Top 10 Greatest Football Strikers in the World in the Last 30 Years

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, born on September 18, 1976, is a Brazilian entrepreneur, chairman of Real Valladolid football club, and a retired professional footballer who played as a forward. Nicknamed O Fenômeno ('The Phenomenon'), he is considered one of the greatest football players of all time. A versatile forward, Ronaldo had a significant influence on the generation of forwards that followed him. His individual awards include three FIFA World Player of the Year titles and two Ballon d'Or awards.

Ronaldo began his football career at Cruzeiro and moved to PSV in 1994. He joined Barcelona in 1996 for a world-record transfer fee at the time at the age of 20, being named the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1996, becoming the youngest recipient of the award. In 1997, Inter Milan broke the world record fee for Ronaldo, making him the first player since Diego Maradona to break the world transfer record twice. At the age of 21, he won the 1997 Ballon d'Or, becoming the youngest recipient. At the age of 23, Ronaldo had scored over 200 goals for both club and national team, however, after a knee injury and recovery process, he did not play for nearly three years. Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2002 and won the La Liga title in 2002 - 2003. He played for A.C. Milan and Corinthians before retiring in 2011 due to injury.

Individual Honors:

• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1996 (youngest recipient), 1997, 2002.
• European Golden Shoe: 1997, 2002.
• French Onze Mondial Player of the Year: 1997, 2002.
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 1996, 1997, 2002.
• Dutch Eredivisie Top Scorer: 1994-1995
• European Golden Shoe: 1997
• Copa America Best Player: 1997
• Copa America Silver Boot: 1997
• UEFA Best Forward: 1998
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1998
• FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe: 2002
• La Liga Top Scorer: 1996 - 1997, 2003 - 2004
• Golden Foot: 2006

Cristiano Ronaldo was born on February 5, 1985, is a Portuguese professional footballer currently playing as a forward for Manchester United and is the captain of the Portugal national football team. Regarded as the world's greatest player and one of the greatest of all time, Ronaldo has won 5 Ballon d'Or awards and 4 European Golden Shoes. He has won 32 trophies in his career, including 7 domestic league titles, 5 UEFA Champions Leagues, 1 UEFA European Championship, and 1 UEFA Nations League. Ronaldo holds the records for the most appearances, goals, assists, and hat-tricks in the UEFA Champions League. He is one of the few players to have over 1100 appearances and over 800 goals in his career for both club and country.

Cristiano Ronaldo at the age of 18 after winning the FA Cup in his first season, he helped Man Utd win 3 consecutive Premier League titles, along with two UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup titles in 2008, at the age of 23, he won his first Ballon d'Or. In 2009, Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid, where he won 15 trophies, including 2 La Liga titles, 2 Copa del Rey, and 4 UEFA Champions Leagues, becoming the club's all-time leading goalscorer. He won two Ballon d'Or awards in a row in 2013 and 2014, then again in 2016 and 2017. After winning his third consecutive Champions League title in 2018, Ronaldo became the first player to win it five times. In 2018, he joined Juventus in a €100 million deal, where he won two Serie A titles, two Supercoppa Italiana, and one Coppa Italia in three seasons at Juventus.

Individual Honors:

• FIFA Ballon d'Or, UEFA European Golden Shoe: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
• FIFA Player of the Year: 2008, 2016, 2017
• European Golden Shoe: 2007 - 2008, 2010 - 2011, 2013 - 2014, 2014 - 2015
• Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2006 - 2007, 2007 - 2008
• PFA Premier League Player of the Season: 2006 - 2007, 2007 2008
• Premier League Golden Boot: 2007 - 2008
• La Liga Best Player: 2013 - 2014
• Serie A Best Player: 2019, 2020
  

Zlatan Ibrahimović was born on October 3, 1981, is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a forward for AC Milan and the Sweden national team. Ibrahimović is famous for his acrobatic and overhead kicks, powerful long-range shots, technique, and excellent ball control. He is regarded as one of the greatest forwards of all time and one of the most active players in the world, having won 34 trophies in his career. He has scored over 570 goals in his career, including over 500 club goals, and has scored in every decade for the past four decades.

To sign with Juventus before joining domestic rival Inter Milan in 2006, where he won three consecutive Serie A titles. In the summer of 2009, he moved to Barcelona in the world's most expensive transfer. After just one season, he returned to Italy and signed with Inter's Milan rival. Alongside AC Milan, he won the Serie A title in his first season. In 2012, Ibrahimović joined Paris Saint-Germain, leading them to their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years and quickly establishing himself as the top figure in French football dominance. In 4 seasons in France, he won 4 consecutive Ligue 1 titles, was the top scorer in Ligue 1 for 3 seasons, and became PSG's all-time leading scorer at the time. In 2016, he joined Manchester United on a free transfer and won his first European trophy in his debut season. Ibrahimović joined MLS club LA Galaxy in 2018 and re-joined Milan in 2020, winning his fifth Serie A title in 2022.

Individual Honors:

• Ballon d'Or nominations: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
• Golden Foot: 2012
• FIFA Puskás Award: 2013
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2013
  
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2012
• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2013-2014
• UEFA Europa League Season Squad: 2016-2017
• UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2012-2013
• Juventus Player of the Year: 2004-2005
• Serie A Player of the Month: September 2007, December 2008, January 2012, October 2020
• Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year: 2004-2005, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2010-2011, 2011-2012
• Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2010-2011
• Serie A Team of the Year: 2010-2011, 2011-2012
• Serie A Goal of the Year: 2008
  

Thierry Daniel Henry born on August 17, 1977, is a professional football coach from France and a former player who is an assistant coach for the Belgian national team. Regarded as one of the greatest forwards of all time and one of the greatest players in Premier League history. He was honored as the PFA Player of the Year twice, FWA Footballer of the Year three times, and named in the PFA Team of the Year six times in a row. He was also included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI once and the UEFA Team of the Year five times. He is one of the most praised footballers of the 2000s. Henry was one of the first players inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.

Henry signed for Arsenal for £11 million in 1999. Under the long-time guidance and coaching of Arsène Wenger, Henry became Arsenal's all-time leading scorer. The top scorer with 228 goals across all competitions. He won a record four Premier League Golden Boots, two FA Cups, and two Premier League titles with the club, including one in the unbeaten season. Henry spent his last two seasons with Arsenal as the club's captain, leading them to the UEFA Champions League final in 2006. Henry moved to Barcelona in 2007, and in the 2008-2009 season, he was a key part of the club's historic treble-winning campaign as they won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League.

Individual honors:

• European Golden Shoe: 2003 - 2004, 2004 - 2005
• Onze d'Or: 2003, 2006
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: Germany 2006
• FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Ball: France 2003
• FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Shoe: France 2003
• UNFP Division 1 Young Player of the Year: 1996 - 1997
• PFA Player of the Year: 2002 - 2003, 2003 - 2004
• PFA Team of the Year: 2000 - 2001 Premier League, 2001 - 2002 Premier League, 2002 - 2003 Premier League, 2003 - 2004 Premier League, 2004 - 2005 Premier League, 2005 - 2006 Premier League

Samuel Eto'o Fils born on March 10, 1981, is a Cameroonian football manager and former player, currently serving as the president of the Cameroon Football Federation since December 11, 2021. During his prime, Eto'o was rated as one of the finest forwards in the world and he is considered one of the greatest African players of all time, winning the African Player of the Year award a record four times in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010.

A prodigious talent, Eto'o moved to Real Madrid at the age of 16. Due to competition in his position with more experienced players, he had some loan spells before signing with Mallorca in 2000, where he scored 70 goals. His impressive form saw him join Barcelona in 2004, where he scored 130 goals in 5 seasons and also became the record holder for most appearances by an African player in La Liga. Winning La Liga three times, he was a key member of Barcelona's frontline, alongside Ronaldinho, securing a place in the UEFA Champions League final in 2006, with Eto'o scoring in the final, clinching victory in the 2009 UEFA Champions League final. At Barcelona, Eto'o ranked third in FIFA's Player of the Year award in 2005 and was twice named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI, in 2005 and 2006.

Individual honors:

• African Young Player of the Year: 2000
• African Player of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2005, 2006
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2005, 2006
• CAF Team of the Year: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
• UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2005 - 2006
• African Cup of Nations top scorer: 2006, 2008
• UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2006
• FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2010
• Coppa Italia top scorer: 2010 - 2011
• Golden Foot: 2015
• IFFHS All-time Africa Men's Dream Team: 2021
• Inter Milan Hall of Fame: 2021

Miroslav Josef Klose sinh ngày 9 tháng 6 năm 1978 là một huấn luyện viên bóng đá chuyên nghiệp người Đức và cựu cầu thủ là huấn luyện viên trưởng của câu lạc bộ Rheindorf Altach. Là tiền đạo, Klose là cầu thủ ghi nhiều bàn thắng nhất mọi thời đại cho đội tuyển Đức và giữ kỷ lục ghi nhiều bàn thắng nhất tại các kỳ FIFA World Cup.

Klose được biết đến với những màn trình diễn của anh ấy cùng đội tuyển quốc gia Đức, anh ấy là một phần của đội vô địch World Cup 2014. Klose ấy giữ kỷ lục ghi nhiều bàn thắng nhất trong các giải đấu của FIFA World Cup, đã ghi được năm bàn trong kỳ World Cup đầu tiên của anh ấy vào năm 2002 và đã giành được chiếc giày vàng tại World Cup 2006 ở Đức bằng cách ghi lại năm bàn thắng. Klose cũng ghi bốn bàn ở World Cup 2010 và hai lần tại World Cup 2014, ở giải đấu sau đó vượt qua kỷ lục 15 bàn của Brazil khi đó để đứng đầu danh sách mọi thời đại. Klose từ giã đội tuyển quốc gia vào tháng 8 năm 2014, ngay sau chiến thắng của Đức tại World Cup 2014.

Những danh hiệu cá nhân:

• Đội hình All-Star của FIFA World Cup: 2002, 2006
• Cầu thủ xuất sắc nhất năm ở Đức: 2006
• Chiếc giày vàng FIFA World Cup: 2006
• Cầu thủ xuất sắc nhất Bundesliga: 2005 - 2006
• Vua phá lưới Bundesliga: 2005 - 2006 (25 bàn)
• Cầu thủ cung cấp kiến tạo hàng đầu Bundesliga: 2005 - 2006, 2006 - 2007
• Giải VĐQG Bundesliga cầu thủ xuất sắc nhất mùa giải: 2005 - 2006
• Cầu thủ đá chính đội hình xuất sắc nhất Bundesliga: 2004 - 2005, 2005 - 2006
• Cầu thủ ghi bàn hàng đầu DFB-Pokal: 2007 - 2008
• UEFA trao giải cho 100 lần khoác áo: 2011

Jürgen Klinsmann was born on July 30, 1964, is a former professional football player and manager from Germany. Klinsmann played for several top clubs in Europe including VfB Stuttgart, Inter Milan, Monaco, Tottenham Hotspur, and Bayern Munich. He was part of the West German team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the unified German team that won the UEFA European Championship in 1996. As a manager, he led the German national team to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup and later coached several other teams, notably Bayern Munich and the United States national team.

Regarded as one of Germany's top strikers throughout the 1990s, he scored in all six major international tournaments he participated in, from Euro 1988 to the 1998 World Cup. In 1995, he finished third in the FIFA World Player of the Year voting, and in 2004, he was named in FIFA 100's list of '125 Greatest Living Footballers.' On November 3, 2016, he became the fifth player to be honored as Germany's honorary captain.

Individual Honors:

• Goal of the Year (Germany): 1987
• Bundesliga Top Scorer: 1987 - 1988
• Starting XI Bundesliga Team of the Season: 1987 - 1988
• German Footballer of the Year: 1988, 1994
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1990
• Premier League Player of the Month: August 1994
• Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Year: 1994
• Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year: 1994 - 1995 (Tottenham Hotspur)
• PFA Team of the Year in Premier League: 1994 - 1995
• ESM Team of the Year: 1994 - 1995
• IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer: 1995
• FIFA Player of the Year Award: 1995
• UEFA Cup Top Scorer: 1995 - 1996

Marco van Basten, born on October 31, 1964, is a Dutch football coach and retired professional player, who also played for Ajax and AC Milan. As a forward for the Netherlands national team, he is widely known as one of the greatest players in sports history, having scored 300 career goals, but played his final match in 1993, at age 28, due to a two-year injury-forced retirement. He later served as head coach for Ajax and the Dutch national team.

Renowned for his tight ball control, intelligent attacking, impeccable heading, and stunning volleys, Van Basten was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992 and won the Ballon d'Or three times in 1988, 1989, and 1992. At the club level, he won three Eredivisie titles with Ajax and four Serie A championships and three European Cups with Milan. With the Netherlands, Van Basten won the UEFA Euro 1988, where he won the Golden Boot with five goals, including a memorable volley in the final against the Soviet Union.

Individual Honors:

• Ballon d'Or: 1988, 1989, 1992
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1992
• UEFA Best Player: 1989, 1990, 1992
• European Cup Top Scorer: 1988 - 1989
• Serie A Golden Boot: 1989 - 1990, 1991 - 1992
• Eredivisie Top Scorer: 1983 - 1984, 1984 - 1985, 1985 - 1986, 1986 -1987
• Dutch Footballer of the Year: 1985
• European Golden Shoe: 1985 - 1986
• World Golden Shoe: 1985 - 1986
• Bravo Award: 1987
• IFFHS World's Best Player: 1988, 1989
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992