The Greatest Strikers of All-Time

Dearman · Dec 19, 2009

Definition of striker covers these items;

1. Target Striker : Attackers who had main duty to be the best finisher of teams, great in approaching in penalty box, instinct of striking and strength.

2. Striker : Attackers with instinct of striking who sometimes base on penalty box and sometimes operate the game outside penalty area to more find the opportunity to shot than assist the ball.

Comparison of strikers in different era is not easy but it is not too hard as well. In the beginning era of football, There is basically average one goal per game for several strikers, and one goal per twice game in the current era, but it is still depend on standard of leagues that is investigated by number of goals with player in the same league and era, plus number of times they won top scorer in the league. Even I have indicated overall career scores for strikers, That excludes states in second division for some seasons of strikers, That is just a factor to rank. Some striker didn’t score as many as another one although they played the same era and league but he was ranked higher because his better technical player or harder style of play. In beginning decade of football, they were called “Center Forward.”

*Goals Stats In Club Level Is Considered Only The Top Tier Of The League.

Criteria cover these items ;

1. Level of Abilities
2. Consistency, Longevity
3. The Greatness, Awards
4. Standard Competition In Each Era

50. David Villa

Skills: Position B, Shot B+, Aerial C, Speed C+, Agile B-, Strong C-, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club B-, International Club C+, National Team B
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

David Villa is the best target striker in the World during the late 2000s but he is underrated not as famous icon player as the strikers in the same generation because of both playing for Valencia and his style of play. Villa's effectiveness has not been questionable, never scored less than 20 goals in his career in Spain for consecutive seven seasons. Villa is not only top-class as striker but his 76 assists during the same period showed how useful he gave to his team. The most outstanding skill of his is not waiting the ball to score in penalty box but it is finding opportunity to precisely shoot on his own. He was a a rising star when he played for Sporting Gijon in Second Division before moving to Valencia at his 22 year olds. He finally moved to Barcelona but his role was set as wing-forward oftenly and not a prolific scorer anymore. Villa is an all-time top scorer of Spain in FIFA World Cup.

49. Ian Rush

Skills: Position A, Shot B+, Aerial B-, Speed C+, Agile C, Strong C+, Tech C
Performance : Domestic Club B-, International Club B-, National Team B-
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

Ian Rush is considered as one of the greatest finishers in history of British football. He was one of the most famous players of Liverpool in their golden era. Rush was a pure striker who was a specialist in penalty box with his great approaching and instinct of finishing, but he limited in technique. He was constantly on the prowl and always had an air of danger about him and never let defenders settle. He was quick, of foot and mind. His most cherished performance was his 4 goals in the 5-0 victory over Everton in 1982. Rush scored not less than 30 goals per season for Liverpool five times. He ever played for Juventus just a season but fail to success and back to Liverpool again. Unfortunately Wales never qualified for a major tournament, although they would narrowly miss out on qualifying for the Euro 92 as well as the World Cup 1994. He was selected in PFA team of the year for five times

48. Pedro Petrone

Skills: Position B+, Shot B+, Aerial C, Speed A-, Agile B-, Strong C, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club B-, National Team B-
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

“The Artillery Man” Pedro Petrone is the best striker of the World during the second half 1920s, and is regarded as the greatest Uruguayan striker of all-time. He is one of the fastest footballer in his era , was timed in the hundred metres at 11 seconds, was noted for his aggressive, positional play and powerful shooting. Petrone is also one of the most prolific scorers in history of Uruguayan league. His performance for Uruguay was in the state of so impressive. But still, He was injury at the 1930 FIFA World Cup consenting Hector Castro to be a starter instead but he still won 2 times Olympic Game which was very close level to World Cup tournament in that era. Petrone holds the record most top scorer in history of Copa America Game with 3 times.

47. Alan Shearer

Skills: Position A-, Shot A-, Aerial B, Speed C, Agile C-, Strong B, Tech C
Performance : Domestic Club B-, International Club C+, National Team B-
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

Alan Shearer is the most all-round striker England has ever produced. He was full of striker instinct, great strength and stamina, excellent in precision and powerful shooting as well as sense of positional play. He played in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United. A native of Newcastle upon Tyne, He became known for his classic style of play and goalscoring ability. Shearer established himself a regular in the England squad, and his 34-goal tally helped Blackburn secure their victory Premier League title. A World-Record transfer fee move to his boyhood heroes, Newcastle United and Shearer spent the remainder of his career with the club and won runners-up medals in the Premier League and FA Cup. He was named England's captain in 1996 and retired from international football in Euro 2000. He was selected in PFA team of the year for six times.

46. Rudi Voller

Skills: Position B+, Shot B+, Aerial B, Speed C+, Agile C+, Strong B-, Tech C
Performance : Domestic Club B-, International Club C+, National Team B
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

“The Little Duck” Rudi Voller is regarded as one of the greatest players to play for Werder Bremen. He was an agile and determined forward who scored many important goals, and noted for his strength and great as target man. During his career in Bundesliga, He was rated by kicker in one world-class season and 10 international-class seasons. He started his outstanding performance with 1860 Munich in 2nd Bundesliga that he scored 37 goals in 37 games. Then, He was moved for Werder Bremen. Voller later signed to play with AS Roma, had 3 satisfying seasons and 2 seasons of failure. Voller won few trophies in his club career but he finally won European cup with Olympic Marseille in his lately career before retire with Leverkusen. Internationally, He was rated as a world-class player by kicker in the 1990 World Cup. According to German footballer of the year voting, he was German forward of the year for four times.

45. Samuel Eto’o

Skills: Position B, Shot B, Aerial C-, Speed B, Agile B+, Strong B-, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club B-, International Club B-, National Team B-
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

Samuel Eto’o is already considered as the second greatest African footballer of all-time only to George Weah. He is the most winners African footballer of the year with four times. Eto'o was the young star of Real Madrid since his only 16 year olds. Regrettably, there is no place for him due to their Galacticos era. That led him to be an brilliant player for Mallorca for years before Barcelona brought him. Eto’o scored a lot of goals and very much helping Barcelona win two UEFA Champion League, including triple champ in 2009. Eto’o is a technical striker who is great in positioning, scoring ability and team work. He is now playing for Inter Milan after exchanging of transfer with Ibrahimovic to find the new challenge. It is unlucky of him that Cameroon failed to qualify in World Cup 2006 that he was in the top form period. Eto'o also won 5th FIFA World Player of the Year in 2006 and the same place in 2009 Ballon'DOr.

44. Jose Alfatini

Skills: Position A-, Shot B+, Aerial B-, Speed B, Agile C+, Strong C+, Tech B
Performance : Domestic Club B-, International Club B, National Team B-
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

“Mazola” Jose Altafini is one of the great legends in history of Italian Series A. He was born in Brazil but played much of his remarkable club career in Italy since he signed from Palmeiras to AC Milan at his age of 20 year olds. He was a striker with excellent close control, passing and shooting ability. He is the joint-third highest scorer in Serie A history (along with Giuseppe Meazza) with 216 goals. He currently holds the record for the highest number of goals scored by any individual in a single European Champion Cup season with 14 goals. Altafini played international football for both Brazil and Italy. He played in the 1958 World Cup for winners Brazil, but didn't play in the later stages, having been replaced by Vavá. His Italy debut came in 1961 and played in the 1962 World Cup for Italy.

43. Heleno De Freitas

Skills: Position B+, Shot B+, Aerial B+, Speed C+, Agile B-, Strong C+, Tech B
Performance : Domestic Club B-, National Team B-
Total Skill: B,Total Performance: B-

"White Diamond" Heleno De Freitas is one of the most talent Brazilian strikers of all-time, was one of the greatest strikers in the South America in the mid-40s. His playing was admired and recognized for the great elegancy, excellent ball control, splendid header and brilliant technique; Heleno invented a move which consisted to smooth a long crossing ball on the chest and then kick it without let it fall on the pitch, was an inventive dribble in which the ball intersects the opponent’s legs. He was also able to let his teammates in front of the goal post with precise passes. However, his career was not fulfilled the potential because his bad-temper and his careless, irresponsible life-style. He was always in big troubles, involved in constant disagreements with teammates and coaches, ever leading him to many expels and ruining the entire performance of his teams. The worse intrigue of him resulted in his absence in the 1950 FIFA World Cup after fight with the coach Flávio Costa.

42. Jimmy Mcgrory

Skills: Position A, Shot A-, Aerial B+, Speed B-, Agile C, Strong B-, Tech C
Performance : Domestic Club B, National Team C+
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

“Mermaid” Jimmy Mcgrory is one of the greatest goalscorers in history of British football that he scored the most goals in club top division. Although he was so short, but was still great in heading ability, even is regarded as one of the best ever. Despite McGrory's success, Celtic had to wait a decade after 1926 before again winning the Scottish league championship. McGrory was often overlooked by the Scottish national side. It has been suggested that there was some anti-Celtic bias on the part of the Scotland selectors, and some successful Celtic players did have surprisingly few caps. McGrory, though, had the misfortune to be contesting with the troubled, great Hughie Gallagher for the centre-forward spot. Mcgrory's prime was done during the second half 1920s, scored 253 goals in only 208 games and scored more than 40 goals in every season in that period. Mcgrory is ranked by rsssf as the 10th most prolific scorer in football history.

41. Franz Binder

Skills: Position A-, Shot A-, Aerial B, Speed C, Agile C, Strong B-, Tech C
Performance : Domestic Club B, International Club B-, National Team B-
Total Skill: B-, Total Performance: B-

“The Bimbo” Binder was a prolific goalscorer who played for SK Rapid Wien. He was noted for his powerful shooting in the long-range shot, prominent aerial ability and excellent in positional play. In his whole career he score more than 500 club official matches and 1006 goals in 756 unofficial matches. With an average-score of 1.33 goals per match, it would be a world record, so Binder would have been one of few players, scoring more than 1000 goals include unofficial matches in his career beside Gerd Müller, Arthur Friedenreich, Romario and Pelé, Pelé being the one the only from this group recognized by FIFA and many statistics institutions with all his goals tracked and the highest totals achieved by a professional footballer. Internationally he represented the Austria national football team (19 caps, 16 goals), and the Germany national football team (9 caps, 10 goals) during the Anschluss.

40. Wlodzimierz Lubanski

Skills: Position, Shot B+, Aerial C+, Speed B, Agile C+, Strong C+, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club B-, International Club B-, National Team B
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

Wlodzimierz Lubanski is considered as the greatest Polish striker of all-time. For his national team, Lubański amassed the numbers of caps become 80 caps and 50 goals if Olympic matches are considered. He scored five hat-tricks in his international career. A brilliant young superstar, Lubański made his international debut at the age of 16 years and 188 days, becoming the youngest player ever to appear for Poland. He missed the 1974 FIFA World Cup after a Roy McFarland tackle during the match against England in the qualifier damaged his cruciate ligament and put him out of football for two years. Lubański returned to play in the 1978 FIFA World Cup, but never quite reached his previous levels of football prowess. At club level, Lubański spent most of his career at Górnik Zabrze and also played at KSC Lokeren.

39. Careca

Skills: Position B+, Shot A-, Aerial B-, Speed C+, Agile B-, Strong B-, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club B-, International Club C+, National Team B
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

Careca was the greatest Brazilian Striker during the 1980s. He was an archetypal striker, had the technique and cottage to score many goals from all angles in the penalty box. Careca first broke into the national side of Brazil, and was forced to miss the 1982 World Cup due to an injury. Later, He had an excellent World Cup goal record on Brazilian team that finished just short of greatness. Careca moved from Brazil to Italian Serie A champions Napoli, where he was part of the "Ma-Gi-Ca" forward lineup. Careca's first season at Napoli was an unsuccessful one, the team were knocked out in the first round of the European Cup. However, his second season was far more successful. The team won the UEFA Cup, with Careca scoring a goal in each leg of the final, one a memorable lobbed goal, and finished second in Serie A. In 1990 Careca finally won the Scudetto with Napoli.

38. Isidro Langara

Skills: Position A-, Shot B+, Aerial B+, Speed C+, Agile C+, Strong B, Tech C
Performance : Domestic Club B-, National Team B-
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

Isidro Langara is the greatest Spanish footballer in the pre-war era. He start playing with Real Oviedo in Spanish second division, had to wait until next three years before the club was promoted to the top tier. He immediately was a top scorer of the league three consecutive times. With the onset of Civil War, He emigrated to Mexico after that war made him out of the game for two seasons. Then, He signed to play with San Lorenzo for four years, holds the record of scoring most goals in a match in Argentina with 7 that still stands today. However, He was not called for Spain national team any longer since he moved out from his country. He is the only player to be top scorer in major leagues on three different continents.

37. Christian Vieri

Skills: Position A-, Shot A-, Aerial B, Speed C+, Agile C, Strong B+, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club B-, International Club B-, National Team B
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

Christian Vieri is the greatest striker in the World during the late 1990s to early 2000s. He was an all-round striker who was excellent in strength, aerial ability, shot technique combined with above average skillful and pace. He start a famous player when he could be a starter of Juventus in 1997. Next season, He signed for Atletico Madrid, and done one of his best seasons of his career. Once again, He moved to play for Lazio just a one season before settle down for five years with Inter Milan where he showed his world-class performance for many seasons. Nevertheless, His injury always led him put of games especially missing to play in European Championship 2000 when he was at his prime. Vieri was very successful in the two World Cup tournaments despite Italy didn’t go farther than quarter-final round. In 1999, he was voted in fifth place FIFA World player of the Year..

36. Gyula Zsengeller

Skills: Position B-, Shot B+, Aerial C+, Speed B+, Agile B-, Strong C, Tech B
Performance : Domestic Club B, National Team B-
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

Gyula Zsengeller is one of the top legendary Hungarian strikers of all-ime, was a rising star of World football at the turn of the late 1930s and the early 1940s. Zsengeller was also very injury prone, he had several heavy injuries, especially his knees but he was still really phenomenal striker, very complete - amazing dribbler, booming shooter, lightning pace, stamina, good header, good short passer, great in and out the penalty box. He was so amazing in WC 1938, was one of the biggest stars. In the 1938 - 1939 Hungarian league, he made phenomenon record with 56 goals in 26 games. He then moved to AS Roma after the war but spent twice failure years there. He is the third-highest goalscorer of all-time in the Hungarian league as a holder of record the most Hungarian league top scorers with five. IFFHS named him the 7th most successful Top Division Goal Scorer of all time.

35. Mario Kempes

Skills: Position B, Shot B+, Aerial B-, Speed B-, Agile C+, Strong B-, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club B-, International Club B-, National Team B
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

“The Killer” Mario Kempes was a famous Argentinean superstar in the prime period of the late 70s. He had all the tools of a top-class striker, including a wonderful “change of rhythm” dribbling technique. His speed and exciting technique almost single handedly grabbed the 1978 World Cup final away from the visiting Dutch team, as he scored the initial and winning goals in overtime win. He established himself as a notorious goalscorer for Rosario Central in his early career. Famous as a hard-working forward, he used to strike from outside the penalty area with his surging runs goalwards and was not the traditional center-forward operating solely inside the box. Many defenders found difficulties handling his attacking style. Luis Minotti ever described him that "He's strong, got skill, he creates spaces and he shoots hard. He's a player who can make a difference. However, He could not scored any goal in the other World Cup tournaments.

34. Jozsef Takacs

Skills: Position A-, Shot B+, Aerial C+, Speed C+, Agile B-, Strong C+, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club B, International Club B-, National Team B-
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B-

Jozsef Takacs was one of the best strikers in the Europe in the late 1920s to early 1930s. Takacs scored 40, 41 and 42 goals in 22 league games for three seasons. This record is by far a leading ratio in his era. He made a international record score 6 goals in single game against France in 1927. In 1928, he also made a special record score 10 goals in 6 Mitropa Cup games. In the 1931 - 1932 season, he was the most important player to lead Ferencvaroc won all 22 league games and this is the all-time record until nowadays. Even he could only shot with right foot and he has a small body, he was a great header and also good technique. He was a great dribbler and exceptional sense of being employed winger. In every situation he invented himself. Instinctively, well located, almost felt the expected path of the ball. Turning very few Hungarian strikers was able to shoot it like him. He also good to score from long distance and constituted a danger to port.

33. Gary Lineker

Skills: Position A, Shot B+, Aerial C+, Speed B-, Agile C+, Strong C, Tech C
Performance : Domestic Club B, International Club C+, National Team B
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B

"Mr. Niceguy" Gary Lineker was the most outstanding English player during the 1980s, and regarded as the best striker to play for England national team. He was a quick all-round striker with excellent approaching, possessing goal-scoring prowess with both feet and head. Lineker began his football career at Leicester City. Despite failing to score in his first ten games he finished as the joint top goalscorer and earning his first England cap at 24 years old. He moved to Everton and remained a clinical finisher. His first team honours came at Barcelona where he was not rather successful. Next 3 years, He joined with Tottenham Hotspur. His final club was Nagoya Grampus Eight. Finally, he never won any league title. Lineker finished as England's all-time second highest scorer, note for no goal in his last six games. His international goals-to-games ratio remains one of the best for the country. He is also the only player to have won the English golden boot with 3 different clubs. He was selected in PFA team of the year for 3 times.

32. Rene Pontoni

Skills: Position B, Shot B, Aerial C, Speed B-, Agile B-, Strong C, Tech B+
Performance : Domestic Club B-, National Team B
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B

Rene Pontoni was one of the greatest forwards in the South Americas during the middle 1940s and is considered as one of the greatest legends of San Lorenzo and Newell's Old Boy. Specifically as a center forward was the best Argentine soccer: skills, brain, luxurious and exquisite definer. Pontoni was not a natural machine scorer but technical dribbling was his best skill. He was an indispensable player for the great of Argentina during the late 1940s that the team won three Copa America, and was the only top-class Argentinian player in that time not be from River Plate in their golden era. Even he won the only trophy in club level, His performance for Argentina was highly regarded as a prolific scorer and remembered for the fan. Nevertheless, he played for his nation until 27 years old only due to his tending down in his late career.

31. Arthur Friedenreich

Skills: Position B+, Shot B+, Aerial C-, Speed B-, Agile A-, Strong D, Tech B+
Performance : Domestic Club B, National Team B-
Total Skill: B, Total Performance : B

“The Tiger” Arthur Friedenreich is one of the greatest goalscorers in the first era of football history. He was the first famous Afro-Brazilian player in the previously white world of Brazilian football, and was arguably the sport's first black superstar. He was born to a German who immigrated to Brazil with an African Brazilian. At that time football was dominated by whites and blacks were not accepted. He faced many barriers because of racism. He started his career for SC Germania, a Brazilian team composed of German immigrants. After playing with a succession of São Paulo club sides from 1910 onwards, On Brazil's tour of Europe, He was feted as the King of Football. He also has a claim to the high scoring record but FIFA cannot prove these goals because of faulty record-keeping. He was not picked up by Brazil for 1930 FIFA World Cup because there was a serious misunderstanding between the Football Leagues of the States of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo; only players from Rio travelled. He played over 1200 games, scoring over 1200 goals, was mostly done in regional amatuer league but this statistics cannot be confirmed.

30. Luis Artime

Skills: Position A-, Shot A-, Aerial B-, Speed C, Agile B-, Strong C+, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club B, International Club B, National Team B
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B

Luis Artime is the greatest Argentinean footballers during the 1960s. He scored more than 1000 goals including unoffical matches during his career. Artime was superb goal poacher and finisher without a special technique. He had a remarkably successful career in club football. His best skill was shot accuracy. Artime played for Argentine giants River Plate for three years. Then, He also played for Independiente, Palmeiras, and soon left to join Nacional of Uruguay where his first spell was the most productive of his career. In late career, He tried his luck in Brazil for a second time, but returned to Nacional again after only one season at Fluminense. His strike rate of 0.96 goals per game for Argentina also makes him one of the most prolific goalscorers in Argentine international football. In 1966, he is regarded as the best player in the South Americas.

29. Imre Schlosser

Skills: Position A-, Shot B+, Aerial B-, Speed C+, Agile C+, Strong C+, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club B, National Team B
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B

Imre Schlosser is the greatest footballers in the World during the first era of football in second half 1910s, who won the highest top scorer in League around the World in consecutive four times and note that Hungarian league had taken professional status already in his era. He was the best record of goal ratio among strikers in the pre-war erq. He was noted for his aggressive, shot accuracy and off the ball. His consistency performance led him to be caps 68 games that is no player in his era close to him with this. He also holds all-time record most winning league title in European competition with 13. Schlosser fist retired from his career at age of 23 year olds while he was still a prolific scorer but he decided backing to play again in next three years, and not the same as his prime anymore. He finally formal retired in his 39 year olds.

28. Fernando Peyroteo

Skills: Position A, Shot B+, Aerial A-, Speed C-, Agile C-, Strong B, Tech C-
Performance : Domestic Club B, National Team B-
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B

Fernando Peyroteo is the most prolific scorer in history of Portuguese domestic competition. He spent 12 seasons and 187 games to be all-time Portuguese League top scorer with 331. However, the standard of Portuguese Liga in his era is much inferior to the modern era as it was very higher goal ratio. He is also the soccer player with best rate of goal by game. However, his goal stats in international was just in average. Peyroteo was one-of-kind player that was great in bulk force, he was a force of nature without anyone capable of stopping his tremendous physical power. Not only he was strong, he had a very strong shooting as well always making the keepers tremble upon his presence in the last 30 metres. He scored from everywhere and from heading too, he used physical advantage to gain position and then head towards the net. He was also very determined to win every game as he simple never gave up of tormenting the defenses.

27. Jean-Pierre Papin

Skills: Position B+, Shot B+, Aerial C+, Speed B-, Agile B-, Strong C+, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club B, International Club B+, National Team B
Total Skill: B-,Total Performance: B

Jean-Pierre Papin was the best French player in the early 1990s. He was fast and lethal striker. He also had impressively basic technique. Papin was best in his career at Olympique Marseille in their greatest era. After six seasons for the club, Papin joined AC Milan for a world record fee. However, he never established himself as a regular first team member due to injuries and adaptation problems. He was transferred to Bayern Munich where he was again plagued by injuries before became a part of the side that won the UEFA Cup against Bordeaux, a club that he joined later. Papin was a prolific striker on the French scene but, contrary to many other French great players, never really became dominant abroad. He was also part of the 'cursed generation' of French players that came between the Platini's era of the 80's, and fared disappointingly, missing the 1990 and 1994 World Cups with France. He was also voted 5th place FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992.

26. Hugo Sanchez

Skills: Position B+, Shot B+, Aerial B+, Speed B-, Agile A-, Strong C, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club B, International Club B, National Team B-
Total Skill: B,Total Performance: B

"Pentapichichi" Hugo Sanchez is the CONCACAF greatest player ever, with excellent technique, athleticism, and enthusiasm for the game. He became famous worldwide for his bicycle kicks with which he scored many goals and somersaults. Sánchez played twelve seasons in the Spanish La Liga and is the second highest goalscorer in the history of the league. He also played for the Mexico national team for 17 years. In comparison to his "domestic" club success, Sánchez did not have a successful international career. His years as a Mexican international coincided with a difficult period for the nation's football. Sánchez's brash personality is often cited as the reason he did not play many games at the 1994 World Cup, purportedly as a result of internecine frictions between Hugo and the Mexican Football Federation. He was named in Don Balon Spanish Lia Liga XI for five seasons. In 1999, the IFFHS voted him the 26th best footballer of the 20th Century.

25. George Weah

Skills: Position B, Shot B, Aerial C+, Speed B+, Agile B-, Strong B-, Tech A
Performance : Domestic Club B+, International Club B, National Team B-
Total Skill: B,Total Performance: B

George Weah is basically known as the greatest African footballer of all-time. He was an elegant and rapid striker with great touch, balance and heading ability, who migrated from clubs in Liberia and Cameroon to perform brilliantly on the European soccer stage. He won FIFA World player of the year when he remained playing for Paris-SG and this led AC Milan to buy him as their player. Weah didn’t disappoint them, one-man-showed his wonderful dribbling and technical ability as a routine. On the other hand, He could not be expected as a prolific scorer and never made scores more than 20 goals a season. Weah’s World Cup experience was like none other. Coming from a small country with great players but little organization, Weah almost single-handedly willed Liberia into the 2002 FIFA World Cup. After Liberia led their group for much of the qualifying competition, Nigeria finally beat out by a solitary point.

24. Jurgen Klinsmann

Skills: Position A-, Shot B, Aerial B+, Speed B-, Agile B-, Strong C, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club B, International Club B, National Team B
Total Skill: B,Total Performance: B

“The White Shark” Jurgen Klinsmann was one of the most popular footballers who reached the prime in the mid-1990s. He was a mobile central striker who roamed all along the forward line probing for weaknesses and opportunities, and finding them with a consistent scoring record, Always in the shape, he could punish the defenses lapses, and his excellent technique with both feet and head ensured his effort was rewarded. Klinsmann was not a kind of prolific scorer but his style of play was exciting. His state of goals in overall career was in average of international-class player. However, He always was an remarkable scorer in major international tournaments, was voted 5th place best player of the 1990 FIFA World Cup tournament. He was rated by kicker for his performance in Bundesliga and national team in big tournament in 3.5 World-Class seasons and 6.5 seasons of international-class. According to German footballer of the year voting, he was German forward of the year for six times. He was also voted 5th place in the 1996 FIFA World Player of the Year.

23. Silvio Piola

Skills: Position A-, Shot B+, Aerial B, Speed C+, Agile C, Strong B-, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club B, National Team B+
Total Skill: B,Total Performance: B

Silvio Piola is the greatest target striker in the Europe in the late 1930s. He is known as a highly prominent figure in the history of Italian football due to several records he set. Piola won the 1938 FIFA World Cup with Italy, scoring two goals in the final. Piola holds the all-time highest average goalscoring records of the Italian national team. He is also considered as the "inventor" of the bicycle kick. Piola began his career with Pro Vercelli at the age of 17. In 1934, he moved to Lazio, who had been on the receiving end of his first Serie A goal. He was to spend the next nine seasons there and has long been considered as the club's greatest player ever. After leaving Lazio, he spent the rest of his career with Torino, Juventus ad Novara. Piola did a great stats in national level, a tally that would surely have been greater if not for the interruption caused by World War II.

22. Ademir De Menezes

Skills: Position B, Shot B+, Aerial B-, Speed B+, Agile B, Strong C+, Tech B
Performance : Domestic Club B, National Team B+
Total Skill: B,Total Performance: B

“Queixada” Ademir Marques de Menezes is regarded as one of the best forwards in the history of the Brazil national team. He is best known for his exploits in the World Cup 1950 held in his native Brazil, playing in an outstanding forward trio involving Zizinho and Jair. Despite he was a top scorer in that tournament, he could not bring victory to Brazil in the decisive match against Uruguay – national tragedy which was later dubbed the Maracanazo. Ademir was fast and powerful striker, with a strong shot in both feet. Ademir began his career as a left winger before moving to the centre, causing havoc in opposing defences with his skill and sublime finishing. People at the time considered him an unequalled ball juggler who knew every trick in the book. He used to wreak havoc among defenses with his quick changes in tempo, fooling his opponents with deceptions carried out almost at lightning speed, his mastering of the ball in all situations and the ability to accelerate rapidly.

21. Denis Law

Skills: Position A-, Shot B+, Aerial B+, Speed B-, Agile B-, Strong C, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club B, International Club B+, National Team B
Total Skill: B,Total Performance: B

“The King” Denis Law is regarded as one of the best Scottish footballers of all-time and is one of the top legends in history of Manchester United club. He was a rapid, skillful and intelligent goal maker and scorer. Law's career as a football player began at Second Division Huddersfield Town. After four year, Manchester City signed him for a transfer fee setting a new British record. Law spent one year there before Torino bought him, setting a new record fee for a transfer between English and an Italian club. Although he played well in Italy, he found it difficult to settle there and signed for Manchester United, setting another British record transfer fee, and spend time for the eleven years at United. He is the only Scottish player in history to have won the prestigious European Footballer of the Year award. Law is also United's second highest goalscorer behind Bobby Charlton. Law holds a United record for highest scoring 46 goals in a single season.

20. Alberto Spencer

Skills: Position A-, Shot B+, Aerial A, Speed C+, Agile B-, Strong B-, Tech B
Performance : Domestic Club B+, International Club A-, National Team C+
Total Skill: B+,Total Performance: B

"Magic Head" Alberto Spencer is regarded by many as one of the greatest players in history of South American club football and is by far the greatest Ecuadorian footballer of all-time. He still maintains the record in Copa Libertadores, with his tally of 54 goal. In fact, his Intercontinental goal tally is only one goal behind the all-time record of Pele. Throughout his professional club career, he scored a grand total of 450 goals. However, he had a hard time in national team career, was few capped due to play outside his country and the fact of matter that Ecuador was a below-average team in the continent at that time. He was spectacular heading the ball. In general, he would do it with a burst, but without actually sprinting. He was largely an unknown figure in Europe. This is presumably due to his having never participated in a World Cup. He was elected the 20th South America Player of the Century in a poll by the IFFHS in 2004.

19. Ruud Van Nistelrooy

Skills: Position A-, Shot B+, Aerial B-, Speed B-, Agile C+, Strong B, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club B, International Club B+, National Team B-
Total Skill: B,Total Performance: B

Ruud Van Nistelrooy was the greatest scorer in the World during the first half 2000s. By the time he start famous with his prime, He had already 25 year olds when he moved from PSV to Manchester United. He proved that the club worth in every penny to buy him after he scored 150 goals in 219 games during five seasons. Van Nistelrooy was known for his superb instinct, strength and ability to approach to penalty box, and combined with his considerable technique and speed. He still scored many goals with Real Madrid in the late career. He scored not less than 30 goals per season for six times during his career. Internationally, He played the same position as Patrick Kluivert who born the same day and year as him. That led him not caps as many as he should have been. He several times out of game for matches due to his injury.

18. Andrei Shevchenko

Skills: Position B+, Shot A-, Aerial C+, Speed A-, Agile B-, Strong C+, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club B, International Club B+, National Team B
Total Skill: B ,Total Performance: B

"Sheva" Andrei Shevchenko is the greatest Eastern European footballer during the first half 2000s, He started a prominent player with his impressive performance for Dinamo Kiev especially in UEFA Champion League 1999. That led AC Milan to buy him. During his seven seasons in Italy, He established himself as the best striker in the league, and scored more than 25 goals per season five times. He is a all-round striker, possesses high acceleration, considerable dribbling, intelligent positional play and deadly strike in both foots. Moreover, His stamina and header-shooting are in the good criteria. On the other hand, He failed to be an important role for Chelsea after he moved from AC Milan to find the new challenge at age of 30 year olds with the large number of fees. That was because of being unable to adapt with English style of game that seems too fast for him. He was also voted in 5th place in the 2000 FIFA World Player of the Year.

17. Ferenc Deak

Skills: Position A-, Shot A-, Aerial B-, Speed C+, Agile B-, Strong C+, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club B, National Team B
Total Skill: B+,Total Performance: B

Ferenc Deak was the most prolific scorer in Europe in the beginning of post-war era. He played in Hungarian league in the same era as Ferenc Puskas, and he could score a lot more than him in the same number of seasons. He scores 66 goals in a single season of Hungarian league in 1946 that was partly regional competition and it is still a record until nowadays. His best season is the 1948 - 1949 when the league was the wholly national competition and scored 59 goals in 30 games. Unfortunately, He was restricted to play in Hungary due to communist regime, not like Puskas who was allowed to move aboard after that rule had passed. Many Hungarian believe Deak would be at least the same great player as Puskas to the worldwide if he played in big club in Western Europe. Even Deak scored a large number of goals, He won just a Hungarian league, and never played in the big tournament for Hungary, All of that effected him to be one of the most underrated strikers in history of the game. Deak is ranked by rsssf as the sixth most prolific scorer in football history.

16. Luigi Riva

Skills: Position B+, Shot B+, Aerial B+, Speed B, Agile C+, Strong C+, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club B, International Club B, National Team B+
Total Skill: B+,Total Performance: B

"Roar of Thunder" Luigi Riva is regarded as the all-time greatest goalscorer of Italy national team, He was one of the best forwards of his time and had a fantastic scoring record for Cagliari thanks to his great heading ability, fantastic left foot and composure in front of goal. The former Cagliari striker, who possessed a shot so hard, once broke a spectator in the crowd’s arm with one of his trademark left foot drives. His career was blighted by major injuries. He broke his left leg playing for the national side against Portugal shortly before the 1966 World Cup. He broke his right leg, again on international duty, this time against Austria just after the 1970 World Cup. In 1976, he ruptured a tendon in his right thigh playing for Cagliari against Milan. He never successfully recovered and, despite comeback attempts, eventually retired at his 34 years old.

15. Telmo Zarra

Skills: Position A, Shot B+, Aerial B+, Speed C+, Agile B-, Strong C+, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club B, National Team B
Total Skill: B ,Total Performance: B

Telmo Zarra was the greatest Spanish footballer in the 2nd half 1940s, is the greatest Spanish goalscorer of all-time. He was best in his instinct, shot technique and aggression as well as a great poacher in penalty box. He also holds the record for most goals scored in a single season of Spnish La Liga for 60 years until being broken down by Cirstiano Ronaldo. Zarra did the most famous score in his national team career in the 1950 FIFA World Cup against England, gave the victory to the Spanish team in their first semifinals of World Cup. Although Zarra won top scorer of Spanish league for many times but he just won a league trophy due to the golden era of Barcelona. Zarra trophy is honoured after him as the award to the Spanish domestic players with the highest goal total in La Liga.

14. Just Fontaine

Skills: Position A, Shot A-, Aerial C+, Speed B-, Agile B, Strong C-, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club B, International Club B, National Team B+
Total Skill: B+,Total Performance: B

Just Fontaine is the French greatest scorer of all-time and was the most prolific scorer in the Europe in the late 1950s and is the greatest player ever to born in North Africa. He was born in Marrakech, French Morocco, with Spanish ancestors. He holds the record for most goals scored in a single FIFA World Cup finals tournament, with thirteen in 1958. He has also scored the third most goals of any player in the World Cup finals overall. Fontaine became the second player after Alcides Ghiggia to score in every match of a World Cup. He was a classic forward. At the root of his prolific scoring rate was an ability to score from any angle, with both feet and his head. He played for Stade de Reims in their golden era alongside Raymond Kopa and Roger Piantoni. Fontaine played his last match in July 1962, being forced to retire early because of a recurring injury that effect his longevity was so short.

13. Jimmy Greaves

Skills: Position A-, Shot A-, Aerial C+, Speed B, Agile B-, Strong C-, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club B+, International Club B, National Team B+
Total Skill: B+,Total Performance: B+

Jimmy Greaves is the most prolific scorer in history of English football. He was a dribbler and goal finisher extraordinaire for both club and national level. He scored not less than 30 goals per season for five times. Greaves was an outstanding scorer as soon as his debut at age of 18 year olds. He briefly joined the Italian side A.C. Milan in 1961, after reportedly turning down a huge offer from Newcastle United and scored 9 goals in 12 games but failure to settle led to a quick departure, and finally settle down with Tottenham Hot Spurs. Greaves regrettably could not establish himself as a great scorer in World Cup tournament. He was a reserved player in World Cup 1962, and did not quite fit in with the work-rate England squad in World Cup 1966. Geoff Hurst acquired his striker position and went on to score a hat-trick in the final match. He failed to his prime in his age of 29, and finally retired when he was 31 year olds.

12. Gabriel Batistuta

Skills: Position A-, Shot A+, Aerial B-, Speed C+, Agile C, Strong B-, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club B, International Club B, National Team A-
Total Skill: B+,Total Performance: B+

“Batigol” Gabriel Batistuta is the greatest Argentinean striker of all-time. He was a crafty and courageous goalscorer, possessing a booming but accurate shoot which is regarded as the best ever in this skill. Batistuta was not a kind of technical player but he was very much in his instinct, and had excellent strength, considerable in air. One of the his famous goals is the volley shot as soon as the ball across his head from the long passing. He played most of his club football at Fiorentina, and he is the ninth top scorer of all time in the Italian Serie A. When Fiorentina was relegated to Serie B in 1993, he stayed to help it return to the top-flight a year later. A popular sporting figure in Florence, the Fiorentina fans erected a life-size bronze statue of him in 1996. He never won the Italian league with Fiorentina, but when he moved to Roma in 2000, he finally won the Series A to crown his career in Italy. He also finished 5th and 4th place FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998 and 2000, respectively.

11. Josef Bican

Skills: Position B+, Shot A-, Aerial C, Speed A-, Agile B-, Strong C, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club B+, National Team B+
Total Skill: B+,Total Performance: B+

Josef "Pepi" Bican is the most prolific scorer in history of the game. It is estimated by respected footballing statistics page RSSSF that Bican scored around 800 goals in all competitive matches, not including friendly games. Bican had the ability to play with both feet, he also had considerable pace and was able to run 100 metres in 10.2 seconds, which was as fast as many sprinters of the time. Bican was born in Austria and played in his country until 24 year olds before moved to play in Czechoslovakia throughout the World War II, as well as transferring his race to play for Czechoslovakia. He won the 1938 Mitropa Cup top scorer. In 1944, He made the World record the highest goal ratio 2.48 in a single season with 57 goals in 23 matches. Bican was a special striker, still was a prolific scorer until his retirement at 42 year olds.
He played early played for Austria in World Cup 1934 that he failed to be a superstar of such the great tournament.

10. Dixie Dean

Skills: Position A-, Shot A-, Aerial B+, Speed B-, Agile B-, Strong B-, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club B+, National Team B+
Total Skill: A-,Total Performance: B+

Dixie Dean is regarded the greatest British footballer in the first era of football history. He is best known for his phenomenon exploits in 1927-28 season which saw Dean score 60 league goals - a record which stands to this day. However, other seasons were not closely performed to that level. Dean's athletic skills, in particular dribbling, running, shooting and ability to create goals for others, were considered exceptional by sports writers of the time. According to his peers, however, his greatest ability was heading, a skill he often practised using a medicine ball with fellow player Tommy Lawton. About a third of the goals credited to him came from headers, and his skills are compared to Pelé and Alfredo Di Stéfano. Regrettably, He didn’t participate in World Cup because England was not affiliated to FIFA at that time. There is a season he had to play in second division with Everton. His career was ended after getting heavy injury when he was 30 years old and decided to retire 3 years later.

9. Arsenio Erico

Skills: Position A-, Shot A-, Aerial B, Speed B, Agile B-, Strong B-, Tech B
Performance : Domestic Club A-, National Team B+
Total Skill: A-,Total Performance: B+

Arsenio Erico is the greatest Paraguayan footballer of all-time, and was the phenomenon striker in the World in the late 1930s. Erico was an inspiration to Alfredo Di Stéfano, who considered him one of the greatest players ever. Leônidas da Silva and Delfín Benítez Cáceres also consider him as the one of the best players in history. He was remembered as a player who would excel in scoring headers due to his high jumps. During the early 1930s, Erico was part of the Paraguayan Red Cross football team. Because of his good performances during the friendly matches in the tour, Independiente signed him. He began to show why he had acquired the nickname 'red jumper'. Before the 1938 FIFA World Cup, Erico was offered an extravagant amount of money to play for the Argentine national football team but he rejected it. He holds the all-time record the highest goals in a single season in Argentinean League with 47. Erico never played an official game for Paraguay but he did score an incredible 56 goals in 26 unofficial matches. He is regarded as the best player in the South americas in 1937 and 1939.

8. Gunnar Nordahl

Skills: Position A, Shot A-, Aerial B+, Speed C+, Agile C+, Strong B, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club A-, International Club B+, National Team B+
Total Skill: A-,Total Performance: B+

"The Fireman" Gunnar Nordahl is the greatest Scandinavian striker of all-time, and the greatest target striker in the world during the 1st half 1950s. He was also one of the most effective striker to play the game. His style of play was base on his enormous strength, pace and remarkable shooting power. Nordahl started out at Hörnefors IF in Sweden before moving to IFK Norrköping. He ever once scored seven goals in one game. During his time in Swedish clubs, Nordahl scored 149 goals in 172 matches. With AC Milan, He would team up with his national team strike partners to form the renowned Gre-No-Li trio. He is still the second-highest Serie A goalscorer of all time, and is the most efficient scorer in Serie A ever with 0.77 goals per match. After leaving Milan, Nordahl played for Roma for two seasons. Nordahl's transfer to Milan forced him to retire from the national team, as the rules at the time prevented professionals from the Swedish national team, being not called to 1950 FIFA World Cup.

7. Uwe Seeler

Skills: Position A-, Shot B+, Aerial A, Speed C+, Agile B, Strong B-, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club A-, International Club B+, National Team B+
Total Skill: A-,Total Performance: B+

“Uns Uwe” Uwe Seeler is one of the most consistency strikers of all-time as well as the most underrated strikers ever. He was a technically gifted and effective goalscorer, working to score inside or outside the penalty area. He was also very creative, was renowed for his overhead-kick and back-heading. He was rated by kicker in 7.5 World-Class seasons and also 7.5 seasons of international-class which is the second best only to Beckenbauer. Note that his career was in the prime before the Bundesliga era. According to German footballer of the year voting, he was German forward of the year for 7 times. In spite of this point, He wasn't voted in top five Ballon d’Or in any year aside from 1960 due to unsuccessful of Hamburg club in european competition. Seeler was also a tremendously popular player due to his fairness, modesty, and kindness. The DFB made him the second honorary captain of the German national team in 1972. In 2003 he became honorary citizen of his hometown Hamburg, the first time the honor was bestowed on a sportman.

6. Sandor Kocsis

Skills: Position A, Shot A-, Aerial A, Speed B-, Agile C+, Strong B-, Tech C+
Performance : Domestic Club A-, National Team A
Total Skill: A-,Total Performance: A-

"Golden Head" Sandor Kocsis is considered as the greatest target striker in history of Eastern European football, and the best striker in the world during the early 1950s, is the greatest header ever, is believed to be the best player in the World 1954. He was an all round forward being a magnificent finisher, very strong, great at positioning and most of all brilliant in aerial battle. Kocsis was one of the legendary Mighty Magyars. After the 1956 Hungarian Revolution he moved to Spain where he became a prominent member of the successful Barcelona team of the late although he was not in his prime anymore. With Hungary, He played as inside-right but his duty was expected as a final finisher. Kocsis was one of the most prolific scorer ever in national level with his best average goal per game in history of the game for players caps more than 40 games.

5. Romario

Individual Achievement

1984 Bravo Award
7 Times Brazil State Championship Top Scorer
3 Times Brazil National Championship Top Scorer
3 Times Dutch League Top Scorer
2 Times European Cup Top Scorer (1990, 1993)
1993 Silver Ball FIFA World Player of The Year
1994 Spanish League Top Scorer
1994 Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
1994 FIFA World Player of The Year
1997 FIFA Confederation Cup Top Scorer
2000 Brazilian Footballer of The Year
2000 South American Footballer of The Year
2001 Bronze Ball South American Footballer of The Year
PSV Eindhoven Greatest Player Ever

Skills: Position A-, Shot A-, Aerial C, Speed B-, Agile B+, Strong C+, Tech A-
Performance : Domestic Club A+, International Club A-, National Team A+
Total Skill: A-,Total Performance: A+

"O Baixinho" Romario the greatest players in the World during the mid-90s, is one of the most prolific goalscorers in history of the game. He scored more than 1,000 goals during his career including unofficial matches. He is one of the greatest first touch goal-getters of all-time, processed great shooting and dribbling technique. While Romario was sometimes criticized for “Disappearing” during games, he would then crop up and score one or more goals. A Master of Zen-like “no-play,” He would let the action sweep around him until it was his time to strike. When man-marked, He often stopped moving, reasoning that his marker’s natural tendency was to move rather than stand still. After his markers moved, He was off in the other direction for a pass or goal opportunity. Because of his freedom style of attitude, He played for Barcelona for twice seasons and back to play in Brazil in the rest of his career, affected him not to prove himself in the highest standard level anymore. He holds the record most goals in a single season in history Brazilian football league with 70 goals in 2000. Romario is the second most prolific scorer in history of football only to Josef Bican.

4. Marco Van Basten

Individual Achievement

4 Times Dutch League Top Scorer
1985 Dutch Footballer of The Year
1986 European Golden Boot
1986 World League Top Scorer
1987 Bravo Award
1987 Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
1988 European Championship Top Scorer
2 Times European Championship Team of The Tournament (1988, 1992)
1989 European Cup Top Scorer
1989 Silver Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
2 Times Italian Series A Top Scorer (1990, 1992)
2 Times World Soccer Player of The Year (1988, 1992)
3 Times European Footballer of The Year (1988, 1989, 1992)
1992 FIFA World Player of The Year

Skills: Position A-, Shot A, Aerial A, Speed C+, Agile B-, Strong B-, Tech B
Performance : Domestic Club A+, International Club AA, National Team A-
Total Skill: A,Total Performance: A+

"Killer of Ghost Whisper" Marco Van Basten is the greatest striker in the World during the lately 1980s, is the greatest striker in history of Italian Series A, is one of the most completed strikers ever. He was two foots grace with close control, quick on the turn and excellent in the air, He scored Spectacular goals for club and country. He was best remembered with his winning goal in Euro 1988 final. He shot from a seemingly impossible angle. The shear audacity and technique of that strike showed his supreme class. Van Basten was very success in his career with AC Milan despite playing in highest standard ever of the league due to appearances of many World-Class defenders. On the other hand, Van Basten failed to prove himself in World Cup tournament that he could not score even a goal. His states for Holland was also unimpressive as he did it just 0.4 goal per game in average. After he was gotten big injury at age of 29 and decided to retire in next two years. he was also voted 5th place in the 1991 FIFA World Player of the Year. Van Basten was voted 8th, 9th and 12th the greatest footballer of the century by France Football, World Soccer and IFFHS, respectively, and was voted 4th by UEFA Jubilee poll.

3. Ronaldo

Individual Achievement

3 Times Bravo Awards (1995, 1997, 1998)
1 Time Dutch League Top Scorer
2 Times Spanish La Liga Top Scorer
1996 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
1997 European Golden Boot
1997 Spanish La Liga Foreign Player of The Year
1997 Copa America Most Valuable Player
1998 UEFA Club Most Valuable Player And Best Forward
1998 Italian Series A Foreign Footballer of The Year
1998 Italian Series A Footballer of The Year
1998 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1998 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
1998 Silver Ball FIFA World Player of The Year
1998 Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
2 Times FIFA World Cup All Star Team (1998, 2002)
1999 Copa America Top Scorer
2002 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe And Silver Ball
2002 FIFA Team of The Year
2002 BBC Sport Oversea Personality of The Year
2003 Bronze Ball FIFA World Player of The Year
2 Times European Footballer of The Year (1997, 2002)
3 Times World Soccer Player of The Year (1996, 1997, 2002)
3 Times FIFA World Player of The Year (1996, 1997, 2002)
France Football All-Time World XI
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame
FIFA World Cup All-Time Top Scorer

Skills: Position B+, Shot B, Aerial C-, Speed A+, Agile A, Strong B-, Tech A+
Performance : Domestic Club A+, International Club A-, National Team A+
Total Skill: A,Total Performance: A+

“The Phenomenon” Ronaldo Luis Nazario De Lima is regarded as the one of the greatest prime's playing of all-time. He processed great ball control and dribbling skills combined with a powerful physique and could hold off most defenders, and prolific scoring ability. Ronaldo is the youngest player ever to win Ballon d’Or, as he was a world-class player since his 20 year olds. He was famous for his scoring a large number of goals by only his abilities as the one-man-show. On the other hand, The repeated big injury led him out of the game for two years. Even he could came back to be a world-class player again particularly in World Cup 2002 that he scored 12 goals, He never reached his prime that he could perform any longer. He also never won UEFA Champion League after his transferring to Real Madrid was after their three time UEFA Champion League Winners. In his lately career, He began being unprofessional behavior, allowed himself being overweight, his speed gradually slow, and not be the remainder of the great footballer anymore.

2. Gerd Muller

Individual Achievement

7 Times Bundesliga Top Scorer
2 Times German Footballer of The Year (1967, 1969)
2 Times European Golden Shoe (1970, 1972)
2 Time World League Top Scorer (1970, 1972)
2 Times Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year (1969, 1973)
4 Times European Cup Top Scorer (1973, 1974, 1975, 1977)
1970 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe And All-Stars Team
1970 European Footballer of The Year
1972 European Championship Top Scoer
1972 European Championship Team of The Tournament
1972 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
All-Time Bundesliga Top Scorer
All-Time Germany Top Scorer
2000 World Football's Greatest Goalscorer of All Time

Skills: Position A+, Shot A-, Aerial B, Speed C, Agile B-, Strong C+, Tech B-
Performance : Domestic Club A+, International Club A+, National Team A+
Total Skill: A,Total Performance: A+

“Der Bomber” Gerd Muller is the greatest goalscorer in history of the game. He was the predominant center forward of the early 1970s. Deceptively quick and able to shoot with little waste motion. Muller was a nightmare for opposing goalkeepers, was the forerunner, whom given the slightest chance, could often find a way to put the ball in the goal that cluded other strikers’ abilities. He was short, squat, awkward-looking and not notably fast; he never fit the conventional idea of a great footballer, but he had lethal acceleration over short distances, a remarkable aerial game, and uncanny goalscoring instincts. His short legs gave him a strangely low center of gravity, so he could turn quickly and with perfect balance in spaces and at speeds that would cause other players to fall over. He also had a knack of scoring in unlikely situations." There are seven seasons Muller could score more than 1.00 goal per game in average. Muller was rated by kicker just 4.5 world-class seasons and 5.5 international-class seasons. According to German footballer of the year voting, he was German forward of the year for six times. That is argued that due to his too easy making score style of play not a wonderful scorer. He was also voted 5th the best player in history of World Cup by France Football.

1. Eusebio

Individual Achievement

7 Times Portuguese Liga Top Scorer
2 Times Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year (1962, 1966)
1965 European Footballer of The Year
1966 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe, Bronze Ball And All-Stars Team
3 Times European Cup Top Scorer (1965, 1966, 1968)
2 Times European Golden Shoe (1968, 1973)
2 Times World League Top Scorer (1968, 1973)
2 Times Portuguese Athletic of The Year (1970, 1973)
Benfica Greatest Player Ever And All-Time Top Scorer
Portuguese League Greatest Player Ever
UEFA Jubilee Award (Portugal)
IFFHS Portugal Player of The Century

Skills: Position B+, Shot A, Aerial C+, Speed B+, Agile B-, Strong B, Tech B
Performance : Domestic Club A+, International Club A+, National Team A+

Total Skill: A ,Total Performance: A+

“The Black Tiger of Mozambique” Eusebio Ferreira Da Silva is the greatest footballer ever to born in the Africa Continent and the greatest player ever to play for Portugal. He was a striker in the center-forward mold. Eusebio was the possessor of one of the most fearsome shots to have graced the planet, powerful stamina and strength, great in air, and also had sublime dribbling and passing skills. Eusebio was born and played football in Mozambique until 18 year olds before moved to play in Portugal, and decided to transfer his race to be Portugal in next year. He played for Benfica in their golden era alongside his famous teammate like Mario Coluna, reached European Cup final for five times, and helped Portugal to win the only medal in their World Cup history. In 1966, He regrettably lost Bobby Charlton just a point to win Ballon d’Or. Aside from years he won medal in this award, He was also voted in top five for three times. He was voted 9th and 10th the greatest footballer of the century BY IFFHS and World Soccer, respectively, and was voted 7th by UEFA Jubilee poll.

__________________________________________________________

Honourable Mention

Paolo Rossi

Skills: Position A, Shot B, Aerial B-, Speed C+, Agile B-, Strong C-, Tech C+
Total Skill: B-

Paolo Rossi is the famous Italian striker from The 1982 FIFA World Cup that he won every three important awards. He was an average national level footballer in his club career. It was partly because of his injury after his great years for Vicenza. He was out of games for fully two seasons. On the other hand, He was a really big tournament player, won the ball in both World Cup especially his opportunism came at the best time for Italy, and he was the most important role led Italy won World Cup in 1982. His best game was match against Brazil that he did hat-trick. He was a prototype speedy center-forward, able to penetrate at will and deadly in front of goal, and was regarded as one of the greatest strikers in penalty box in his prime. In his last three seasons in Italian Series A, He scored less than five goals in league and finally decided to retire at age just 31 year olds. He is named in 11th FIFA World Cup Best player of all-time by France Football.

Tommy Lawton

Skills: Position A-, Shot A-, Aerial A-, Speed C+, Agile C+, Strong B-, Tech C+
Total Skill: B-

Tommy Lawton is one of the most talent strikers in history of British football, the owner of arguably the most distinctive head of hair during the war-time. In his prime, had everything required of a centre-forward. A terrific shot with either of foot, strength and accuracy with his head, the perfect physique, wonderful positional sense and a quickness off the mark that was unexpected in one of his build. Lawton started being a world-class striker since he was only 19 year olds, immediately won English league top scorer consecutive two years. Regrettably, World War II departed his career for six years and it stopped his story to become legend of the world. Nevertheless, At his peak in the late 1940s, Lawton was the central figure in the most celebrated of all England forward lines: Matthews, Mannion, Mortensen and Finney supplied the chances, but Lawton was the undisputed leader, the fulcrum, of the attack. ‘The lightest mover of any big man who played football,' said Alex James.

__________________________________________________________

Statistics For Top 50

By Nations

Brazil : 7
Germany : 5
England : 5
Hungary : 5
Italy : 4
Argentina : 3
Austria : 2
France : 2
Netherlands : 2
Portugal : 2
Spain : 2
Scotland : 2
Uruguay : 1
Mexico : 1
Paraguay : 1
Cameroon : 1
Sweden : 1
Soviet Union : 1
Poland : 1
Ecuador : 1
Wales : 1
Liberia : 1

By Decade

1910s : 2
1920s : 3
1930s : 5
1940s : 7
1950s : 4
1960s : 7
1970s : 5
1980s : 6
1990s : 7
2000s : 5

_________________________________________________________

CLASSIFICATION

Class : Crown

None

Class : King Gold

None

Class : King Silver

Eusebio, Gerd Muller, Ronaldo

Class : King Bronze

Marco Van Basten, Romario

Class : Queen Gold

Sandor Kocsis, Uwe Seeler, Gunnar Nordahl, Josef Bican, Arsenio Erico, Gabriel Batistuta, Jimmy Greaves, Dixie Dean

Class : Queen Silver

Just Fontaine, Telmo Zarra, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Ferenc Deak, Alberto Spencer, Andrej Shevchenko, Jurgen Klinsmann, Denis Law, Christian Vieri, Hugo Sanchez, Jean-Pierre Papin, Luigi Riva, Ademir De Menezes, Silvio Piola, Fernando Peyroteo, Imre Schlosser, Luis Artime, Gary Lineker, Arthur Friedenriech

Class : Queen Bronze

Mario Kempes, Wlodzimierz Lubanski, Careca, Isidro Langara, Alan Shearer, Gyula Zsengeller, Jimmy Mcgrory, Rudi Voller, Heleno De Freitas, Jozsef Takacs, Samuel Eto'o, Jose Altafini, Franz Binder, Tommy Lawton (Honourable Mention), David Villa, Pedro Petrone, Ian Rush, Paolo Rossi (Honourable Mention)

Substitution Group : Supreme-Class

Hernan Crespo : Argentina/ Late 90s to early 2000s
Alfred Schaffer : Hungary/ 10s to Early 20s
David Trezeguet : France/ 2000s
Davor Suker : Croatia/ 90's
Didier Drogba : Ivory Coast/2000s
Nat Lofthouse : England/ Lately 40’s to 50’s
Teodoro Fernandez : Peru/ 30's
Hans Krankl : Austria/ 70's to early 80's

Substitution Group : Ordinary-Class

Reinaldo : Brazil/ Late 70's
Michael Owen : England/2000s
Fernando Morena : Uruguay/ 70’s
Hughie Gallagher : Scotland/ 20’s
Bernabe Ferreyra : Argentina/ 30’s
Raymond Braine : Belgium/ 30’s
Lajos Tichy : Hungary/ 60's

Styg · Dec 19, 2009

Oof, now you're in for a fight with Dagoods, picking Müller over Ronaldo

Kajoo · Dec 19, 2009

great list Dearman :thumbsup:

you have mistake by Peyroteo´s major club btw

Andy Christ · Dec 19, 2009

Top 10 seems really good, from there on it's kind of random but I guess it is nearly impossible to objectively compare players from very different time periods and leagues. Although IMO there are too many old timers in high positions just because of their sick goals per game ratio which was much easier to achieve in the first half of the century. And maybe Greaves, Dean and Law should be somewhat higher. Also Friedenreich seems too low compared to other pre-WWII guys high up the list.

And one player who you have forgotten completely is Paulino Alcántara, Barcelona's all-time top scorer.

Bier · Dec 19, 2009

Great work, Dearman! :thumbsup:
Where did you take the figures (professional score record) from?
In a special edition of the newspaper 'Record' about Eusébio they list the following: 801 games and 757 goals (in: Dias, Rui: O Rei. Lisboa: Revista Record (p.80) ). No worries though, these figures always differ.

I regard Gerd Müller as slightly overrated, he was not a very special footballer, just had a certain instinct to be in the right place at the right right time. Would rank him 3rd and his two followers above. Whatever, it's all pretty much one level among the top ten anyway, I reckon.

I'm particularly glad to see Peyroteo and "Pepi" Bican (Slavia's "goalscoringsuperstarhero"

) in your list's top flight. :star:

Andy Christ said:
And one player who you have forgotten completely is Paulino Alcántara, Barcelona's all-time top scorer.

Dito! :nervous:
Didn't even notice it myself at first but I back the claim.

Dearman · Dec 19, 2009

Even arthur friedenreich scored more than 1000 goals. Most of it seems unofficial games, and he scored too few in national level that tell something that he may not so good in high standard of competition. Also, If you know his weight when he was a player, You will know he is a far too slim as athletic.

Thanks for mention about Alcatanra.

Regarding states of Eusebio, I include only offical games that I ever got it from wikipedia but it has already disappeared.

It is very hard to find the best number one in this thread. I surely realize Muller limited in overall skills but he was the most consistency goalscorer. Ronaldo was not only get big injury for two years but also fail his professional behavior in the late career as well. So, His consistency lost Muller by far. Eusebio scored for Portugal just 0.64 in average. This is not good enough to bring him as number one as well.

Bier · Dec 19, 2009

Dearman said:
Eusebio scored for Portugal just 0.64 in average. This is not good enough to bring him as number one as well.

Yes, but one has to regard that this was not the Portugal we know today. Portugal in the 60s and 70s was far from being considered a superpower or first tier-country in world football. The 1966 World Cup was the only major tournament Portugal qualified for until 1984.

They lost to Luxembourg (2:4 in 1961) for example, when they had just started to field young Eusébio.
Gerd Müller had an undeniably easier task to score tons of goals in a dominationg side in World Football, as the West German team in the 70s were. West Germany always qualified for international tournaments, reached the final in most of them and never lost a qualifying tie. Thus, given Müller surely played in a much better team then Eusébio did, who knows whether Müller would've scored as much as the Pantera Negra for Portugal at all, or, vice versa, whether Eusébio would have scored more then Müller for Germany.

Grinch · Dec 19, 2009

Ronaldo better than Romario? That's just wrong.

Dagoods · Dec 19, 2009

At least he got that part right

Dagoods · Dec 19, 2009

WTF??????????!!!

Muller ahead of RONALDO?

Even present RONALDO has more ability than prime Muller ever did!!!
btw great list too!

1. RONALDO

2. VAN BASTEN
3. ROMARIO

Dagoods · Dec 19, 2009

PS - I agree with you...RONALDO doesn't deserve to be
categorized under "CROWN"

You should make a new category "platinum crown" just for him

Dagoods · Dec 19, 2009

and where's Lolo Fernandez?!!!!

Kajoo · Dec 19, 2009

still dead :moan:

Stephan · Dec 19, 2009

Dearman said:
18. Andrei Shevchenko

Date Of Birth : 29 September 1976
Nation : Ukraine
Height : 183 cm
Major Club : Stade De Reims
Caps : 92 Games (43 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 2006 (5 Games with 2 Goal)
Professional Score Record : 312 Goals/ 582 Games
Club Honours : 5 Times Ukrainian League
1 Time Italian Series A
3 Times Ukrainian Cup
1 Time Copa Italia
1 Time FA Cup
1 Time English League Cup
2003 UEFA Champion League Winner
2005 UEFA Champion League Runner-Up
International Honours : 1958 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 6 Times Ukrainian Footballer of The Year
1 Time Ukrainian League Top Scorer
1999 UEFA Champion League Best Forward
2 Time Italian Series A Top Scorer
2000 Italian Series A Foreign Footballer of The Year
3 Times UEFA Champion League Top Scorer (1991, 2001, 2006)
2 Times Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year (1999, 2000)
2004 European Footballer of The Year
2004 Bronze Ball FIFA World Player of The Year
3 Times Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year (1999, 2000, 2004)
2 Times UEFA Team of The Year (2004, 2005)
2005 FIFPro World XI
AC Milan All-Time Top Scorer
Ukraine All-time Top Scorer

Andrei Shevchenko is the greatest Ukrainian footballer of all-time, is believed the better player than Oleg Blokhin by many experts. He started a prominent player with his impressive performance for Dinamo Kiev especially in UEFA Champion League 1999. That led AC Milan to buy him. During his seven seasons in Italy, He established himself as the best striker in the league, and scored more than 25 goals per season five times. He is a all-round striker, possesses high acceleration, considerable dribbling, intelligent positional play and deadly strike in both foots. Moreover, His stamina and header-shooting are in the good criteria. On the other hand, He failed to be an important role for Chelsea after he moved from AC Milan to find the new challenge at age of 30 year olds with the large number of fees. That was because of being unable to adapt with English style of game that seems too fast for him.

What?

Dearman · Dec 19, 2009

Bier;

I just wonder you are Portuguese or Spanish or a mixer.

Bier · Dec 19, 2009

None of the mentioned, I refuse to fit in the conventional patterns of identity, because I consider them evermore outdated in hybrid societies. :thumbsup:

Why do you ask? Because I support Benfica and Barcelona?

Dearman · Dec 19, 2009

Because you always ask for player from Spain or Portugal.

So you are German and it is oddly enough you are not focus in German players.

Bier · Dec 19, 2009

Dearman said:
So you are German and it is oddly enough you are not focus in German players.

What's odd about it?
It's my choice.

I see Italy, Argentina and Yugoslavia listed among your favourite teams and your location is Thailand. That's fine with me, but please don't throw bricks when you live in a glass house! :stuckup:

What about getting back to our initial debate? Eusébio having played in a far poorer national team than Müller did and, thus, not gathering a comparable goal ratio.

PetritH · Dec 19, 2009

Where's Raul ?

Kajoo · Dec 19, 2009

#31

http://www.xtratime.org/forum/showthread.php?t=247179

Grinch · Dec 19, 2009

Ademir Menezes really should be in there somewhere.

Grinch · Dec 19, 2009

I must've missed that. The problem is that Ademir was a striker.

Kajoo · Dec 19, 2009

I like adding Schlosser, Bloomer, Bican, Dean, Deak, Sporel, Nielsen, Langara and Binder :thumbsup: they were absolute legends of this game in first half of 20th century.

Ryfa · Dec 19, 2009

Shouldn't David Villa and Ibrahimovic be included in the active strikers list?

Dearman · Dec 20, 2009

I know Ademir played as center-forward but his case might be the same as Henry and Weah. Henry played as top striker for Arsenal but his style of play was more forward. Weah was also a top striker for Milan but he never great as finisher. The same as Ademir, He start playing as left-winger. As I saw him played a little bit in WC1950. His style was a skillful-running-forward not good as approacher in penalty box although he was a good finisher.

645 · Dec 20, 2009

Careca could be much higher on the list.

Some players above him are a bit ridiculous.

Dearman · Dec 20, 2009

Careca's consistency was not quite long enough to raise him up

645 · Dec 20, 2009

Common Dearman,

Made super list and all that... Careca played top football for 13 years... 78 to 91!

Dagoods · Dec 20, 2009

Seriously

RONALDO should rank # 1

Dearman · Dec 21, 2009

Thanks for mention about Careca, I first though too much about his career in Japan but it was his late career only.

Careca scored 7 goals in 9 World Cup games and also scored almost 0.5 in average goal per game for Napoli although that era was very hard to score that many. Only Van Basten could score more than him. So, I have raised him from 38th to 33th.

645 · Jan 9, 2010

He went down with Maradona. When he went to Japan, he had lost it pyshicallly and mentaly, such that he walked off teh Brazilian NT in 93, as he din´t have the motivation to play any international football.... but the man was a monster in his hey day.

Dae · Dec 21, 2009

Paolo Rossi was good for two weeks in the summer of 1982. He never played that well again. Might as well have Schillaci on the list.

Nice list, tho. Good nod to Alberto Spencer. And yeah, Careca could have been ranked higher. I guess another victim of never winning a World Cup. Brazilians probably get hit with that more than anyone. Guess tha is the price for winning it so many times.

Dearman · Dec 21, 2009

Paolo Rossi is a special case. He was average striker in club level but he was very remarkable in World Cup 1978 and 1982 as well. His greatness was record in history of football and it is hard to exclude him.

Schillachi was inferior than rossi in club level. He was even not a starter for majority of his career.

621380 · Mar 28, 2010

he was very remarkable 1978???

italy has reached position 4 in worldcup 1978 and rossi had 3 goals and 2 assists in 7 games..

only wondering..

brasileiro · Dec 22, 2009

Great list!
I have watched some of Gerd Muller games and he was sure a goal machine. In terms of talent, I don't think he was as great as guys like Romario (the best striker ever IMO), Ronaldo and Van Basten, so he would not top my list. But I can see Gerd Muller sure has the career titles and awards to ranked so high.

Dearman · Dec 23, 2009

Because this thread was emphasized in definition of striker. Gerd Muller definitely won number one, but he was ranked lower Ronaldo as the greatest footballers of all-time thread due to yhe different criteria.

The Greatest Strikers of All-Time

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