Football's best ever striker verdict reached as Erling Haaland sent clear message

View 5 Images

They're the ones that everyone wants - and they're the ones that cost the big bucks. Good strikers are hard to come by but when you get one, you feel as though you've struck gold.

Manchester City will certainly be feeling that way given Erling Haaland 's current sensational form. The Norwegian hitman has arguably been the best centre-forward in world football over recent seasons, and should he keep that up, there's a very real chance he could potentially go down as one of the best ever once he hangs up his boots.

So that got us thinking, who actually is the best striker ever? Mirror Football writers have attempted to answer that question...

‘But, but you never saw him play!’ I hear you all shout. But you only need to look at Gerd Muller’s stunning career to know he was one of the most prolific strikers of all time.

Across a stunning career with Bayern Munich , the German hit 565 goals, claiming four Bundesliga titles, as well as two European Cups. Muller also netted an eye-watering 68 goals in 62 games for the German national team, his performances no doubt helping his nation win the World Cup in 1974.

He redefined the role of a centre-forward, pioneering the role as a poacher - one that has been emulated by a number of strikers since.

Muller’s talents were recognised with a host of individual awards including the 1970 Ballon d’Or, two European golden shoes and many more. Had Muller been playing in the modern era, it’s very likely he would be ranked as the best forward in the world and there’s no question that he has to be mentioned in the pantheon of the best of all-time.

View 5 Images

Who do you think is the best striker of all time? Share your thoughts in the comments below

Haaland is rightly in the conversation and, come the end of the career, will be right up there. Ultimately he's in his mid-20s so still has huge scope for achievement, but the greatest striker of all-time is Ronaldo. The real Ronaldo. It's impossible to consider Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo as strikers, even if they did play there for periods in their career. The original Ronaldo, affectionately known as R9, was almost like the striker you'd make in a lab. They say similar things about Haaland. The Brazilian played for Barcelona , Real Madrid and both Milan clubs - which is one hell of a CV. Had it not been for injuries he might be the undisputed greatest striker ever, but time on the sidelines means the debate persists. Ronaldo though was simply unplayable at times. His pace, his strength, the way he finished. He was a genuine superstar who stood up on the biggest stages, owning World Cups in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Incredibly he never won the Champions League , but that takes nothing away from the player he was. You only have to look back to his hat-trick against Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2003 - earning him a standing ovation from the home fans. His iconic solo goal for Barca against Compostela to leave Sir Bobby Robson speechless. His brace in a World Cup final to see that his place in history is richly deserved.

View 5 Images

The best striker I have ever seen live. The Brazilian was simply sensation and was the best player in the world at the turn of the century. R9, or O Fenomeno, combined the pace and power of a traditional No.9 with ridiculous dribbling ability for PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

I will always remember him getting applauded off the field at Old Trafford by Manchester United fans after a Champions League hat-trick. Ronaldo, who scored twice in the 2002 World Cup final, would have won more without a series of knee injuries.

The sign of a truly elite striker is an ability to recover from adversity as well as showing your quality when things are good. And there are few who did this better than Ronaldo.

The Brazilian was truly unplayable when bursting onto the European scene in the 90s, showing a blend of agility, physicality and technique which few could deal with. Then injury struck.

Over the course of three seasons, knee issues restricted Ronaldo to just 24 club appearances. That might have been enough to make most consider retirement, but in his case he was able to come back almost as good as before.

A World Cup win, as top scorer no less, and some fine seasons at Real Madrid followed. A hat-trick against Manchester United in the Champions League will live longest in the memory, but that consistency at the Bernabeu - three straight 20+ goal seasons when only one player hit more than 25 in the competition - would have been impressive even without that injury history.

To really appreciate Ronaldo’s quality, it’s not about looking at the numbers but rather about watching him in full-flight. We’ll never know how much more he might have given us without those lost years.

View 5 Images

As an out-and-out goalscorer, Erling Haaland is going to take some beating by the time he has hung up his boots. He is as clinical in front of goal as anyone I've ever seen and shows no signs of slowing down.

However, a complete centre-forward is more than just putting the ball in the back of the net. Haaland is improving in every facet of his game and may end up being in the conversation by the time he retires.

But right now, Harry Kane is on a different level. And I think has a genuine argument in the GOAT ranks. The England skipper would get into any side in world football in the middle of the park, such is his passing range.

He's an expert in attracting fouls, links up play better than any No.9 in world football and scores a few goals while he's at it. He has an obscene 22 strikes in just 15 games for Bayern Munich so far this season.

Kane may well set an unassailable total for England. He's on 76 and, at the current rate, 100 isn't out of the question.

View 5 Images

Erling Haaland’s numbers are impressive, just as Alan Shearer’s numbers were impressive, but statistics show there was plenty of striking greatness before the English top flight had a name-change.

Jimmy Greaves (top with 357 goals), Steve Bloomer, Dixie Dean and Gordon Hodgson all scored more goals than Shearer did in the top flight - and all had a better goals-per-game ratio.

And when it comes to greatness, there will not be a more significant individual scoring feat than Dean’s 60 league goals in 39 appearances in the 1927-28 season.

Plus, Dixie went on to run a fine pub in Chester. But I never saw Dean play and I never saw Greavesie play live, although he would probably be the choice of the generation of English football watchers who came before me. And I did not see Pele play live.

I did, though, see Ronaldo play - I saw him score eight goals at the 2002 World Cup. And quite simply, he was electric, he was thrilling, he was quintessentially Brazilian but combined flair with all the physical attributes of a traditional striker.

He had injury problems, he had off-the-field issues but he was a phenomenon. El Fenómeno - the greatest I have seen.

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.