The striker is arguably the most important player on the pitch. Without someone to score goals, how can you expect to win a football match? We’ll be looking at who has excelled in the role of an out-and-out striker over the past decade – sorry Messi and Ronaldo!
Number 5 – Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema spent the whole of the last decade playing for Real Madrid. In that time he’s won 3 league titles, 6 domestic cups, 4 Champions Leagues, 3 UEFA Super Cups, and 4 CWCs – a pretty impressive haul I’m sure you’ll agree!
His personal stats for club and country are also impressive over that timeframe, with 240 goals in 480 games for Real Madrid, and 19 goals in 54 games for France.
His international achievements have been lessened by the controversies surrounding Karim and another teammate which led to his exile from the national team in 2016.
Number 4 – Luis Suarez
Ever a controversial figure, you can’t argue that Luis Suarez gets results on the field. He scored 12 in 24 during his last Ajax season, and after a slow start at Liverpool ended with 78 goals in 120 matches – with an EFL winner’s medal to boot.
This form earned him a move to Barcelona at the start of the 2014/15 season, where he completed a scarily-good front three alongside Messi and Neymar.
At Barcelona, he scored an incredible 198 goals in 283 games and won 4 league titles, 6 domestic cups, and 1 Champions League.
Suarez also has an impressive international record with 47 goals in 84 games, as well as the 2011 Copa America trophy where he scored in the final.
Number 3 – Sergio Aguero
A cult hero amongst Manchester City fans, Sergio Aguero started off the last decade playing for Atletico Madrid where he was widely regarded as one of Europe’s top strikers.
When he transferred to Manchester City in 2011, he hit the ground running with 30 goals in his first 48 matches – including that legendary 96th-minute winner at QPR to secure Manchester City their first Premier League title. For the rest of the decade, Aguero kept up his stellar form scoring another 224 goals in 322 games for the Citizens.
His international career has been overshadowed somewhat by Lionel Messi, but still managed 34 goals in 76 games.
Aguero has since retired from football and is now focusing his attention on other projects, such as being an ambassador for a crypto betting site. With all these different betting sites out there, it can be hard to choose the best mobile casino for you.
There are so many different bonuses on offer and each site has its own pros and cons. Whether you’re more interested in playing table games like blackjack and baccarat, want to hit huge jackpots on the slot machines, or try your hand at poker, there’s a site for you.
Looking for brands that have recognized figures, such as Sergio, spearheading their campaign is an easy way to find a reputable brand.
Number 2 – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The 2010s started for Zlatan at AC Milan where he won a league and cup double, scoring 56 goals in 85 games. He then moved to PSG where he enjoyed his best scoring and trophy-laden spell; scoring 156 goals in 180 games – an incredible feat for a player in their mid-30s. While at PSG he won 4 league titles and 8 domestic trophies.
Zlatan then moved to the Premier League with Manchester United, scoring 29 goals in 53 games – winning the EFL Cup and Europa League in his first season.
He then joined LA Galaxy and despite being well into his 30s, managed to score 53 goals in his 58 games! He ended the decade back in Milan, scoring another 11 goals in 20 games.
All this club-hopping must have been great for his bank account as he found himself on the list of richest footballers in the world!
Number 1 – Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski started the decade at Borussia Dortmund scoring 103 goals in 187 games for the club. Although Dortmund was clearly the second-best team in the Bundesliga, with Lewandowski’s goals they won 2 league titles and 2 domestic cups.
After such a successful spell at Dortmund, he transferred to German powerhouse Bayern Munich where he scored 246 goals in 289 games. While at Bayern he won 7 league titles, 7 domestic cups, and 1 Champions League.
His international record is equally impressive, scoring 57 goals over 96 matches – figures that have made him Poland’s most capped player and top goalscorer. He also made the IFFHS World Men’s Team of the decade.
This rounds out the list of top strikers from the past decade, who do you think will make the list next decade?
