Since the 2024/2025 season kicked off, so many strikers across Europe’s top five leagues have been banging in goals week after week.
The number nine shirt in every team is always reserved for the best goal scorer in the team. These strikers are clinical, strong, fast, skillful and even posses power on the pitch.
In today’s post, we would be looking at the best number nines across europe in 2024. This list is fully based on this season’s form. Now let’s dive into today’s business.
Top 9 Best Strikers in World Football 2024
1) Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
During his playing days against Vincent Kompany, Harry Kane managed just one goal in five matches. However, with Kompany now in a managerial role, Kane has become far more dominant.
In his debut season at Bayern Munich under Thomas Tuchel, Kane broke multiple records, although the team fell short of winning a trophy. Bayern veteran Thomas Müller even joked that Kane wouldn’t have enough room for all the match balls he collected from his numerous hat-tricks.
Kane, who accepted the number nine shirt since his favored number 10 was unavailable, has settled in Munich and maintained his incredible form. After netting back-to-back hat-tricks in September, Kane humorously commented, “I keep all the balls after my hat-tricks. The lads might be tired of signing them, but I’m not tired of scoring them.”
2) Erling Haaland – Manchester City
Erling Haaland exhibits one of the best efficiency as a number nine. Since last season, the Manchester City star has averaged a shot every 5.3 touches, far surpassing other top players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who averages 8.6 touches per shot.
This season, Haaland has also enhanced his defensive contributions, earning praise from Pep Guardiola. After a restful summer break, Haaland started the current season stronger than ever, ominously stating, “I have never felt better,” as he continues to break records.
3) Kylian Mbappé – Real Madrid
Despite Real Madrid’s success in Europe and Spain during Jude Bellingham’s first season, Bellingham highlighted the need for a clinical number nine. One of the best options in the market who could play that role very well for Real Madrid Kylian Mbappé, who has scored at least 30 goals in all competitions for six straight seasons at PSG.
Although Mbappé would have preferred to wear the number seven, already taken by Vinícius Jr., he has adapted well to wearing the number nine at Madrid.
Like his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, Mbappé has quickly adjusted to his new role and remains a prolific scorer in his debut season in Spain.
4) Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona
Robert Lewandowski’s former coaches confidently labels him the best number nine of the last decade. Although Lewandowski didn’t score 20 league goals for the first time in 10 years last season, he has rediscovered his form under Hansi Flick’s guidance.
Barcelona’s more direct approach this season has benefited Lewandowski, who noted, “We’re getting the ball into the box quicker. That’s my area. That’s where I want it.”
With this new system, Lewandowski has been well-positioned to avoid a repeat of his underwhelming numbers from last season.
5) Victor Gyökeres – Sporting CP
Just two years ago, Victor Gyökeres was struggling to secure a starting spot for Coventry City, a Championship team battling in the lower half of the table. Once reinstated in the lineup, Gyökeres became pivotal in Coventry’s push toward the playoff final.
After Coventry’s narrow loss, he turned down offers from Premier League teams like Fulham and West Ham, opting to join Sporting CP instead. The Swedish striker became a sensation in Portugal, winning four consecutive player of the month awards and helping Sporting claim their second league title in 20 years.
In his second season, Gyökeres has been even more prolific, owning the nickname “The Swedish Tank” from Sporting’s devoted supporters.
6) Marcus Thuram – Inter Milan
When Inter Milan won their 23rd Serie A title by defeating AC Milan in April 2024, Marcus Thuram celebrated by draping his number nine jersey over a rival flag planted in the corner of the pitch. This celebration, a staple of Thuram’s career, has become iconic.
During his time at Borussia Mönchengladbach, he would often borrow a teammate’s shirt to perform his celebratory routine. Unlike his father, Lilian, who consistently wore the number 21, Marcus has forged his own identity as one of the top modern-day number nines.
7) Iñaki Williams – Athletic Club
Iñaki Williams embodies the spirit of Athletic Club Bilbao’s number nine role, a position deeply rooted in the club’s history.
La Liga’s top scorer award, the Pichichi, is named after an Athletic Club legend, and Williams proudly carries on that tradition, wearing the number nine since 2018. Williams is a relentless worker, chasing down every ball and pressing goalkeepers into mistakes.
His dedication was on full display when he assisted all three goals in a match against Las Palmas, becoming the first Athletic player to do so since manager Ernesto Valverde achieved the feat decades ago.
8) Dušan Vlahović – Juventus
When Dušan Vlahović joined Juventus in 2022, much was made of him taking the number seven shirt vacated by Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Vlahović downplayed its significance, revealing he only took it because it was close to his preferred number nine.
After Álvaro Morata left the club, Vlahović upgraded to the number nine. Although Juventus struggled offensively, Vlahović managed to score 16 league goals last season, a testament to his quality despite limited service from his teammates.
9) Alexander Sørloth – Atlético Madrid
In the final game of last season, Alexander Sørloth was just one goal behind Girona’s Arnaut Danjuma in the race for the La Liga Golden Boot when he injured himself after his first shot.
Despite the disappointment, Sørloth finished with an impressive 23 goals, the highest tally for a Villarreal player since Diego Forlán’s era.
Atlético Madrid activated Sørloth’s modest £26.7 million release clause in the summer, and while he’s still adjusting to Diego Simeone’s system, the Norwegian has shown flashes of brilliance, living up to the praise Simeone heaped on him as “a special footballer.”
Who do you think should be on this list that isn’t? Let’s know you thoughts using the comments box below.
Thanks for reading.