Liverpool needs Arsenal needs one, Manchester United wants, and found a way to play without anyone.
We are talking about Number Nines: a far-reaching forward, leading the racing team, scoring, and being the focus of the rest of the team.
Some of the best players and shooters in the world don’t necessarily play this role. Mohamed Salah, Ousmane Dembele, and even Lionel Messi played in a wider region, so this list was not considered.
Here are our top 10:
10. CristianoRonaldo (al-NASSR)
The Portuguese striker is still considered the greatest player, and the Portuguese striker will be higher on this list in the past few years.
After transitioning from winger to center, he still remains stable to find the incredible trick behind the net.
Last season, he led the Saudi Pro League rankings with 25 goals, ahead of Ivan Toney and Karim Benzema and added eight more goals to his country when winning the National League, second only to Sweden’s Viktor Gyokores.
The 40-year-old has earned 938 times in his outstanding career.
9. Victor Osimhen (Naples)
If he plays longer in the European top league, the Nigerian striker will also be higher on this list. He has all the attributes and is the ninth best in the world – pace, strength, athletic ability, and ability to complete in the air and on the floor.
Osimhen scored 26 goals to help Napoli win the Serie A title in 2023, and after a fierce exit, Galatasaray made the super assist title with 26 goals in 30 games.
Osimhen stretch😤@galatasaraysk | #uel pic.twitter.com/3zpg3xtylk
– UEFA Europa League (@europaleague) July 10, 2025
8. ViktorGyokores (Sporting CP)
Similar to Osimone’s body. Gyokores blossomed in Portugal after showing commitment with Coventry. The Swedish international scored 68 goals in sporting competition as they won the Riga Riga title.
It also showed that he could cut it with six goals on the European stage in eight matches in the Champions League last season, including a hat-trick against Manchester City.
7. Julian Alvarez (Atlan de Madrid)
The Argentine striker is still only 25 years old, but has had incredible success in his short career.
Alvarez won domestic titles in his homeland and in the UK, as well as Champions League with Manchester City, World Cup and Cup America’s Cup with Argentina.
Last summer, frustrated by the lack of a starting point and went to Atletico Madrid after scoring 29 goals in his first season in Spain.
Juliánálvarez: Forward Moder. pic.twitter.com/b4vaold4ju
– Laliga English (@laligaen) July 10, 2025
6. Alexander Isak (Newcastle United)
The 25-year-old Swede has high precision in the face of goals, but in his three seasons at Newcastle, the 25-year-old has become one of the best strikers in the Premier League.
Isak scored 54 top goals in 86 games.
In 52 games, production is low at international level, but it wouldn’t be surprised if he enters the best year of his career that would increase rapidly.
5. LautaroMartinez (Inter Milan)
One of Europe’s most consistent strikers since moving to Mimire from racing in 2018.
The 27-year-old scored 115 goals in 237 games in Serie A, helping Nerazzurri claim Scudetto and two Coppas Italia twice.
When Argentina won the 2022 World Cup, he also played a crucial role at the international level, winning the Copa America in 2021 and 2024.
One of the best fine-style predators around.
4. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
Thanks to the brilliance of Messi and Ronaldo, it can be said to be flying under the radar, but Lewandowski’s figures are amazing.
Pole has only scored twice in the past 14 seasons, and in these cases he has managed 17 and 19 respectively.
Lewandowski’s presence in Borussia is reliable, although 36 years old, showing no signs of slowing down.
Last season, Barcelona won domestic doubles and scored 27 goals in 34 La Liga games last season.
He is strong but mobile, he is strong in the air and surprisingly stands out on the ground.
⏪ On this day in 2015🗓️@lewy_official Score 5️⃣ goals in 9️⃣ minutes! 🐐
Unreal completion @fcbayernen Star. 😵 pic.twitter.com/keixx1xis7
– Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_en) September 22, 2021
3. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
As a player, it’s not the same as Lewandowski. Kane is second in the Premier League and will have a bigger trophy if he is unfaithful to Tottenham.
Kane scored 213 goals for the Spurs in 317 Premier League games before moving to Bayern in 2023.
He became more prolific in the Bundesliga with 62 goals in 63 matches and eventually broke his trophy Hoodoo by helping the club win the league last season.
Kane is a record scorer with 73 shots in England history, Kane is just the third man to win the top title in the World Cup and European Championships.
2. KylianMbappe (Real Madrid)
It was supposed to be the last part of the Madrid puzzle, after a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, but ended up empty-handed last season as Barcelona swept the board at home.
However, this did not reduce Mbappe’s talent as he continued to play an incredible career.
The French captain still has only 26, scoring 226 goals in 292 club games and helping himself win medals for seven Ligue 1 titles and four France De France titles.
His performance on the international stage was equally breathtaking, helping Les Bleus win the World Cup in 2018 before losing a hat-trick in the final four years later.
1. Elling Hyland (Manchester City)
At 24, Haylan is the youngest person on the roster and will undoubtedly continue to match or beat him many of the records that other players below retain.
Norwegian is built like a machine at 6 feet 5 inches and scores with a machine-like ruthlessness.
Appeared in RB Salzburg in 2020 and moved to Borussia Dortmund with a 23-minute hat trick that brought him attention on his debut.
At the time of joining Manchester City, he continued to plunder goals at an astonishing pace, helping himself reach 62 goals in 67 Bundesliga games.
In all matches, 124 games have been won in 146 matches to help Guardiola win two Premier League titles and the elusive Champions League title.
Just as prolific on an international level, with 42 goals in his country in 43 games.
All 22 @erlinghaaland2024/25 @premierleague Target🥶 pic.twitter.com/w1rymxhiny
– Manchester City (@Mancity) July 9, 2025
