Best Center Forwards in the World 2024: In football, the center forward is usually the main focus of a team’s attack. These players have a mix of strength, skill, and smarts that help them control the penalty area and score goals easily.
In the past, there were some great center forwards who were excellent at scoring, holding the ball, and setting up their teammates. They are remembered as some of the best in football history.
How We Decide Who The Best Center Forwards In The World Are?
Deciding who the best center forwards in the world are involves looking at several key factors:
- Goals Per Game: 60%
- Efficiency: 30%
- Assists: 30%
Best Center Forwards in the World 2024
Let’s discuss the world’s top center forwards, highlighting their amazing talents and their impact on the game.
25. Antoine Griezmann
- Date of Birth: 21 March 1991
- Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Antoine Griezmann is one of the top center forwards in the world. He’s known for his versatility, smart play, and attacking skills.
Griezmann started his career at Real Sociedad and later moved to Atlético Madrid, where he won several trophies and became their all-time top scorer. He also played for Barcelona, winning a Copa del Rey, before returning to Atlético.
Internationally, Griezmann has been a key player for France, winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup and earning many individual honors. In the 2023/24 season, he scored 24 goals and provided 8 assists in 48 games.
24. Richarlison
- Date of Birth: May 10, 1997
- Height: 1,84 m
According to Everton’s manager Ancelotti, Richarlison is an excellent player who can play multiple roles and works hard during games. Ancelotti praised his strength, speed, and goal-scoring ability.
Richarlison started his career with América Mineiro in 2015, moving to Fluminense, where he played 67 matches and scored 19 goals. After stints with Watford and Everton, he joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2022.
In the 2023/24 season, Richarlison played 31 games for Tottenham, scoring 12 goals and providing 4 assists. He’s known for his speed, ball control, and ability to score, making him a top all-around player.
23. Marcus Thuram
- Date of Birth: Aug 6, 1997
- Height: 1,92 m
Marcus Thuram is a talented center-forward known for his standout performances. Many consider him one of the top center-forwards in the world right now.
He started his career at Sochaux in 2015, then moved to Guingamp in 2017, and later played for Borussia Mönchengladbach. In 2023, he joined Inter Milan as a free agent and won Serie A in his first season.
In the 2023/24 season, Thuram played 46 games for Inter Milan, scoring 15 goals and providing 16 assists.
22. Ollie Watkins
- Date of Birth: Dec 30, 1995
- Height: 1,80 m
Ollie Watkins is a top center-forward with a strong career, particularly with Aston Villa. The club paid £28 million to sign him in 2020, their highest transfer fee ever.
In the 2023/24 season, Watkins played 53 games for Aston Villa, scoring 27 goals and providing 13 assists.
21. Amine Gouiri
- Date of Birth: Feb 16, 2000
- Height: 1,81 m
Amine Gouiri is a center-forward for Stade Rennais FC, with a lot of potential. Many believe he will continue to grow and become an exceptional player.
In the 2023/24 season, Gouiri played 41 games, scored 11 goals, and provided 3 assists. He’s considered one of the most promising young talents in soccer.
20. Rasmus Højlund
- Date of Birth: Feb 4, 2003
- Height: 1,91 m
Rasmus Højlund is a Danish center-forward for Atalanta BC and is considered one of the best in the world.
He started at Copenhagen’s youth academy and made his first-team debut at 17. After scoring five goals in 32 games for Copenhagen, he moved to Sturm Graz in January 2022, and later joined Atalanta for €17 million.
Højlund has represented Denmark at youth levels from under-16 to under-21 and made his senior debut in September 2022.
In the 2023/24 season, he played 43 games for Atalanta, scored 16 goals, and provided 2 assists.
19. Ivan Toney
- Date of Birth: Mar 16, 1996
- Height: 1,85 m
Ivan Toney is an English center-forward for Brentford in the Premier League. He has had a strong career, especially notable during the 2020/2021 season.
In the 2023/24 season, Toney played 17 games for Brentford, scoring 4 goals and providing 2 assists.
18. Kolo Muani
- Date of Birth: 5 December 1998
- Height: 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Kolo Muani is one of the top center-forwards in the world. He started his career at Nantes, scoring 23 goals in 87 games and winning the Coupe de France.
In 2022, he moved to Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer, where he scored 26 goals in 50 matches. He then returned to France with Paris Saint-Germain in an €80 million deal.
Muani has represented France at under-21 and Olympic levels and made his senior debut in September 2022. He was part of the France squad that finished as runners-up at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In the 2023/24 season, Muani played 44 games, scored 12 goals, and provided 6 assists.
17. Viktor Gyökeres
- Date of Birth: 4 June 1998
- Height: 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Viktor Gyökeres is one of the top center-forwards in the world. He began his career with Brommapojkarna in 2015 and moved to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018. After loan spells at St. Pauli, Swansea City, and Coventry City, he joined Coventry permanently in 2021.
In 2023, he signed with Sporting CP for a club-record €20 million and helped them win the league title, scoring 29 goals in 33 Primeira Liga games to win the Bola de Prata.
Gyökeres has represented Sweden at youth levels and was the top scorer at the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He made his senior debut in 2019.
In the 2023/24 season, Gyökeres played 50 games, scoring 43 goals and providing 15 assists.
16. Jonathan David
- Date of Birth: Jan 14, 2000
- Height: 1,75 m
Jonathan David is a Canadian striker known for his goal-scoring ability, which began at age 18 with Gent. He scored 12, 18, 13, and 15 goals in his first four seasons. His goals helped Lille win the Ligue 1 title in his first season in France. Over the last two years, he has been one of the top strikers in the world.
In the 2023/24 season, David excelled with 26 goals and 4 assists in 26 league games for Lille. He’s a versatile striker who uses both feet well and plays in various positions. His standout performances have attracted interest from top clubs for a possible transfer.
15. Gonçalo Ramos
- Date of Birth: Jun 20, 2001
- Height: 1,85 m
Gonçalo Ramos is a promising young center-forward from Portugal who plays for PSG in Ligue 1. He began his career with Benfica’s youth academy and moved up to the first team in 2020. Ramos was key to Benfica’s league title win in the 2022–23 season.
In 2023, he joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan, later making the move permanent for €65 million. In the 2023/24 season, Ramos played 40 matches for PSG, scoring 14 goals and providing 2 assists, playing a crucial role in the team’s success.
14. Darwin Núñez
- Date of Birth: Jun 24, 1999
- Height: 1,87 m
Liverpool signed a new Uruguayan player, Darwin Núñez, to replace Sadio Mane, who moved to Bayern Munich. Although Núñez hasn’t fully hit his stride yet, he scored a memorable goal by kicking the ball backward in his first game of the season against Fulham.
Núñez started at Peñarol and moved to Almería in 2019 for a record fee. Benfica signed him in 2020 for €24 million, where he won the Bola de Prata as the top scorer in the Primeira Liga with 26 goals in 28 games and was named Player of the Year. Liverpool bought him in 2022 for €75 million.
He made his senior debut for Uruguay in 2019 and has since played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Copa América. In the 2023/24 season, Núñez played 54 matches for Liverpool, scoring 18 goals and providing 13 assists. He’s young but shows great promise and potential.
13. Dusan Vlahovic
- Date of Birth: Jan 28, 2000
- Height: 1,90 m
When Dusan Vlahovic joined Juventus in January, fans were excited because of his impressive goal-scoring record with Fiorentina. At just 24 years old, he has the potential to become a top player and possibly win the Ballon d’Or.
In the 2023/24 season, Vlahovic played 38 league matches for Juventus, scoring 18 goals and providing 3 assists. His strong performances have raised hopes that he could become one of the best young center-forwards in the world.
12. Romelu Lukaku
- Date of Birth: May 13, 1993
- Height: 1,91 m
Romelu Lukaku returned to Chelsea in 2021 for a hefty £100m transfer fee, but he struggled under Thomas Tuchel, despite his impressive form at Inter Milan. He faced criticism during his time at Manchester United but has performed well in England recently.
In the 2023/24 season, Lukaku played 47 games for Inter Milan, scoring 21 goals and providing 4 assists. He’s also a key player for Belgium, with 85 goals in 119 games.
11. Cristiano Ronaldo
- Date of Birth: Feb 5, 1985
- Height: 1,87 m
Cristiano Ronaldo, nearly 39 years old, had an impressive season with Al Nassr, even though they didn’t win a major league title. Previously, in the 2020/21 season with Juventus, he was the top scorer in the league with 29 goals in 33 games. In the 2022/23 season, he scored 17 goals in all competitions.
Despite some debate about his ranking among the best center-forwards, Ronaldo’s performance at his age is remarkable. In the 2023/24 season, he played 45 games, scoring 44 goals and providing 3 assists. His continued excellence at almost 39 is unprecedented in football history.
10. Karim Benzema
- Date of Birth: Dec 19, 1987
- Height: 1,85 m
Karim Benzema was a key player for Real Madrid in the 2022/23 season, especially after Cristiano Ronaldo left. Now at Al-Ittihad Club in Saudi Arabia, Benzema continues to shine despite being 35 years old.
In the 2023/24 season, he scored 13 goals across all competitions, showcasing his ongoing impact. Benzema has long been regarded as one of the best goal-scorers in the world. Even as he gets older, he remains a crucial player, helping his new team perform well.
9. Robert Lewandowski
- Date of Birth: Aug 21, 1988
- Height: 1,85 m
Robert Lewandowski is widely regarded as one of the best center-forwards in the world. In the 2023/24 season, he scored 26 goals in 49 games for Barcelona.
Lewandowski began his career in Polish football, where he was the top scorer in the third and second tiers before moving to Lech Poznań, winning the Ekstraklasa title. He then achieved success with Borussia Dortmund, winning two Bundesliga titles and reaching the 2013 UEFA Champions League final. At Bayern Munich, he won the Bundesliga every season and was crucial in their 2019–20 Champions League triumph, becoming the top scorer in all competitions.
In 2022, he joined Barcelona and made an immediate impact by winning the Supercopa de España, La Liga, and the Pichichi Trophy. His impressive performances have earned him widespread admiration as one of the greatest strikers in football history.
8. Alexander Isak
- Date of Birth: 21 September 1999
- Height: 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Alexander Isak is considered one of the best center-forwards in the world. He started his professional career with AIK in 2016 and played for Borussia Dortmund and Willem II before joining Real Sociedad in 2019. In 2022, he moved to Newcastle United for a club record fee.
Isak has been a full Swedish international since 2017, earning over 40 caps and representing Sweden at UEFA Euro 2020. He is the youngest-ever goalscorer for both AIK and the Swedish national team.
In the 2023/24 season, Isak played 40 games, scoring 25 goals and providing 2 assists.
7. Gabriel Jesus
- Date of Birth: 3 April 1997
- Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Gabriel Jesus is one of the top center-forwards in the world. He joined Manchester City in January 2017 for £27 million, winning four Premier League titles, three EFL Cups, and an FA Cup. In July 2022, he transferred to Arsenal for £45 million.
Jesus has represented Brazil at various levels, including winning an Olympic gold medal in 2016 and participating in the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 2022. He also won the Copa América in 2019.
In the 2023/24 season, Jesus played 36 games, scoring 8 goals and providing 8 assists.
6. Julián Álvarez
- Date of Birth: Jan 31, 2000
- Height: 1,70 m
Julian Alvarez is a rising star in soccer, known for his impressive performances at a young age. He began his career at River Plate, where he made a significant impact, winning the Copa Argentina, Copa Libertadores, and Argentine Primera División. Alvarez was named the South American Footballer of the Year in 2021, showcasing his talent.
In 2022, Alvarez joined Manchester City and played a crucial role in their treble-winning season, which included the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League. In the 2023/24 season, he continued his outstanding form, scoring 54 goals and providing 19 assists in 13 games. This remarkable performance has cemented his reputation as a top player and suggests a bright future ahead.
Alvarez has also been an integral part of Argentina’s national teams, contributing to their victories in the 2021 Copa América, 2022 FIFA World Cup, and 2024 Copa América. His potential and skill make him one of the most promising players in the world.
5. Victor Osimhen
- Date of Birth: Dec 29, 1998
- Height: 1,86 m
Victor Osimhen is indeed a highly skilled center-forward and has made significant strides in his career. Napoli invested heavily in him in 2020, and while he may not have always reached the goal-scoring heights anticipated, his impact on the team has been substantial.
His impressive performances earned him notable accolades, including an eighth-place finish in the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony and the title of African Footballer of the Year at the 2023 CAF Awards. This recognition underscores his talent and the growing respect for him in the global football scene.
In the 2023/24 season, Osimhen demonstrated his quality with 17 goals in 32 games for Napoli and contributed 4 assists. His speed, ability to break through defenses, and overall play make him a significant threat on the field. His ongoing development suggests he has the potential to be among the best strikers in the world in the near future.
4. Harry Kane
- Date of Birth: Jul 28, 1993
- Height: 1,88 m
Kane is a top soccer player and is ranked 4th best center-forward in the world on our list. He’s great at both scoring goals and providing assists.
Harry Kane moved to Bayern Munich in a record deal worth €100 million plus €10 million in bonuses, making him the most expensive signing in Bundesliga history. The deal was finalized on August 10, and Kane signed the next day.
He had an outstanding season with Bayern Munich, scoring the most goals in the Bundesliga.
In the 2023/2024 season, Kane played 45 games for Bayern Munich, scored 44 goals, and provided 12 assists. He was the top scorer and assist provider in the Bundesliga.
3. Kylian Mbappé
- Date of Birth: Dec 20, 1998
- Height: 1,78 m
Kylian Mbappé is best known as a winger, but he recently played as a center forward due to some teammates being unavailable. He has played this role before but has been doing it more often lately.
In the 2023/2024 season, Mbappé appeared in 48 league games for Paris Saint-Germain, scoring 44 goals and providing 10 assists. He also scored 10 goals in 7 games for the France national team at the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Mbappé’s success in this position has led him to be considered one of the best center forwards in the world.
Mbappé was presented as a new Real Madrid player at the Santiago Bernabéu, where 80,000 fans attended, matching the crowd size at Cristiano Ronaldo’s unveiling in 2009.
2. Erling Haaland
- Date of Birth: Jul 21, 2000
- Height: 1,95 m
Erling Haaland is a top footballer known for his incredible goal-scoring ability. He plays for Manchester City and is ranked 2nd among the best center forwards in the world.
Haaland set records in his debut Premier League season, scoring 36 goals. He moved from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City in 2022 for €60 million and was crucial in their treble-winning season.
In the 2023/2024 season, Haaland scored 45 goals and provided 38 assists in the Premier League and 6 goals in the UEFA Champions League.
1. Lautaro Martínez
- Date of Birth: Aug 22, 1997
- Height: 1,74 m
Lautaro Martínez, at 25 years old, is one of the best center forwards. He is known for his speed and powerful shots. He’s catching the eye of many Premier League clubs.
He joined Inter Milan in 2018, where he won two league titles, two Coppa Italias, and reached the finals of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League.
In the 2023/24 season, Martínez scored 27 goals and provided 7 assists in 44 games for Inter Milan. He was the top scorer at the 2024 Copa América and played a key role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win.