The 10 most valuable strikers in world football in 2025: Isak, Haaland, Mbappe…

Players from the biggest clubs in the world make up the list of the world's most valuable strikers in 2025, but who makes the cut?

In modern times, top performers are increasingly hailing from diverse regions, 'inside forwards' becoming prominent, yet a new generation of strikers is emerging and there still are some exceptional 'number nines' who consistently achieve 30+ goals per season.

According to valuation data from Transfermarkt, we have examined the top 10 most valuable forwards in global football, factoring in their current performance, age, and development potential.

The 10. is seen as a key transfer.

Havertz has hinted at his limited goal-scoring abilities in the introduction. In essence, he has scored the winning goal in the Champions League, secured a regular starting position for both Arsenal and Germany, yet is far from being classified as a truly clinical striker.

The entirety of his career can be viewed through his statistics: he has 104 goals in 366 games for Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea and Arsenal, equating to approximately a goal every 3.5 games.

With Mikel Arteta frequently fielding him in the midfield, it remains to be seen whether he can develop into a top-class striker at the global level.

9. Marcus Thuram – £65 million

Thuram, 27, was a brilliant signing for Inter Milan on a free transfer and he has since formed a strong collaboration with Lautaro Martinez. As the child of French football legend Lilian Thuram, the forward is undoubtedly performing at the pinnacle of his career.

He's not a clinical finisher by definition. His goal-scoring record is comparable to that of Havertz, and he still hasn't achieved 100 goals in his professional career (90 goals at club level), and at Inter, he's scored just 28 goals in 69 games.

8. Vitor Gyokeres – €75 million

One individual currently enjoying an impressive run of form is Swedish goalkeeper Gyokeres from Sporting. He concluded 2024 by emerging as the top scorer in Europe's top seven leagues and now strives to continue his goal-scoring prowess.

His numbers tell an impressive story with 31 goals in 29 games this season. The 26-year-old has scored 74 goals and provided 21 assists in 79 games for the Portuguese club, all but guaranteed a significant transfer in 2025.

7. Alexander Isak -‐ priced at €75 million

Isak has been performing exceptionally well for Newcastle United lately, and his current form in England has led to him being considered the top striker in the Premier League after Erling Haaland.

He has recently become the third-fastest Newcastle player to reach 50 goals, achieving this milestone in just 89 games. What distinguishes him is his distinctive physical build, extraordinary ball-striking ability and his skill in outpacing opponents at will.

It would require an extraordinary sum to lure him away from Newcastle, with a £150m price tag being cited in recent times.

6. Victor Osimhen – €85 million

One of the biggest names in European football, Osimhen has established a strong reputation as a powerful striker from his time at Lille and, more recently, Napoli.

He is currently on loan with Galatasaray and is highly likely to make a permanent transfer in the summer, having come very close to joining Chelsea last summer.

He is 26 years old and has scored goals consistently wherever he's played, resulting in 139 goals in 239 games, an average of more than a goal per two games (0.58). A prominent football club is expected to sign him in 2025.

5. Julian Alvarez – €80 million

Having starred for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, Alvarez was a dependable asset for Manchester City before making a massive transfer to Atletico Madrid in the summer for a record £82 million.

Scoring 102 goals in 252 matches at 24 years old is a commendable achievement, but Caceres has yet to deliver signature performances; he never truly stood out at City and his move to Madrid indicates that he is now willing to take center stage.

4. Harry Kane - €90 million

A certified legendary goalscorer, he is the runner-up on the Premier League's all-time goalscorers' list with 213 goals. Since his big-money transfer to Bayern Munich, he has significantly improved, breaking new records in his debut season.

Now at 31, there is no indication of him slowing down, having scored 20 goals in 20 games so far this season. Throughout his extensive career, he has achieved 360 goals across 565 games.

It remains one of the remarkable stories that he has yet to claim a trophy throughout his career - although that situation should change this season.

3. Lautaro Martinez – 100 million euros

Lautaro has been rumored to potentially leave Inter in recent years, but he remains a crucial player in the team's attack. With over 300 appearances for the Italian club, he has become a legendary figure among fans.

He has 137 goals in 306 matches for the Italian club, although he has only been the Serie A top scorer only once (2023-24). With the ability to finish well with both feet, he likely should have scored more, given his impressive performance record.

2. Kylian Mbappe - $180 million

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely regarded as the undisputed favourites to continue their dominance of the Ballon d'Or awards, while Kylian Mbappe is considered the only realistic challenger.

Despite a slower-than-anticipated start at Real Madrid, upon retiring, he may well end up being considered one of the all-time leading goal scorers.

1. Erling Haaland – $227 million

In straightforward terms, Haaland is an unflinching goalscorer. He has been heavily marked as a star since becoming a professional, and has consistently been among the top goal-scorers at Molde, RB Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and now Manchester City.

The player broke the Premier League record for goals in a single season on his first attempt, and boasts a career record of 246 goals in 307 games – and he is still only 24 years old.

If he maintains his current level of performance, he is likely to surpass Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the future if he can maintain his consistent form and playing schedule. At present, however, he holds the top position unchallenged.