From Anelka to Aguero and Henry to Haaland, we rely down our record of the best ever Premier League forwards and reveal our No. 1.
The perfect forwards are the principal goalscorers for his or her groups, and infrequently the match-winners.
With how essential they’re to a group’s success, forwards are sometimes thought to be probably the most well-known and greatest gamers within the Premier League. Among the greatest names within the historical past of the game have carved out legendary careers as strikers within the prime division of English soccer, so we’ve determined to try the very best to ever do it.
Our record ranks every ahead on their stats, accolades, and titles to search out out which gamers rating the very best throughout the board, taking their complete Premier League careers under consideration. Listed here are our picks for the 20 greatest Premier League forwards of all time – in addition to our prolonged record of the highest 50.
The perfect Premier League forwards of all time: 20-11
We analysed all forwards and strikers who’ve made no less than 100 Premier League appearances, and ranked them on their accolades, legacy, stats, and extra. Listed here are among the legends that simply missed out on our rating of the ten greatest Premier League forwards of all time:
20. Nicolas Anelka
French striker Nicolas Anelka had stints with varied prime golf equipment throughout his Premier League profession, together with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester Metropolis and Bolton Wanderers at totally different factors. He earned two Premier League titles – one in 1998 and one other in 2010 – and gained the Golden Boot in 2009.
19. Dimitar Berbatov
Finest recognized for his time at Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur – although he additionally loved a powerful spell at Fulham – Dimitar Berbatov is taken into account top-of-the-line Bulgarian footballers of all time. A composed finisher with majestic management on the ball, Berbatov earned two Premier League titles and a Golden Boot throughout 229 appearances. Sadly, he fell simply in need of becoming a member of the 100-goal membership, with 94 targets throughout his Premier League profession.
18. Sadio Mané
Alongside Mo Salah, Sadio Mané was instrumental in Liverpool’s success from 2016 to 2022. Famed for his explosive tempo, ending and eye for purpose, he was named the PFA Followers’ Participant of the 12 months in 2020 after taking the Reds to a Premier League win in the identical yr, and was named Participant of the Season by each Liverpool followers and gamers in 2017.
17. Riyad Mahrez
Having first made a reputation for himself as a part of Leicester Metropolis’s title-winning squad in 2016, Riyad Mahrez turned a number one huge ahead for Manchester Metropolis, incomes 4 extra Premier League titles over his five-year spell with the membership. A silky, crafty dribbler with a superb left-foot, Mahrez tormented opposing full-backs all through his Premier League profession.
16. Son Heung-Min
Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-Min is without doubt one of the most profitable South Korean footballers ever, with greater than 125 targets with Spurs to this point. Forming a devastating attacking duo with former Tottenham striker Harry Kane, Son has earned the Puskás award in 2020, the Golden Boot in 2022, and 4 Premier League Participant of the Month titles.
15. Teddy Sheringham
Regardless of enjoying with Tottenham Hotspur for almost all of his Premier League profession, Teddy Sheringham is maybe greatest remembered for successful three consecutive league titles with Manchester United from 1999 to 2001. His passing potential made him a valued supporting ahead alongside strikers like Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, however he was additionally a dependable goalscorer in his personal proper.
14. Jamie Vardy
Who may overlook Jamie Vardy’s legendary breakout season with Leicester Metropolis in 2016? After scoring in 11 consecutive league matches and successful the title, he was named FWA Footballer of the 12 months, Premier League Participant of the Season, and the Golden Boot winner. Regardless of Leicester’s struggles since their league win, he remained a pivotal participant for the membership and will probably be missed by the Foxes when he leaves this summer season.
13. Didier Drogba
One of many greatest Chelsea gamers of all time, Ivorian ahead Didier Drogba was famend for his efficiency in high-pressure video games. A real No. 9, Drogba was an extremely troublesome opponent for any defender attributable to his mix of tempo, energy, aerial potential and ending. He led the Blues to 4 Premier League titles over the course of his profession, incomes two Golden Boots and a Corridor of Fame induction for his efforts.
12. Dennis Bergkamp
Dutch ahead Dennis Bergkamp first made his identify competing for Ajax, however his Premier League profession noticed him play for Arsenal for 11 years alongside different icons like Ian Wright and Thierry Henry. In that point, he earned three league titles, together with enjoying a starring position within the Gunners’ legendary undefeated 2004 season. Usually deployed as a deep-lying ahead, Bergkamp displayed good ball management and imaginative and prescient all through his profession and scored some unbelievable targets from exterior the field.
11. Gareth Bale
Usually thought to be the very best Welsh participant of all time, Gareth Bale turned a legend of Tottenham Hotspur in his six years on the membership, capped off by a blistering 2012/13 season that’s arguably one of many best particular person campaigns in Premier League historical past. Though he by no means gained a league title, his tempo and approach noticed him named PFA’s Younger Participant of the 12 months, FWA’s Footballer of the 12 months, and the Premier League’s Participant of the Season in 2013.
The perfect Premier League forwards of all time: 10-1
What about those that make our record of the highest 10 greatest ever Premier League forwards and strikers?
10. Erling Haaland
At simply 24 years outdated, Erling Haaland is already proving himself to be the striker of a era, along with his unbelievable ending talents taking Manchester Metropolis to even increased heights over the previous few years. His thunderous tempo, dimension and skill to attain an enormous number of targets have made him probably the most prolific hitmen in latest reminiscence.
He gained back-to-back Premier League titles in his first two seasons at Metropolis, in 2023 and 2024, and gained the Golden Boot in each seasons too. He has been named the Premier League Participant of the Month thrice, the PFA Gamers’ Participant of the 12 months 2023, and was listed of their Crew of the 12 months lineup twice.
At such a younger age and so quickly into his profession, Haaland incomes a top-10 spot on our record is a powerful feat. As he continues to play within the Premier League, he’s certain to solely transfer increased and better in our rankings.
9. Eden Hazard
Belgian ahead Eden Hazard began his senior profession enjoying for Lille in Ligue 1, however his Premier League run for Chelsea from 2012 to 2019 was the place he turned a real celebrity. His résumé consists of two league titles in 2015 and 2017, in addition to 4 seasons by which he was named Chelsea’s Participant of the 12 months.
Hazard is usually cited by defenders as one of many hardest gamers to play towards. His low centre of gravity made him an extremely troublesome participant to dispossess, as evidenced by some incredible solo strikes. He was a composed finisher within the field throughout his Chelsea tenure and was pretty much as good a creator as he was a goalscorer.
With 85 targets in 245 appearances, Hazard turned a modern-day Chelsea legend and was named FWA’s Footballer of the 12 months in 2015, showing within the PFA’s Premier League Crew of the 12 months 5 instances.
8. Sergio Agüero
A monumental a part of Manchester Metropolis’s dominance of the Premier League was Argentine icon Sergio Agüero. The Argentine ahead was one of many Premier League’s most harmful strikers ever, successful 5 league titles in 10 seasons with Metropolis earlier than leaving for La Liga and finally retiring. Whereas his bodily expertise with the ball can’t be overstated, Agüero’s intelligence was one of many issues that set him other than different forwards, permitting him to persistently discover house within the field earlier than his pinpoint ending did the remainder.
Agüero’s honours embrace seven Premier league Participant of the Month awards, the 2015 Golden Boot, and two Manchester Metropolis Participant of the 12 months awards, cementing himself as one of many greatest Metropolis gamers ever. He was included in PFA’s Crew of the 12 months back-to-back in 2018 and 2019, and was inducted into the Premier League Corridor of Fame in 2022. Nevertheless, regardless of all of his achievements, he’s actually immortalised in Premier League folklore for his title-winning, last-gasp winner vs QPR.
7. Harry Kane
Englishman Harry Kane is at the moment discovering success within the Bundesliga at Bayern Munich, however it was his 13 seasons spent with Tottenham Hotspur that made him a family identify in English soccer. Throughout 317 Premier League appearances for Spurs, he scored a staggering 213 targets, making him the membership’s all-time goalscorer and the second most prolific scorer in Premier League historical past.
Whereas Kane has all of the approach, management, and intelligence of a top-flight striker, it’s his ending and inventive potential that make him a nearly unstoppable power within the ultimate third, racking up an enormous variety of targets and assists.
Regardless of by no means successful a Premier League title, he nonetheless earned a variety of honours and accolades. He’s a three-time Golden Boot winner, a seven-time Premier League Participant of the Month winner, and a three-time Spurs Participant of the 12 months. He was included in PFA’s Premier League Crew of the 12 months six instances, and was named their Followers’ Participant of the 12 months in 2017.
6. Eric Cantona
Though he debuted for Leeds United, Eric Cantona turned a fan favorite at Manchester United within the mid-Nineties. He led the facet to 4 Premier League titles in his 5 seasons and have become fondly remembered for his on-pitch charisma, potential and magnificence.
Cantona’s potential as a striker was simply as a lot about his approach as his physicality. He was a wonderful dribbler and famend for his shut management, however his imaginative and prescient as a deep-lying ahead allowed him to carry out as each a playmaker and goalscorer throughout his prime.
“King Eric”, as followers got here to know him, earned probably the most assists within the league in each 1993 and 1997. He was named FWA’s Footballer of the 12 months in 1996, and earned a spot as one in all FIFA’s 100 Biggest Dwelling Footballers of their 2004 record. He was inducted into the Premier League Corridor of Fame in 2021.
5. Alan Shearer
The #1 goalscorer in Premier League historical past, with an unmatched 260 targets – nonetheless holding the file 19 years after his retirement – is Geordie legend Alan Shearer. Whereas he’s greatest recognized for his ten-year profession at Newcastle United, Shearer made his identify at Southampton and Blackburn Rovers first, incomes his sole Premier League title with the latter in that well-known facet of ’95, the place he starred alongside Chris Sutton.
Usually used as a high-functioning goal man in a position to wrest management of lengthy balls, Shearer’s giant construct, energy, and heading potential made him probably the most dependable forwards of his era in his prime. He’s probably the most prolific penalty taker within the Premier League historical past, too, having scored 56 of the 67 he took.
From 1995 to 1997, Shearer gained three consecutive Golden Boots. And he holds quite a few Premier League data; together with probably the most targets in a single sport (5), probably the most targets from contained in the field (227), and probably the most targets scored for the Magpies (206). From a purely statistical standpoint, it’s straightforward to see why he’s so typically named as one of many best forwards to ever play within the Premier League.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
Whereas a lot of his followers would identify him as the best participant of all time, nearly all of Cristiano Ronaldo’s profession was spent with golf equipment exterior of the Premier League. Nevertheless, his 2003-2009 run with Manchester United – in addition to a quick return within the 2021-22 season – noticed “CR7” get away as probably the most well-liked footballers on this planet.
Together with his quick, technical dribbling and signature stepovers fooling defenders, Ronaldo’s fashion of play made him a power to be reckoned with on the wing. He’s sturdy with each ft, was a reliable set-piece specialist throughout his United profession, and possesses spectacular aerial potential. Ronaldo has additionally displayed a capability to persistently adapt his sport all through his profession, having departed United after his first spell as a difficult winger and returned years later as a prolific poacher and true No. 9.
Ronaldo was a keystone participant in United’s success within the 2000s, successful three consecutive Premier League titles from 2007 to 2009. He earned the inaugural Puskás award in 2009 for his Champions League quarter-final winner towards Porto, was named the Premier League Participant of the Season twice and gained the Golden Boot in 2008. Whereas a lot of his success got here elsewhere, his Premier League legacy stays spectacular.
3. Wayne Rooney
One in every of England’s greatest ever gamers, Wayne Rooney was one other United legend who performed a pivotal position within the membership’s dominance of the 2000s. Rooney was a flexible ahead able to enjoying a variety of positions, however all the time discovered success as a striker or supporting ahead. Over the course of his Premier League profession, together with 13 years with Man Utd bookended by seasons with Everton, he scored over 200 targets and gained 5 titles.
Famend for his energy on the ball, Rooney was a playmaker and goalscorer from anyplace on the pitch, even having scored from inside his personal half on a number of events. Whereas accidents shortened his profession, he had sturdy tempo in his prime, and his stamina meant he may nonetheless ship deep right into a sport.
Having gained back-to-back PFA Younger Participant of the 12 months awards in 2005 and 2006, Rooney was additionally named of their Crew of the 12 months thrice. He was named each the Premier League Participant of the Season and FWA’s Footballer of the 12 months in 2010, the place he additionally gained his first of three Manchester Aim of the Season awards. Lastly, in 2022, Rooney was inducted into the Premier League Corridor of Fame.
2. Mohamed Salah
As the primary ahead for the present Premier League champions, Mo Salah has turn into one in all Liverpool’s greatest gamers ever. After a forgettable interval at Chelsea and spells in Italy with Fiorentina and Roma, the Egyptian debuted for the Reds in 2017, instantly beautiful followers along with his tempo and dribbling on the appropriate wing.
Salah principally performs out huge, reducing in to deliver the ball onto his left foot in devastating style. His profession at Liverpool took off instantly with 32 league targets in 36 video games throughout his first season, and he has continued to be a prolific scorer and playmaker all through his profession in Merseyside.
Salah has the honours to again up his excessive rating on this record. He’s a three-time PFA Premier League Crew of the 12 months participant, a former Premier League Participant of the Season, a four-time Liverpool Gamers’ Participant of the Season, and a three-time Golden Boot winner – having shared the final two. What’s extra, he’s scored Liverpool’s Aim of the Season thrice, in addition to successful the 2018 Puskás award, and has earned the BBC’s Aim of the Month seven instances.
1. Thierry Henry
On the subject of the very best Premier League forwards ever, few have the legacy to match the enduring French striker Thierry Henry. Topping most lists of the best Arsenal gamers ever, Henry performed for the Gunners from 1999 to 2007 earlier than returning for a brief cameo in the course of the 2011/12 season, he was regarded not solely as top-of-the-line gamers within the group’s historical past, however top-of-the-line of his era. He led the Gunners to a prime of the desk end twice, in 2002 and 2004, and scored a shocking 175 targets in 258 appearances.
The 2004 season specifically noticed Henry and Arsenal choose up a league title with out shedding a sport – which earned his group the nickname of the ‘Invincibles’. Henry was a two-time Premier League Participant of the Season, four-time Golden Boot winner, and four-time Premier League Participant of the Month. He was additionally included on consecutive PFA Crew of the 12 months lists from 2000 all the way in which till 2006 (in addition to the FWA’s Footballer of the 12 months in 2003, ‘04, and ‘06), and was named Arsenal’s Participant of the Season 4 instances.
Henry was famed for his electrical tempo on and off the ball, putting worry into the hearts of Premier League defenders all through his time in England. He was a chic dribble who scored some unbelievable solo targets, typically selecting up the ball inside his personal half, gliding previous opposition gamers and scoring with ease. His trademark end with the within of his proper foot into the far nook remains to be replicated by gamers within the present sport.
The Premier League Corridor of Famer is an instance of all the very best qualities a ahead may have, and has gone down in historical past as one of many league’s most. He earns his spot as our greatest Premier League ahead of all time.
Who else ranks among the many greatest Premier League forwards of all time?
With so many legendary forwards within the league, some enormous names nonetheless missed out on our prime 20. Right here’s the 50 greatest forwards of the Premier League period, so you possibly can see who else was in rivalry for our prime spots:
|
Rank |
Participant |
Rating out of 100 |
|
1 |
Thierry Henry |
83.36 |
|
2 |
Mohamed Salah |
73.06 |
|
3 |
Wayne Rooney |
69.63 |
|
4 |
Cristiano Ronaldo |
62.80 |
|
5 |
Alan Shearer |
59.06 |
|
6 |
Eric Cantona |
58.83 |
|
7 |
Harry Kane |
56.40 |
|
8 |
Sergio Agüero |
52.27 |
|
9 |
Eden Hazard |
47.11 |
|
10 |
Erling Haaland |
46.70 |
|
11 |
Gareth Bale |
45.79 |
|
12 |
Dennis Bergkamp |
44.24 |
|
13 |
Didier Drogba |
44.02 |
|
14 |
Jamie Vardy |
41.60 |
|
15 |
Teddy Sheringham |
41.04 |
|
16 |
Son Heung-Min |
40.65 |
|
17 |
Riyad Mahrez |
38.20 |
|
18 |
Sadio Mané |
36.92 |
|
19 |
Dimitar Berbatov |
36.05 |
|
20 |
Nicolas Anelka |
35.48 |
|
21 |
Luis Suárez |
35.33 |
|
22 |
Michael Owen |
35.29 |
|
23 |
Robbie Fowler |
34.72 |
|
24 |
Ian Wright |
34.63 |
|
25 |
Robin van Persie |
33.80 |
|
26 |
Jermain Defoe |
33.78 |
|
27 |
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink |
33.51 |
|
28 |
Carlos Tevez |
33.08 |
|
29 |
Fernando Torres |
32.84 |
|
30 |
Raheem Sterling |
32.13 |
|
31 |
Marcus Rashford |
32.03 |
|
32 |
Peter Crouch |
31.63 |
|
33 |
Les Ferdinand |
31.60 |
|
34 |
Emile Heskey |
31.55 |
|
35 |
Robbie Keane |
31.50 |
|
36 |
Andrew Cole |
31.37 |
|
37 |
Kevin Davies |
31.32 |
|
38 |
Alexis Sánchez |
30.21 |
|
39 |
Romelu Lukaku |
30.15 |
|
40 |
Bukayo Saka |
29.77 |
|
41 |
Theo Walcott |
29.57 |
|
42 |
Roberto Firmino |
28.89 |
|
43 |
Ruud van Nistelrooy |
28.73 |
|
44 |
Dion Dublin |
28.68 |
|
45 |
Gabriel Jesus |
28.42 |
|
46 |
Diego Costa |
27.92 |
|
47 |
Gianfranco Zola |
27.56 |
|
48 |
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer |
27.33 |
|
49 |
Chris Sutton |
26.93 |
|
50 |
Emmanuel Adebayor |
26.60 |
Forwards take lots of the credit score for his or her groups given the significance of a great goalscorer, however these gamers have all gone above and past for his or her squads to earn their place within the historical past books. Whereas the rankings might change sooner or later, these are among the most gifted gamers to have ever performed within the Premier League as of proper now.
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Methodology
To rank all Premier League gamers (who’ve made 100+ Premier League appearances), we thought-about the next components:
All gamers had been ranked for every issue; and, for every, knowledge was then normalised, to assign every participant a rating between 0-1. All normalised knowledge was then mixed and multiplied, to present every participant a complete index rating out of 100. Gamers had been then ranked in accordance with their mixed index rating.
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