In this article, we present to you our picks of the 10 best male strikers of 2024 that shone while plying their trade in Europe.
In football, a centre-forward’s role is one of the most prominent and impactful ones on the pitch. Primarily responsible for scoring goals, a great striker can often be the difference between victory and defeat singlehandedly. A prolific forward not only enhances the team’s attacking threat but can also inspire the squad to achieve great success.
The rankings below are based on following criteria:
- Performances, potential. and consistency
- Importance and relevance to his team
- Success or trophies won
The stats mentioned have been accumulated from Transfermarkt and Fbref.
10. Benjamin Šeško | Slovenia | RB Leipzig
Benjamin Šeško is currently one the 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, having 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, to say the least. 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 either foot. Despite his size, Šeško is mobile and can press high up the pitch and make 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, the Slovene has great potential to be one of the most feared marksmen in Europe in the coming years.
9. Dušan Vlahovic | Serbia | Juventus FC
Dušan Vlahovic joined Juventus from Fiorentina in a big-money move in the 2022 January transfer window on the back of exceptional performances for La Voila in the Serie A. He has since been influential for the Old Lady and helped them win the Coppa Italia last year by scoring the winner against Atalanta in the final. In all, he registered 24 goals and three assists in 44 games. This season is going particularly well for him, and he has already bagged 12 goals and two assists in 22 games.
The 24-year-old Serbia international is a massive presence for Juve upfront. Known for his technique, physicality, and eye for goal, Vlahovic 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 with both head and feet. In addition, he can also beat the keeper from long range with powerful shots.
Such is Vlahovic’s potential that his playing style has been compared to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland. Even though Juve aren’t doing too well in the Serie A, currently lying outside of the top four, Vlahovic holds the key for the club to retain a place in the Champions League next season and guide them to more trophies in other competitions.
8. Omar Marmoush | Egypt | Eintracht Frankfurt
Omar Marmoush is having a stellar year with Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany at the moment. This season, he has already scored a massive 18 goals and racked up 12 assists, helping his side sit comfortably in third position in the Bundesliga.
In 2024, the Egypt intentional registered 23 goals and 16 assists for his club in total. Marmoush has been simply sensational. Not only can he score, but he also excels creatively. He is a versatile player that can play as a winger, an attacking midfielder, or a centre-forward. His technical ability and dribbling are great assets to him, and he is highly effective from free kicks and possesses a strong shot-conversion rate.
Marmoush has already been linked with top English clubs, with Arsenal and Liverpool in particular looking at him to bolster their options up front. In his prime years, Marmoush could very well take his side into Champions League for next season if he continues his rich vein of form.
7. Alexander Isak | Sweden | Newcastle United FC
Alexander Isak moved to Newcastle United ahead of the 2022/23 season after a phenomenal three-year stint with Real Sociedad in Spain. Since his move to St. James’ Park, Isak has taken the Premier League by storm. He scored ten goals in 22 games in his debut season for the Magpies, helping them secure a top four finish and thus qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Isak was fairly consistent for Newcastle last year and scored a total of 24 goals and provided five assists in 36 games. He also registered four goals and an assist in four games for Sweden in the Nations League.
The 25-year-old is a physically-commanding presence upfront. At almost 6 feet and 3 inches, the lanky Swede is a major threat with his headers and finishing with either foot. 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 given his recent form.
Followed by top Premier League clubs like Arsenal, the Sweden international has all it takes to turn contenders into champions with his lethal skills.
6. Viktor Gyökeres | Sweden | Sporting CP
Isak’s compatriot Viktor Gyökeres has also been grabbing eyeballs with his performances in the Primiera Liga and Champions League for Sporting since last season.
Gyökeres is in phenomenal form, having bagged 54 goals and 13 assists in 54 games last year as he helped secure the Primeira Liga title for Sporting. This season, he already has a whopping 27 goals in the same number of games.
The 26-year-old has been crucial to Sporting’s success in recent seasons. A physical forward with strong goalscoring instincts, 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. It’s a matter of time before he makes a switch to another big club and showcases his talent in a more competitive league.
Also read: Top 10 fullbacks in Europe in 2024
5. Lautaro Martínez | Argentina | FC Internazione Milano
Lautaro Martínez has been a major reason for Inter’s rise to the top again. The 2022 World Cup–winning Argentine has been one of the standout strikers in Europe. In 2024, he delivered 15 goals and five assists in 40 games. He had a remarkable 2023/24 season with 35 goals and eight assists, which contributed to Inter winning the Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana. This, along with the 2024 Copa América triumph, earned him fifth place in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
Martínez has often been underrated, but his importance for both club and country in recent years cannot be overstated. He is incredibly quick and agile, often using tight spaces to his advantage. Over the years, he has transformed into a clinical finisher, and despite not being particularly tall he remains a constant aerial threat and is capable of shooting from long distances. However, his biggest asset is his relentless energy, which consistently poses a significant challenge to opposition defenders.
Even though his form in the current season hasn’t been as prolific, Martínez holds vital importance for the Nerazzurri to challenge for trophies yet again.
4. Robert Lewandowski | Poland | FC Barcelona
Robert Lewandowski has been one of the most prolific forwards in Europe for almost a decade and is 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. In 2024, he scored 38 goals and racked up seven assists in 48 games. His form early this season was vital for Barça’s dream start under new head coach Hansi Flick.
The legendary Pole 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. Rightly, he is regarded as arguably the best striker of his generation and one of the best strikers of all time.
Even in the twilight of his career, Lewandowski continues to score effortlessly, outpacing younger, faster defenders and finishing first-time chances with ease, proving that he is sharp as ever. He is living proof of the old adage, “age is just a number”.
3. Erling Haaland | Norway | Manchester City FC
Erling Haaland is one of the best strikers in the world, period. The 6’5″ Norwegian is absolutely lethal in front of goal, and his exceptional form over the past few seasons has helped Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City dominate the Premier League.
Haaland had a stellar 2023/24 season, scoring 38 goals and getting five assists, winning in the process the Premier League Golden Boot. Even this season, despite City having massively dropped off, his goalscoring consistency has ensured they remain within fighting distance of top four. Haaland has 19 goals and one assist in all competitions this season, and he went through a goal drought in between.
Haaland is an out-and-out striker with great physicality, touch, and deadly finishing. His consistency in front of goal is mind-boggling at times. Great in aerial battles as well due to his 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 goalscoring run and ensure his team remains near the top of the Premier League and see if they can pluck a trophy or two along the way.
2. Harry Kane | England | FC Bayern Munich
Harry Kane is one of England’s most prolific strikers of all time and arguably the best striker of his generation. His move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich at the start of last season was a surprise to many, given he was on course to break the all-time goalscoring record in the Premier League.
Even though he moved to 1. Bundesliga, Kane’s scoring rate and numbers haven’t changed. Even though Bayern didn’t win any trophies last season, the Englishman was phenomenal in front of goal, delivering 44 goals and 12 assists in 45 games for the Bavarians. In the ongoing season, he already has 20 goals and nine assists from 20 games and is one of the main reasons Bayern Munich are top of the table in the Bundesliga once again. He also led England to the European Championship final last year and won the prestigious Gerd Müller Trophy alongside Kylian Mbappé for scoring the most goals last season in Europe.
Kane is a dream forward for any team. He is a lethal finisher in the box, a superb creative outlet, has great link-up play, and can score from dead-ball situations and long-range shots—all traits of a complete centre-forward. His goalscoring prowess is second to none, which he keeps on proving season after season.
1. Kylian Mbappé | France | Real Madrid CF
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 final and won the FIFA Best Young Player award as a teenager. Mbappé has just gone from strength to strength since then.
The 26-year-old won numerous Ligue 1 titles and other domestic accolades with PSG, and his impending move to Real Madrid had been the talk of the town over the last few seasons until it finally happened last summer.
In 2023/24, Mbappé again produced incredible numbers, scoring 45 goals and getting 11 assists in 49 games for the Parisians and winning the prestigious Gerd Müller Trophy alongside Kane. Even though his start to life with Los Blancos hasn’t been ideal as per his usual high standards, he has still managed 13 goals and three 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 capable of linking up well with wingers and midfielders around him.
Now well in his prime years and playing at one of the best clubs alongside world class talent, sky is the limit for the star French striker, and it’s kind of scary to imagine how much better he can get.
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