Ranking the 25 greatest strikers in Premier League history (2024)

The Premier League is widely recognised as one of the most competitive football leagues in the world. Over the years, it has been graced by some truly world-class strikers, who have dazzled fans with their footballing IQ and scoring capabilities. Whether it's a penalty-box poacher, or the kind of complete forward who can do everything, some of the best sides from the 1990s onwards have featured an incredible array and variety of strikers.

From the glory days of Thierry Henry to Alan Shearer's drive to the top of the goalscoring charts to Erling Haaland's current heroics in the top flight - there really hasn't been a shortage of elite frontmen plying their trade in the English top flight since 1992. And picking out the best of the bunch is no easy feat.

Ranking factors

Whittling down the vast number of strikers to a top 25 takes some serious doing, and as a result, some important criteria has been used to make sure the list is as reasoned as possible:

• Top-flight goals scored
• Individual achievements such as any Golden Boot awards
• Premier League titles won
• How important that striker has been to their respective clubs

25 Robbie Keane

Tottenham, Leeds, Coventry, Liverpool, West Ham, Aston Villa

Kicking off the list is Robbie Keane. The former Republic of Ireland international played for a who's who of clubs in the Premier League, including the likes of Coventry City, Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, West Ham and Aston Villa. However, it was for the first three clubs on that list that Keane really made his mark, first showcasing his talents at the highest level by breaching double-digit figures in goals in the top-flight with Coventry.

That led to a move to Elland Road, where he was a part of the successful Whites side during the turn of the century. It was at Tottenham though where he really found consistency and a permanent home, scoring 10+ goals in the Premier League for an impressive six straight seasons until his departure. His highest tally in a campaign was 16, which he managed in the 2005/2006 campaign.

24 Jermain Defoe

Tottenham, Sunderland, West Ham, Portsmouth, Bournemouth

A Premier League stalwart who found his biggest successes in London with both West Ham and Tottenham, Jermain Defoe was the kind of nippy, clinical striker who could score from all angles and twist defenders one way then the other. The former England star didn't end up winning the title or have much team success in terms of the Premier League, and on an individual note, had just the one solitary Player of the Month award to cheer about.

Despite that, Defoe was a reliable goalscorer at the highest level for a number of years in English football, and it's a testament to his longevity that after almost two decades of notching his first Premier League goal with West Ham, he was still banging them in for Sunderland. In fact, despite his age, Defoe recorded back-to-back campaigns with the Black Cats of scoring 15 goals in the Premier League - real proof of just how consistent he was.

23 Les Ferdinand

Tottenham, QPR, Newcastle, Leicester, West Ham, Bolton

Perhaps one of the more unfortunate England stars of his generation, Les Ferdinand's 17 caps for England was no reflection of just how good of a player he was, instead more an indication of the sheer kind of depth and talent the Three Lions had up front at that time. Ferdinand's golden period came in the late 1980s and the 1990s, with perhaps his most notable time coming in the form of stints at Newcastle United and Tottenham.

It was at Newcastle where he scored the most goals in a single Premier League campaign when he netted 25 in the 1995/1996 season - one more than the 24 he got with QPR just a couple of seasons earlier. In fact, Ferdinand's exploits with the Magpies during that campaign saw him named to the PFA's Team of the Year - something he would surely trade for a Premier League title given the two runners-up medals he got in the couple of seasons he played on Tyneside.

22 Fernando Torres

Liverpool, Chelsea

While his time at Chelsea might not have gone to plan, that shouldn't take away from the absolutely incredible performances Fernando Torres produced at Liverpool. One of the greatest strikers of the 2000s, the Spaniard arrived at Anfield from La Liga giants Atletico Madrid, and took to the Premier League like a duck to water, with his combination of sheer pace and clinical finishing putting him among the top strikers in the division soon after his arrival.

His almost telepathic-like understanding with Steven Gerrard who played just off him gave Liverpool a potent two-man partnership that was difficult to stop when they got going. Had Torres stayed put at Anfield, his goal record might have improved significantly than it actually did, but alas, his move to Stamford Bridge seemed to ruin his career, hence why he is not further up on this list.

21 Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink

Chelsea, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Charlton

A modern Chelsea great, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink was plundering goals for the Blues even before the Stamford Bridge side came into the money. The Dutch striker had a powerful right foot on him and could be seen on numerous occasions leathering one in from over 20 yards out and thundering a free-kick in to boot to.

His partnership with Eidur Gudjohnsen in particular stood out for Chelsea during the early to mid 2000s, and gave the west London side a real two-pronged attack, with both capable of dropping deep and linking play up before marauding into the penalty box for the finish. Given Hasselbaink carried Chelsea's attack before the big successes under the years of Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, he rightfully deserves his place on this list, not to mention his couple of Golden Boots too.

20 Teddy Sheringham

Tottenham, Manchester United, West Ham, Portsmouth and Nottingham Forest

Part of Manchester United's historic treble-winning side in 1999, Teddy Sheringham did the business in the Premier League for both the Red Devils and Tottenham Hotspur too. The former England star was at the peak of his powers during his time at both clubs, while it was at Spurs where he had two successful spells either side of his career at Old Trafford.

It was perhaps to Sheringham's disadvantage that he was playing at a time when England as a country were blessed with a plethora of great strikers, and it was a big reason as to why he only played 51 times for the Three Lions despite being a part of the 100 goals club in the Premier League.

19 Erling Haaland

Manchester City

It's a measure of Erling Haaland's brilliance that, despite only being a recent addition to the Premier League, he is surely already among the greatest the top-flight has ever seen. The Norwegian's frightening blend of power and pace mixed with unerring finishing saw him take English football by storm following his move to Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund, with him widely considered the best striker in the league today.

The towering striker broke records left, right and centre on his way to helping Pep Guardiola's side sweep up all the trophies in his debut campaign at the Etihad, while a second league title has followed too. While he may not have cracked the top 15 or even top ten on this list just yet, another year or two of him keeping up his current level of performances could easily catapult him into the upper echelons of the Premier League's greatest ever strikers.

18 Robbie Fowler

Liverpool, Manchester City and Leeds United

A legend of Anfield, Robbie Fowler was the kind of natural goalscorer who was born to plunder goals in the Premier League. Having come through the Liverpool academy, Fowler would become an integral part of the Reds during the 1990s and would later strike up a fearsome partnership up top with an emerging Michael Owen.

After doing the treble with Liverpool in 2001, Fowler would go onto pastures new with Leeds United, and later Manchester City, before returning to Merseyside for one short stint with the club. While he might not have been as high-profile of a name as an Owen, Fowler is certainly up there with being one of the best poachers the Premier League has seen in its era.

17 Dwight Yorke

Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Birmingham City

A scorer of Premier League goals for a host of different clubs, Dwight Yorke was a big part as to why Manchester United would clinch the treble in 1999, forming a deadly partnership with Andy Cole up front at Old Trafford. His tally of 48 top-flight goals in just 96 games for the Red Devils gave him a mightily impressive one in two ratio, while he was similarly prolific for a weaker Aston Villa side too, scoring 60 in 179 matches for the Midlands club.

The fact he was keeping the likes of Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer out of Sir Alex Ferguson's preferred and go-to starting line-up spoke volumes of just how good and highly-rated he was. When you talk about the best Premier League strikers, you can't not have Yorke somewhere in the conversation.

16 Dimitar Berbatov

Manchester United and Tottenham

One of the most technically gifted strikers of the Premier League era, Dimitar Berbatov's languid nature often took away from the sheer footballing brilliance he could produce. The former Bulgaria star showcased his talent initially with Tottenham, before Sir Alex Ferguson saw what he could do and brought him to Old Trafford and Manchester United.

It was at the Theatre of Dreams where Berbatov's full repertoire of skills and silky first touch really came to the fore. Aside from his penchant for scoring the most acrobatic of goals - think his overhead kick against Liverpool for example - Berbatov could turn a match on its head by himself. As well as netting a hat-trick against the Reds in a 3-2 win, Berbatov would make history by scoring an incredible five goals against Blackburn Rovers.

15 Jamie Vardy

Leicester City

From non-league football to a Premier League title with Leicester City, Jamie Vardy's journey up the footballing pyramid is the stuff of dreams. The veteran is a lot more than just an incredible story, though, with his scoring ability and exceptional pace making him an undeniable entrant into this list.

His 136 goals, of course, helped do the unthinkable for the Foxes just a few years ago when they lifted the Premier League title, and it's a story that will stand the test of time. The Englishman is still going strong with Leicester and could add to his tally now that they are back in England's top tier.

14 Ian Wright

Arsenal and West Ham United

Despite starting his Premier League career late, Wright made his mark at Arsenal with his infectious enthusiasm and clinical finishing, netting 113 goals. He remains one of the most beloved figures in Premier League history, mainly thanks to his undeniable charm, but his ability in front of goal cannot be forgotten.

It was with the Gunners where the former England striker really made his name, and at one point, was the club's all-time top scorer until a certain Frenchman turned up - more on him later. While Wright is perhaps more known and familiar nowadays for his punditry work, his talents as a striker in the 1990s cannot be understated.

13 Ruud van Nistelrooy

Manchester United

Ruud van Nistelrooy arrived at Manchester United in 2001 with a lofty reputation, having been prolific in Dutch football with PSV. He immediately hit the ground running in the Premier League and made a significant impact in a relatively short time at United, scoring 95 goals in just five seasons before departing for Real Madrid.

His time playing for Sir Alex Ferguson was truly special and he would have ranked higher on the list had he stayed in England for longer. A goal-scoring poacher who lived and breathed the art of scoring, the flying Dutchman's place in Premier League history is secure.

12 Michael Owen

Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Stoke City

Some incredible names have already featured on this list, with some even better ones to come, but Michael Owen is the only one to have won the Ballon d'Or. The 2001 winner had a successful career with Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City, scoring 150 Premier League goals in total.

It was his time with Liverpool that was the most promising, but serious injuries meant that Owen didn't go on to become as great as his promise suggested he might be able to. His combination of searing place and clinical finishing meant he was a defender's nightmare when he was fit and healthy, so it was a grand shame that Owen's luck with injuries let him down time and time again.

11 Robin van Persie

Arsenal and Manchester United

Robin van Persie's left foot was nothing short of lethal. The Dutchman joined Arsenal in 2004 and soon established himself as their talisman. But, with the Gunners failing to be as successful as he had liked, Van Persie angered their fans when he made the controversial move to their fierce rivals Manchester United in 2012.

The striker became a Premier League winner in his first season at United as he scored 26 times on their way to the title. In total, the Dutchman netted 144 times in England's top tier, and his level of technique and power made him one of the most feared strikers during his peak years.

10 Luis Suarez

Liverpool

Despite a controversial stint, Luis Suarez's contribution to Liverpool was undeniably impressive. The Uruguayan made the move to the Reds in 2011 and went on to score 69 goals in just 110 games, including an unforgettable 31 in the 2013-14 season, one of the most impressive individual seasons in Liverpool history.

The fact he ranks so highly on this list despite being in the Premier League for just three-and-a-half seasons is testament to how good he was. It speaks volumes to his ability that, after snubbing Arsenal to stay at Liverpool, the former Uruguay star made the big-money to Barcelona where he became part of a formidable trio alongside Neymar and Lionel Messi.

9 Didier Drogba

Chelsea

Didier Drogba was instrumental in Chelsea's rise under Jose Mourinho, with the striker scoring some big goals in several of the side's titles. The big Ivorian scored 104 Premier League goals, often in high-stakes situations. But he was so much more than just a goalscorer - he was a powerful striker who bullied defenders with his great strength and aerial ability. He also possessed great technical ability and was quick.

He had everything needed to be a top striker and deserves a spot high on this list. Aside from his exploits in the Premier League, Drogba's biggest moment in a Chelsea shirt came in the Champions League final when his late equaliser against Bayern Munich eventually propelled the Blues to their first ever triumph in that competition.

8 Andy Cole

Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, Fulham, Manchester City and Portsmouth

Andy Cole was a prolific goalscorer, particularly at Manchester United, and that's somehow often forgotten by fans. Those who weren't watching at the time don't know just how good Cole was in front of goal, with the Englishman bagging 187 goals in the Premier League. That tally is even remarkable given he did not even take penalties.

He only took one spot-kick during his time in the Premier League, an unsuccessful attempt for Newcastle against Coventry back in 1994. His strike partnership with Dwight Yorke at Old Trafford was Sir Alex Ferguson's favoured front-two in the late 1990s, with Sheringham and Solskjaer having to settle for a spot on the bench.

7 Dennis Bergkamp

Arsenal

While not a traditional striker, Dennis Bergkamp's influence as a deep-lying forward was immense. His 87 goals don't tell the full story of his incredible technique, vision, and ability to create for Arsenal. He was a key part of the successful Arsenal sides in the 1990s and early 2000s, and Arsene Wenger wouldn't have wanted to swap him for anyone else.

Bergkamp was so good that Thierry Henry named him as his best ever teammate in 2021, despite lining up alongside Lionel Messi at Barcelona. If you ever needed evidence of the kind of natural talent the Dutchman had, then you only had to look at his goal against Newcastle United at St James' Park when he spun his defender and coolly slotted home. The stuff of dreams.

6 Eric Cantona

Leeds United and Manchester United

The charismatic Frenchman was a game-changer for Manchester United in the 90s. United had not been crowned English champions for 25 years prior to his arrival in 1992, but Eric Cantona made an instant impression and was pivotal as the Red Devils won the Premier League title in his first campaign at the club.

He scored 70 goals and made a significant impact beyond his efforts up top, securing a legendary status for United and in the Premier League as a whole. It's fair to say there has never been quite another character like Cantona to grace English shores.