Ranked: The 10 best forwards in the world

It's a golden age for attacking players right now, but this 10 have proven themselves the best of the best. Below is a list the best strikers in the world:

10. MAURO ICARDI (INTER)

Back in autumn 2016, Icardi’s days at San Siro appeared to be numbered after the striker criticised Inter’s ultras in his autobiography, even going as far as to write: “I will bring 100 criminals from Argentina who will kill them on the spot.”

There probably would have been no way back for a lesser player, but Icardi is the Nerazzurri’s talisman and a hastily issued apology got the fans back onside.

Twenty-seven goals in 2017 – including hat-tricks against Atalanta, Fiorentina and rivals Milan – kept him in the supporters’ good books, as Icardi proved there are few sharper inside the 18-yard box.

9. HARRY KANE (TOTTENHAM)

Kane continued his remarkable rise in 2017, the year in which the Tottenham frontman took his place in the pantheon labelled ‘world’s best strikers’.

Calendar year records may not mean a great deal, but Kane’s return of 39 Premier League goals – three more than Alan Shearer managed in 1995 – was still mightily impressive.

As well as being an elite scorer, the England international regularly drops deep and links play. More than anything, Kane will hope 2018 delivers the first silverware of his career.

8. GONZALO HIGUAIN (JUVENTUS)

Higuain didn’t come cheap when Juventus poached him from domestic rivals Napoli in 2016, but the £75m man has proved to be worth every penny. Ever-present in Serie A, the Argentine found the net 24 times in 2016/17 as the Bianconeri finished atop the pile in Italy for a sixth successive season.

Higuain also contributed five goals in 12 Champions League appearances, including a brace in the first leg of the semi-final victory over Monaco – although he was unable to prevent Max Allegri’s men losing the final to Real Madrid.

7. EDINSON CAVANI (PSG)

Cavani has his critics, but the numbers speak for themselves. Having finally escaped Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s sizeable shadow in summer 2016, the Uruguayan sharp-shooter responded with 35 goals in 36 appearances. Unai Emery’s men may ultimately have lost out to Monaco in the Ligue 1 title race, but Cavani’s contributions couldn’t be faulted.

The flat-track bully accusations don’t really stand up either, given that the ex-Napoli man notched eight in eight Champions League matches. He ended the year in fine fashion too, scoring his 26th goal of the 2017/18 season in December's 3-1 defeat of Caen.

6. SERGIO AGUERO (MAN CITY)

When Gabriel Jesus displaced Aguero from Manchester City's starting XI early in 2017, the Argentine's future at the Etihad Stadium suddenly seemed uncertain. Yet while he's clearly not the most natural fit as the spearhead of Pep Guardiola’s system, Aguero knuckled down and concentrated on doing what he does best: putting balls in nets.

The 29-year-old scored 32 times in the calendar year, with his 12 goals in the first half of 2017/18 helping City establish an insurmountable lead at the top of the Premier League table. He also became the club’s all-time highest scorer in November, moving past Eric Brooks’s total of 177 goals – a record which had stood for 78 years.

5. PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (BORUSSIA DORTMUND)

Aubameyang hasn’t always been the model professional at Borussia Dortmund, but it’s hard to argue with his record. The 2016/17 campaign was his best yet: the speedy striker scored 31 goals in 32 league matches to fight off competition from Robert Lewandowski in the battle to be Bundesliga top scorer.

Aubameyang’s only disappointment last year was a failure to progress beyond the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations with Gabon, who hosted the tournament at the start of 2017. Nevertheless, the forward did more than enough at club level to earn his fifth-place finish in this list.

4. ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI (BAYERN MUNICH)

Lewandowski may have been pipped by Aubameyang in the Bundesliga’s scoring charts, but it was the former who ended the 2016/17 season with a winner’s medal around his neck.

The Pole also struck more often in all competitions – only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi scored more goals than Bayern Munich’s brilliant No.9 in the Champions League.

Throw in the fact that Lewandowski led Poland to their first World Cup since 2006 – as UEFA qualifying's top scorer, no less – and it’s safe to say that 2017 was a brilliant year for the planet's most complete centre-forward.

3. NEYMAR (PSG)

Neymar’s groundbreaking move to PSG was the Brazilian’s most memorable contribution to 2017, but his exploits on the pitch shouldn’t be forgotten.

Part of why the French giants were so keen to sign him from Barcelona was his magnificent performance in the second leg of the two teams’ Champions League last tie, when the forward inspired Barça to a famous come-from-behind victory at the Camp Nou.

By the end of 2017, Neymar had racked up a combined 29 goals and 27 assists for Barcelona and PSG, two of the strongest teams in the world. Best of all, the 25-year-old probably hasn’t even reached his peak yet.

2. CRISTIANO RONALDO (REAL MADRID)

Ronaldo was convinced by Zinedine Zidane to limit his involvement for Real Madrid’s lesser matches in 2017 – and the results were spectacular. The Portuguese scored 10 goals in los Blancos’ final five games en route to Champions League glory, while his six strikes in the domestic run-in helped Zidane’s charges beat Barcelona to the title.

He was unable to reach such heights at the start of 2017/18, though, scoring just four times before the turn of the year. Ronaldo did manage nine goals in six Champions League appearances, however, suggesting reports of his demise had been greatly exaggerated. A fifth Ballon d'Or win in December drew him level with Lionel Messi.

1. LIONEL MESSI (BARCELONA)

Messi had only a Copa del Rey winner’s medal to show for his efforts in 2016/17, as Real Madrid emerged victorious in both La Liga and the Champions League. It was he who ended the season as the Spanish top tier’s leading scorer, though, and his goals-per-game record in Europe’s premier competition was better than Ronaldo’s.

After almost single-handedly dragging his country to the World Cup with a terrific hat-trick in Argentina’s final qualifier against Ecuador, Messi set about leading Barcelona back to Spain's summit. With 19 goals and nine assists in 20 La Liga matches so far this season, it’s safe to say the 30-year-old is on the right track.