A quality striker is one of the most important players in a football team and can be the difference between success and failure. Some of the greatest sides of all time, such as Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United during the 2000s and Real Madrid in the 2010s wouldn't have been half as impressive if they didn't have players like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo leading their lines.
The knack for scoring goals is one that can't be taught, but is considered a natural instinct. There have been some truly elite strikers over the years and, after asking ChatGPT about the best of the best, it has named the 20 greatest strikers in football history and there were some very interesting results.
AI's Ranking Factors
"Here's a ranked list of the 20 greatest strikers in football history, based on their goal-scoring prowess, impact on the game, and legacy."
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20 Sergio Aguero
Argentina
Sergio Aguero of Argentina.
What ChatGPT said: "Agüero's quickness and clinical finishing made him Manchester City's all-time top scorer and a key figure in their recent successes."
The Argentine's career was blighted by injuries towards the end of his time on the football pitch, but when he was healthy, there were few footballers quite like Sergio Aguero. Responsible for one of the most iconic moments in Premier League history, winning Manchester City their first league title in the dying stages of the 2011/12 season, he's a hero in Manchester. He scored at an exceptional rate in Spain and England, before his career was cut short due to heart issues.
19 David Villa
Spain
David Villa
What ChatGPT said: "Villa's versatility and finishing helped Spain secure their first World Cup in 2010, and he was a key figure in their golden era."
Throughout his career, David Villa was an impressive striker for the likes of Valencia and Barcelona, but it was his exploits with the Spanish national team that have made him a football legend. The former striker scored 59 goals in 98 games for his nation and was crucial to their dominance in the late 2000s and early 2010s. There have been few finishers quite as clinical as Villa was throughout his career on the football pitch.
18 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Sweden
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
What ChatGPT said: "Ibrahimović's physical presence and flair have seen him succeed in multiple top European leagues, consistently scoring goals."
While his ego earned him plenty of fans over the years, it wouldn't have been half as effective if Zlatan Ibrahimovic wasn't one of the best strikers on the planet during his career. He was, though, and his combination of strength and agility made him a nightmare for defenders to deal with. The Swede shone wherever he went, with stellar runs in Italy, Spain, England, France and the United States. He's also considered a legend to his nation, with 62 goals in 122 international appearances.
17 Raul
Spain
Raul celebrates for Real Madrid
What ChatGPT said: "Raúl's leadership and consistent goal-scoring were instrumental in Real Madrid's success during the late 1990s and early 2000s."
While younger football fans aren't quite as aware of Raul's importance on the pitch throughout his career, there was a time when no one was more impressive than him in Europe. At one time, the Spaniard was the top scorer in Champions League history and he always had a knack for shining on the grandest of stages and rising to the occasion whenever Real Madrid needed him. Raul scored 323 goals for Los Blancos and also had success with Schalke 04 towards the end of his career.
16 Francesco Totti
Italy
MixCollage-10-Nov-2024-10-50-AM-3483
**What ChatGPT said:** "Spending his entire career at AS Roma, Totti's vision and finishing made him a beloved figure in Italian football."
There aren't many footballers in the history of the beautiful game who demonstrated the loyalty that Francesco Totti showed during his career with Roma. The striker was a sought-after figure over the years, with a number of top sides taking an interest, but he remained with the Italian side throughout his entire career. He was more than just loyal, though, he was dominant on the pitch and scored regularly for Roma. His international career with Italy wasn't quite as impressive, but 307 goals at club level earned him a spot as one of the best strikers ever.
15 Karim Benzema
France
Karim Benzema
**What ChatGPT said:** "Benzema's link-up play and finishing have been crucial for Real Madrid, especially in their recent Champions League successes."
After bursting onto the scene with Lyon, Karim Benzema became a superstar with Real Madrid and spent 14 years with the Spanish club. He won a plethora of trophies, including a dominant run in Europe with a number of Champions League triumphs during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu. Often forced to take a back seat to Cristiano Ronaldo (more on him later), Benzema reminded the world just how good he was when the Portugal icon left Los Blancos. Nowadays, he's plying his trade in Saudi Arabia and still operating at a high level.
14 Luis Suarez
Uruguay
Luis Suarez
What ChatGPT said: "Suárez's technical skills and goal-scoring ability have made him one of the top strikers of his generation, with significant success at Liverpool and Barcelona."
After shining with Ajax, Luis Suarez transformed into one of the best footballers in the world with Liverpool and then Barcelona. He could do things with a ball at his feet that very few in the world could and defenders never had it easy trying to keep him quiet. The Uruguayan scored for fun throughout stints with multiple sides and with the Uruguay national side. Nowadays, he's still scoring on a regular basis, this time with Inter Miami in the United States following a reunion with former teammate, Lionel Messi.
13 Gabriel Batistuta
Argentina
Gabriel Batistuta celebrating a goal for Argentina
What ChatGPT said: "Batistuta's powerful strikes and consistency made him Argentina's all-time top scorer for many years."
Before Lionel Messi came along, no Argentine dominated football like Gabriel Batistuta did. The former forward was a machine in front of goal, scoring 246 goals in 449 club appearances. His time with Fiorentina in particular made him an icon and he spent nine years with the Italian club. Known for his power, the ex-striker was just phenomenal. He hit the back of the net 54 times in 77 appearances for his national team and before Messi, he was the country's all-time leading scorer.
12 Eusebio
Portugal
Eusebio shoots for Portugal
**What ChatGPT said:** "Eusebio's speed and powerful shot earned him the Golden Boot at the 1966 World Cup, where he led Portugal to a third-place finish."
Like Batistuta, Eusebio was once his nation's all-time leading goalscorer, but his record has since been surpassed. That doesn't take away from how impressive he was during his time on the pitch, however, and he's considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. He was a prolific goalscorer at both club and international level. He's still scored more goals for Benfica than anyone else in the club's history and with over 300 goals for the side, it's hard to imagine anyone will overtake his tally anytime soon.
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11 Marco van Basten
Netherlands
Marco van Basten AC Milan
What ChatGPT said: "Van Basten's elegance and precision were showcased in his three Ballon d'Or wins and his pivotal role in the Netherlands' Euro 1988 victory."
With three Ballon d'Ors under his belt, there are few players who can boast the legacy that Marco van Basten has in football. He was a hero for his country, leading them to triumph in Euro 1988 and he was also excellent for both Ajax and AC Milan during his career. He spent his entire time on the pitch playing for the two clubs, starting with six years in the Netherlands, before spending the remaining eight years with Milan. Across his time with both, he scored 277 times.