The 15 best forwards in the world football rankings (2025)

Every team wants world-class centers to lead their top spot, and there is arguably a lack of top forwards in today’s game compared to previous generations.

Regular goals are a priceless property, and all clubs want to get a proven finisher in their squad, but they can come at a huge price. That being said, there are still many elite forwards in their game, but who is the ninth best number today?

Ranking factors

To help rank forwards in order, we considered the following criteria:

• Current Format – How has the player performed in the past few months

• Importance to their team-their influence on team performance

• Characters – How unique their skills

• Reputation – What others think of them

The best forward in the world now: in the picture

15

Matheus Cunha

Wolf and Brazil

It looks like Matheus Cunha is entering a major year of his career and will likely transfer it to Man Utd this summer.

The Brazilian has reached double digits in Premier League goals over the past two seasons to help keep the wolf in the best flight, and his current 2024/25 Statistics Bureau is by far the best goal score of his career.

Ruben Amorim calls Cunha “quality” and we will soon see the two working together at Old Trafford.

14

Cristiano Ronaldo

Al Nassr and Portugal

Arguably, Cristiano Ronaldo still performed well at the age of 40, and since he was 30, Cristiano Ronaldo has still performed strongly, actually scoring more goals than before.

He has been trading in Al NASSR in Saudi Arabia since 2023 and continues to find the back of the network regularly.

Ronaldo now has over 900 career goals for clubs and countryside, and there is no sign of slowing down.

13

Omar Marmoush

Manchester City and Egypt

After starring Eintracht Frankfurt, Omar Marmoush made a major move to Man City in January 2025, and he continued to find the back of the network in England.

Pep Guardiola, who has already had a Premier League hat trick after signing Marmoush for Manchester City, called Egypt International International the “bundesliga best player”.

12

Benjamin Sesco

RB Leipzig and Slovenia

Towering forward Benjamin Sesko will soon be away from the Red Bull group in recent years, starring RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig in recent years.

Sesko, known as the “new Erling Haaland”, has been associated with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in recent months.

His Transfermarkt value continues to grow, with a career-high of €65 million today, so the club may be wise to sign the 21-year-old instead of later.

11

Marcus Thuram

Inter Milan and France

Marcus Thuram recently scored his fastest goal in the Champions League semifinal, which was his clever shot against Barcelona.

The goal highlights the quality of Thuram, now his Transframmarkt is worth €75 million, a figure that has more than doubled since moving to Milan from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2023.

The French striker was the best shooting season of his career in 2024/25, and at the age of 27 he was at the top of the championship.

10

Hugo ekitike

Eintracht Frankfurt and France

Hugo Ekitike is becoming a person in need after impressing Eintracht Frankfurt with numerous European giants signing a new striker.

The 22-year-old moved to Frankfurt permanently from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 and has since enjoyed his best season ever before scoring.

PSG did a great job without Ekitike, but, they would certainly kick out their own sales “Next Mbappe” and the likes of Man Utd and Liverpool have wanted it now.

9

Victor Osimhen

Galatasaray and Nigeria

Galatasaray signed the gold medal last summer with Victor Osimhen on loan from Naples, and the Nigerian International continued to do what he did best – goals.

Last summer, Osimhen fell with the Napoli Chiefs, which led to his temporary move to Türkiye in the 2024/25 season, where he is the current Super LIG best scorer.

The 26-year-old continues to turn to the Premier League with Chelsea, and if he does move to Stamford Bridge, the Blues will be awarded “one of the best centers in the world”.

8

Julian Alvarez

Atletico Madrid and Argentina

Julian Alvarez has been a researcher of the human city of Erling Haaland, but has become a leading figure under the leadership of Simeone after leaving Atletico Madrid in 2024.

The Argentinian has been the top La Liga score for the athletics on the 24/25 campaign and shows why he was called “Extraordinary” by Guardiola before leaving Manchester City.

Manchester City replaced Alvarez with Mamos, but the former is now priced at a Transfermarkt of up to 90 million euros.

7

Lautaro Martinez

Inter Milan and Argentina

Alvarez’s international teammate Lautaro Martinez is on the next roster, with Inter Milan being the regular source of goals for the Serie A Giants since 2018.

In fact, Martinez scored double digits in all eight of Italy’s campaigns, currently exceeding 150 goals in all matches in Milan.

Now, Martinez, 27, appears to be in his career, and even Lionel Messi supports him in winning last year’s Ballon d’OR.

6

Viktor Gyokeres

Sports CP and Sweden

Many wouldn’t expect Viktor Gyokeres to be one of the best strikers in the world at Champion Coventry City a few years ago.

However, after playing the Sporting CP on the European stage, the Swedish international should now be regarded as the elite among the elite.

Gyokeres has earned 43 times in his debut season in Portugal and has proven that he is not a season miracle as he found more than 50 times in 24/25. The reunion with Man UTD’s Ruben Amorim has been defended and statistics show he is ready for the Premier League.