot conversion rate. All these qualities make Marmoush a very dangerous striker that can terrify opposition defences.
Marmoush has also been linked with top English clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool who are looking to bolster their striker option. In his absolute prime right now, the Egyptian could very well take his side into Champions League places this season along with trophies if he continues his rich vein of form.
7. Alexander Isak (Sweden/Newcastle United)
Alexander Isak moved to Newcastle United ahead of the Premier League 22/23 season after a phenomenal three years with Real Sociedad in Spain. Since his move to St James’s Park, Isak has taken the Premier League by storm. He scored 10 goals in 22 games in his debut season for the Magpies leading them to Top 4 position in the Premier League, eventually qualifying for Europe’s elite competition – the UEFA Champions League for next season.
Isak was fairly consistent in 2024 scoring a total of 24 goals and earning 5 assists in 36 games for the club. He also has four goals and an assist in four games for Sweden in the Nations League this year.
Isak is another physically commanding presence upfront. At almost 6 feet 3 inches, the lanky Swede is a major threat for opposition defences. Brilliant on headers and clinical with his feet, he can glide past defenders with ease and also has a decent long range shot on him. A complete striker, Isak is one of the hottest properties in the Premier League right now.
Followed by top Premier League clubs like Arsenal, the Swedish international has all it takes to turn contenders into Champions with his lethal finishing skills.
6. Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden/Sporting CP)
Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres has been grabbing eyeballs with his performances in the Primiera Liga and the Champions League for his side Sporting CP since last season.
Gyökeres is in phenomenal form having scored 54 goals and earned 13 assists in 54 games in 2024 also securing the Primeira Liga title for Sporting CP. In the 2024/25 ongoing season, he already has a whopping 27 goals in the same number of games.
Gyökeres has been crucial to Sporting’s success in recent seasons. As a young, physical forward with a strong goal-scoring instinct, he excels in finishing and is a threat in the air. Beyond his goal-scoring ability, he contributes with impressive hold-up play, link-up play, and the ability to deliver precise through balls, showcasing his versatility as a forward.
Gyökeres is one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe and it’s a matter of time that he makes a switch to another big club and showcases his true potential and talent in a more competitive league.
5. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina/Inter Milan)
Lautaro Martínez has been a prominent reason for Inter’s rise to the top yet again. Martinez has been in sensational form for the Nerazzurri in the Italian Serie A. The World Cup winning Argentine has been one of the standout strikers in Europe. In 2024, Martinez has 15 goals and 5 assists in 40 games so far. He had a remarkable season in 2023/24 with 35 goals and 8 assists which contributed to Inter winning the Serie A title and the SuperCoppa Italiana while also earning him fifth place in the prestigious Ballon d’Or rankings.
The Argentine forward has often been underrated, but his importance for both club and country in recent years cannot be overstated. Martínez is incredibly quick and agile, often using tight spaces to his advantage. Over the years, he has transformed into a clinical finisher, proving to be highly efficient in front of goal. Despite not being particularly tall, he remains a constant aerial threat and is capable of shooting from long distances. However, his biggest asset lies in his relentless energy and pace, which consistently pose a significant challenge to opposition defenders.
Even though his form in the current season hasn’t been as prolific, Martínez holds vital importance for his side to challenge for trophies yet again.
4. Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Barcelona)
Robert Lewandowski has been one of the most prolific forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for almost a decade and still going strong at 36 years old.
The former Bayern Munich marksman has been plying his trade in Spain with Barcelona for the past two seasons now. In 2024, Lewandowski scored a massive 38 goals and racked up 7 assists in 48 games. His form early this season was vital for Barcelona making a dream start under coach Hansi Flick.
Lewandowski has all the attributes associated with a world class striker. He has height, strength, balance, hold up play, intelligence, proficiency with both feet, dribbling skills and finishing. Lewandowski has been regarded as the best striker of his generation and one of the best strikers of all time.
At this stage of his career, Lewandowski continues to score effortlessly, outpacing younger, faster defenders and finishing first-time chances with ease, proving that he hasn’t lost his sharpness. He is living proof of the old adage that “Age is just a number,” as the Polish marksman defies expectations and continues to perform at the highest level.
3. Erling Haaland (Norway/Manchester City)
Erling Haaland is one of the best strikers in the world right now. The 6 feet 5 inches tall Norwegian is absolutely lethal in front of goal. His exceptional form over the past few seasons has helped Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side dominate in the Premier League.
Haaland had a stellar 2023/24 season scoring 38 goals and getting 5 assists, also winning the Premier League Golden Boot award. Even in the 2024/25 season, when Manchester City has massively dropped off, his goal scoring consistency has ensured they remain within fighting distance to the Top four places. Haaland has 19 goals and 1 assist in all competitions this season even when he has gone through a goal drought in between.
Erling Haaland is an out and out striker with great physicality, touch and deadly finishing skills. His consistency in front of goal is mind boggling at times. Great in aerial battles as well due to height and strength, the Norwegian forward is a constant menace for opposition defenders. Still halfway through the season, he could very well go on a goal scoring run and ensure his team performs better in the second half of the season and still manages to win trophies.
2. Harry Kane (England/Bayern Munich)
Harry Kane has been one of England’s most prolific strikers of all time and arguably the best of his generation. His move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich last season was a surprise to many as he was on course to break all goal-scoring records in the Premier League.
Even though he moved to the Bundesliga, his scoring rate and numbers haven’t changed. Even though Bayern Munich didn’t win trophies last season, the Englishman was phenomenal in front of goal, scoring 44 goals and earning 12 assists in 45 games for the Bavarians. In the ongoing season as well, he already has 20 goals and 9 assists from 20 games and is one of the main reasons that Bayern Munich are top of the table in the Bundesliga. He also led England to the European Championship finals this year and won the prestigious Gerd Müller Trophy alongside Kylian Mbappé for scoring the highest number of goals last season in Europe.
Kane is a dream forward for any team to have. He is a lethal finisher in the box, a superb creative outlet, has great linkup play, can score from dead ball situations and long- range shots – all traits of a complete centre forward. His goal scoring prowess is second to none in Europe’s top five leagues as he keeps on proving season after season.
1.Kylian Mbappé (France/Real Madrid)
Kylian Mbappé is one of the most talented and popular players in world football currently. He rose to prominence after France won the World Cup in 2018 where he scored in the finals and also won the FIFA Best Young Player award while still being a teenager. Mbappé has just gone from strength to strength since then.
He has won numerous French Ligue 1 titles and other domestic tournaments with Paris St-Germain and his impending move to Real Madrid this summer was the talk of the town for the last few seasons. In 2023/24 season for PSG, he again produced incredible numbers scoring 45 goals and getting 11 assists in 49 games for the Parisians; winning the prestigious Gerd Müller Trophy. Even though Mbappé’s start to life at the Los Blancos hasn’t been ideal as per his usual high standards, he has still managed 13 goals and 3 assists in 23 appearances.
Mbappé is an absolute menace for opposition defences due to his blistering pace, incredible dribbling skills and lethal finishing. He is a fantastic ball carrier, strong in holding up play and involving other players and links up well with wingers and midfielders.
Still young and in his prime years, playing at one of the best clubs alongside world class talent, the sky is the limit for the French striker and it’s kind of scary to imagine how much better he can get.
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