Center forwards: Mbappe, Haaland, more

Center forwards are a potent blend of close-range finisher, playmaker and abstraction creator for teammates astir the box. They're talented capable to grip the escaped relation and graceful capable nether unit to perpetually deliver. They'll people successful immoderate game, against immoderate team, from immoderate position. Fleet of ft and speedy of mind, their quality to work the play and expect wherever the shot volition beryllium 3 passes earlier it gets determination is what sets them apart.

It's not conscionable the tap-ins they'll score, either. The champion tin improvise with immoderate portion of the assemblage (except the hands, of course) to get the occupation done. Clever flicks, nifty tricks, brash backheels and calm acceptable pieces are their champion weapons.

All stats provided by ESPN Research, each ages and teams close arsenic of June 1.

The 2024-25 FC 100, presumption by position

Go to: Goalkeeper | Fullbacks | Center backs | Defensive/central midfielders | Attacking midfielders | Wingers | Center forwards

20. Benjamin SESKO, RB Leipzig/Slovenia, 21 years old

What makes him special: Scorers who are 6-foot-4 and person one-on-one capabilities don't precisely turn connected trees.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): Unranked

One cardinal stat: Sesko led Leipzig with 21 goals successful each competitions this play (next closest subordinate had 13).

Why he's connected the list: It was a disappointing play for Sesko and RB Leipzig successful 2024-25. But here's what "disappointing" looks similar for the mammoth forward: He was only ninth successful the league successful goals (13), and helium only scored 4 goals successful 8 Champions League matches. He's inactive learning the finer points of possession play and however to lend successful the passing game, but successful the meantime, he's already astir elite astatine simply being a big-bodied forward. He wins tons of aerials, and, possibly uniquely for idiosyncratic truthful tall, helium some attempts and wins tons of one-on-ones connected the ground.

What helium says: "Comparisons [to Erling Haaland] motivate maine and springiness maine energy. They bash not correspond pressure. I volition perceive and larn truthful I tin beryllium adjacent amended than helium is. My teammates astatine the nine archer maine that Haaland and I are precise similar, particularly successful presumption of speed. Most of them adjacent archer maine that I'm amended than him!"

What they say: "He is the modern striker par excellence ... We're talking astir a physically beardown halfway forward, precise beardown indeed. And he's making large advancement besides technically, period aft month." -- Slovenia men's nationalist squad manager Matjaž Kek

What's next: That's a bully question. Despite a frustrating 2024-25 campaign, Sesko's sanction remains a changeless successful the transportation rumors, with Arsenal and Chelsea among those supposedly funny successful his services. He'll beryllium worthy watching careless of the garment he's wearing, though, and having scored 16 goals for his nationalist squad earlier his 22nd birthday, he'll beryllium a immense portion of Slovenia's World Cup qualification push. -- Bill Connelly

19. Kai HAVERTZ, Arsenal/Germany, 25

What makes him special: A stylish chameleon susceptible of starring the enactment oregon creating from midfield.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): 11

One cardinal stat: Havertz led Arsenal with 15 goals successful each competitions this season.

Why he's connected the list: Havertz recovered from a dilatory commencement aft his £65 cardinal determination from Chelsea to Arsenal successful 2023 to go a cardinal signing, taking the Gunners to wrong a whisker of their archetypal Premier League rubric successful 20 years. When helium was ruled retired for the remainder of the play successful March with a hamstring injury, Arsenal's hopes of glory mostly went with him.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta values not lone Havertz's quality successful possession and quality to people a wide scope of goals, but besides his tireless pressing disconnected the ball. When the Gunners are capable to predominate teams and overwhelm them, it is successful nary tiny portion down to the positional flexibility and dexterity with which Havertz plays.

What helium says: "I haven't worked with a manager that puts truthful overmuch enactment into tiny small details connected the pitch. Some things were caller for maine and I didn't adjacent cognize they were necessary, but evidently determination are tons of things. I don't privation to springiness distant our crippled plan, but truthful galore things are important, and I learned that."

What they say: "He is simply a powerhouse. He is truthful well-built. He is simply a subordinate that thing you inquire him, helium is blessed to do. ... And past helium truly looks aft himself. When you spot the professional, however helium lives his life, it is immaculate. He does much than immoderate different subordinate there. That is not a coincidence." -- Arteta

What's next: The aboriginal is simply a small uncertain for Havertz, with Arsenal targeting a caller striker successful this summer's transportation market. Any additions volition mean further contention for places and possibly constituent to Havertz reverting to a midfield relation much often. But either way, helium is contracted to Emirates Stadium until 2028 and remains blessed wherever helium is. -- James Olley

18. Jonathan DAVID, Lille/Canada, 25

What makes him special: With Canada joint-hosting adjacent year's World Cup, David's banal is lone going to rise. He's 1 of the astir sought-after players successful satellite football, and helium volition marque a high-profile determination this summer.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): Unranked

One cardinal stat: David led Lille successful Ligue 1 and Champions League play with 34 extremity contributions (25 goals, 9 assists) -- the adjacent closest subordinate had 11.

Why he's connected the list: Search David's sanction connected the internet, and you're met by a partition of clubs linked with him. This is nary astonishment arsenic (A) he's precise good, and (B) his declaration is up successful June and he's disposable connected a escaped transfer. The database of teams reportedly courting David is simply a "who's who" from the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga and Serie A. Wherever helium ends up, his caller nine volition beryllium getting an incredibly versatile player: He tin screen some wings, play arsenic a mendacious 9 and service arsenic a antiaircraft guardant but besides an all-out striker.

David is Canada's all-time starring extremity scorer, and they volition expect him to beryllium 1 of the poster boys of adjacent year's World Cup. For Lille this season, helium has scored 25 goals. Whichever nine gets him adjacent volition beryllium a fortunate one. In short, he's outstanding.

What helium says: "I similar the information that I don't springiness overmuch away. It's hard to work me. I effort to support it that way."

What they say: "I've advertised him often arsenic the astir intelligent footballer I've ever coached. His quality to enactment things to practice, his quality to work successful the game, what's necessary. He's truly clever." -- Canada manager Jesse Marsch

What's next: The antheral called "The Iceman" has bided his clip implicit his adjacent move. David has confirmed he'll permission Lille this summertime arsenic a escaped cause and has been linked with (deep breath) Juventus, Napoli, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. -- Tom Hamilton

17. Chris WOOD, Nottingham Forest/New Zealand, 33

What makes him special: A journeyman striker who conscionable had the play of his life.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): Unranked

One cardinal stat: Wood managed to people 6.6 goals supra expected, the second-biggest spread successful the Premier League this play (20 goals scored connected 13.4 xG).

Why he's connected the list: The 33-year-old New Zealand planetary is playing for his 12th English nine and is the explanation of a reliable goal-scoring halfway forward, but helium has taken his signifier to a caller precocious this play by hitting 20 Premier League goals for Forest. Wood's contributions person been accordant passim the run and a large origin successful the club's astonishment accomplishment of European shot adjacent term. He mightiness not beryllium the astir glamorous name, but lone Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Haaland person scored much Premier League goals this season, and helium besides topped the scoring charts successful Oceania with 9 goals to assistance occurrence New Zealand to the World Cup for the archetypal clip since 2010.

What helium says: "The six oregon 7 loans I had arsenic a youngster taught maine a batch astir being appreciated and valued. It's not ever astir you arsenic a idiosyncratic oregon player, it's however you link and physique with a team. A batch of it is retired of your control. I'm not a antheral who is going to bushed 2 oregon 3 players and instrumentality successful in the apical corner. I'm a antheral who relies connected service. If they can't proviso me, I can't score."

What they say: "Everyone wants to speech astir Woodsy close now. He's doing amazing. Right now, what he's done -- this is thing that whitethorn not hap again for a New Zealander to beryllium playing astatine that level, successful that form." -- New Zealand manager Darren Bazeley

What's next: Wood has signed a declaration hold until 2027 astatine Forest, truthful his contiguous aboriginal volition beryllium astatine the City Ground arsenic the two-time European champions instrumentality to continental shot for the archetypal clip since the mid-1990s adjacent season. Sustaining this season's signifier volition beryllium Wood's large challenge, but with a World Cup to look guardant to adjacent year, helium has the cleanable inducement to support performing. -- Mark Ogden

16. Matheus CUNHA, Wolves/Brazil, 25

What makes him special: A dynamic scorer who tin play anyplace crossed the beforehand three.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): Unranked

One cardinal stat: His 5 goals from extracurricular the punishment country were tied for astir (with Bruno Fernandes) successful Premier League this season.

Why he's connected the list: The Brazil international's vocation had been a dilatory burner until helium signed for Wolves connected indebtedness from Atlético Madrid successful January 2023. And yet, since arriving astatine Molineux, Cunha has go 1 of the astir accordant scorers successful the Premier League, hitting 15 league goals for the squad this play aft registering 12 successful his archetypal afloat run astatine the nine past year.

The 25-year-old, who played for FC Sion, RB Leipzig and Hertha Berlin earlier signing for Atlético successful 2021, has a fiery broadside to his character. His temperament has led to disciplinary problems, but his gait and extremity menace guarantee helium has been a affirmative beingness astatine Wolves.

What helium says: "Some things you can't control, but I couldn't permission the nine successful the mediate of the season, successful a hard situation, successful the relegation zone. But I've made it wide that I request to instrumentality the adjacent step. I privation to combat for titles, for large things. I person potential."

What they say: "He knows his imaginable arsenic a apical player. For me, it's mean that helium wants to combat for titles. It's natural. What's important is that helium is committed to helping the nine to execute their targets until the extremity of the season." -- Wolves manager Vítor Pereira

What's next: Arsenal tried to motion Cunha past summertime and mightiness regret missing out, arsenic Manchester United announced connected Sunday that they've agreed to motion him pending visa and registration processes, after triggering the £62.5 cardinal ($83.5m) transportation clause successful the Brazil international's contract. An ESPN root said helium signed a five-year contract, with an enactment to widen different year. -- Mark Ogden

15. Cristiano RONALDO, Al Nassr/Portugal, 40

What makes him special: For some, he's simply the GOAT. Ronaldo has been tearing up grounds books and increasing his gargantuan cult pursuing for the past 23 years. Over successful the Saudi Pro League, he's besides creeping ever person to that astonishing people of 1,000 vocation goals.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): Unranked

One cardinal stat: Ronaldo finished arsenic the apical scorer successful the Saudi Pro League with 25 goals. He was the apical scorer successful some of his afloat seasons with Al Nassr (2023-24 and 2024-25).

Why he's connected the list: Ronaldo has 5 Ballon d'Ors, holds the grounds for the astir goals successful the Champions League (140), has the astir planetary goals (136) and sits connected 934 elder goals wide (which, depending connected however galore you judge Pelé scored, means helium lays assertion to having the astir strikes successful shot history). He's inactive rolling retired his champion hits for Portugal connected the planetary signifier aft taking his goal-scoring quality to the Saudi Pro League. Al Nassr are inactive struggling to triumph that elusive portion of silverware contempt having a beforehand 2 of Ronaldo and Jhon Durán, finishing a distant 3rd to champions Al Ittihad successful the league, getting eliminated from the Kings Cup successful the circular of 16 and losing successful the semifinals of the AFC Champions League.

What helium says: "It's astir surviving successful the moment, enjoying the moment, seeing the effect that my legs volition springiness maine successful the adjacent fewer years. One 1000 goals is great, but if it doesn't come, I'm already the subordinate successful past with the astir goals."

What they say: "It feels similar I'm playing FIFA Career Mode. I'm celebrating goals with Cristiano Ronaldo!" -- Durán, connected playing with Ronaldo

What's next: Ronaldo's declaration with Al Nassr is up astatine the extremity of the season. There are talks implicit a caller deal, but transportation buzz is rampant arsenic immoderate judge he's going to articulation a squad participating successful this summer's Club World Cup by virtuousness of the other pre-tournament transportation window. Regardless of wherever helium ends up, his large remaining extremity is becoming the archetypal undisputed subordinate to deed the 1,000-goal people successful the sport. -- Tom Hamilton

14. Marcus THURAM, Inter Milan/France, 27

What makes him special: Thuram has go 1 of Europe's astir admired all-around forwards and helped occurrence Inter to the Scudetto successful 2024 and the Champions League last this year.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): Unranked

One cardinal stat: Scored 9 of his 14 Serie A goals with the archetypal interaction (tied for 3rd astir successful the league this season).

Why he's connected the list: Sometimes successful soccer, it's pugnacious for sons to measurement retired of their fathers' shadows. But Thuram has done it, shining for nine and state nether the watchful oculus of France fable Lilian Thuram.

He's been 1 of Inter's astir accordant performers, forming a potent attacking concern with Lautaro Martínez, but helium has shone successful his ain close -- not atrocious for idiosyncratic Inter signed arsenic a escaped cause successful 2023. He scored that memorable flicked backheel against Barça successful their Champions League semifinal and is reportedly getting immoderate admiring glances from teams successful the Premier League.

Thuram is rapidly processing into an awesome all-around striker: superb with the shot astatine his feet, he's a objective finisher and tin clasp the shot up efficaciously portion having large consciousness for wherever his teammates are.

What helium says: "I would similar to convey Thierry Henry for each the proposal helium gave me. Sometimes I speech much to him than to my dad. He's the champion uncle I have. He's ever been determination for me: successful bully times and bad."

What they say: "Do I person 2 phenomenal children? No, they're not phenomenal. They ever person to amended and ever enactment hard. I'll archer him, 'I talked to the manager and helium told maine you are bully but you person to bash better,' and past he'll instrumentality note. Maybe the endowment they person is that of listening and knowing that you amended by listening to those astir you." -- Lilian Thuram, connected his sons Marcus and Khephren (Juventus)

What's next: Thuram is nether declaration done 2028, but determination are reports Inter are looking to widen that deal. He has a merchandise clause successful the portion of €85 million, and helium has been linked with Liverpool and Chelsea successful the past. Regardless, Inter volition beryllium precise reluctant to fto him leave. -- Tom Hamilton

13. Omar MARMOUSH, Manchester City/Egypt, 26

What makes him special: A flexible guardant with an oculus for goal.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): Unranked

One cardinal stat: Though his past crippled with Eintracht Frankfurt was Jan. 14 earlier helium joined Man City, Marmoush's 20 goals were the 2nd astir of immoderate Die Adler subordinate this play crossed each competitions (Hugo Ekitike had 2 much goals, but successful 22 much games).

Why he's connected the list: The FC 100 is each astir recognizing fantastic seasons, and this has been Marmoush's breakthrough campaign. At 1 constituent successful his career, determination was a information the Egypt planetary mightiness crook into a Bundesliga journeyman, but aft spells astatine Wolfsburg, St. Pauli and Stuttgart, his numbers for Eintracht Frankfurt exploded -- 20 goals successful 26 games betwixt August and December -- and it didn't instrumentality agelong for Europe's heavyweight clubs to instrumentality notice.

Manchester City made him a cardinal portion of their rebuild nether manager Pep Guardiola by bringing him to the Etihad Stadium successful a £60 cardinal woody successful January and portion it's inactive aboriginal days, helium has settled successful quickly, scoring 7 goals successful 20 games. Comfortable anyplace crossed the beforehand line, Marmoush's acclimatization to his caller nine was helped by a Premier League chapeau instrumentality against Newcastle United successful February.

What helium says: "With Pep, his method unit and the world-class facilities here, players person everything they request to go better. That was truly enticing for maine erstwhile I had the accidental to travel here. I cannot contradict that I besides privation to triumph trophies."

What they say: "The crushed wherefore [City signed Marmoush] was the potential. The nine thought helium is simply a imaginable aboriginal [star] for galore years with unthinkable prime successful the last third, and that is wherefore we did it." -- Guardiola

What's next: Marmoush got his large determination successful January. The adjacent measurement is to nail down a regular spot successful City's squad and assistance them situation for Premier League and Champions League honors again aft a disappointing season. -- Rob Dawson

12. Victor OSIMHEN, Galatasaray (on indebtedness from Napoli)/Nigeria, 26

What makes him special: At times, his operation of intelligence, spot and velocity marque him hard to stop.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): 13

One cardinal stat: Led the Turkish Süper Lig with 25 goals and 30 extremity contributions this season.

Why he's connected the list: His contractual concern with Napoli mightiness person ended with him taking a twelvemonth connected indebtedness successful Turkey, but marque nary mistake: Osimhen has mislaid nary of his sparkle, scoring 36 goals successful 40 games en way to the rubric with Galatasaray. As a halfway forward, he's a one-man gang, often tying up full defenses with his movement, and helium excels astatine dropping disconnected and linking play. He's besides precise overmuch a charismatic person who lifts teammates and fans alike.

Still lone 26, he's the second-leading scorer successful past for the Nigerian nationalist side, which helium led each the mode to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final.

What helium says: "Normally, I amusement everyone love. I tin gag with anyone, particularly since I person equipped information with me. ... Joking aside, if you wounded me, don't expect maine to amusement emotion back. If you are evil towards me, I volition beryllium evil back."

What they say: "He has choler inside, helium lives for goals. He fights, helium wants to win, helium wants to assistance teammates. He transmits determination that makes you triumph games." -- Former Italy planetary and manager Fabio Capello

What's next: He has a twelvemonth near connected his declaration with Napoli (he went connected indebtedness to Galatasaray due to the fact that they couldn't scope an statement connected an extension) and they person a large determination to make. It's precise apt he'll beryllium connected the determination again, since it's hard to spot Napoli signing him to a caller woody contempt his good play successful Turkey, particularly aft committing to Romelu Lukaku. With lone a twelvemonth left, you wouldn't expect the interest to beryllium peculiarly high. -- Gab Marcotti

11. Mateo RETEGUI, Atalanta/Italy, 26

What makes him special: Quintessential punishment container predator with an oculus for goal, but without the selfishness and ego associated with No. 9s.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): Unranked

One cardinal stat: Led Serie A with 25 goals this season, the 2nd Atalanta subordinate to decorativeness Capocannoniere (Filippo Inzaghi did it successful 1996-97).

Why he's connected the list: Some were skeptical erstwhile helium chose to play for Italy, the state of his grandparents (and 1 successful dire request of a existent halfway forward) up of Argentina, wherever helium was calved and raised. But helium has proved the skeptics wrong, winning the Serie A scoring rubric with 25 goals successful 36 appearances for Atalanta.

Retegui isn't the biggest, fastest, nor the astir skillful, but helium has that knack for getting into shooting positions and uncovering abstraction for himself. In that sense, he's the purest of halfway forwards. But dissimilar the stereotypical strikers of the past, helium besides works his backside disconnected for the team, pressing hard retired of presumption and making runs for teammates.

What helium says: "For me, it's much important to amended arsenic a idiosyncratic than it is to amended arsenic a footballer."

What they say: "In the box, he's precise good. He knows however to find abstraction and beryllium successful the close spot astatine the close time. He's ever there, shooting connected goal, getting to each escaped ball. And helium works hard for the team, putting it first." -- Former Inter Milan halfway guardant Christian Vieri

What's next: He lone signed for Atalanta a twelvemonth ago, and their religion was instantly repaid. He has had a large season, but this is Atalanta, which means everyone is disposable to beryllium transferred astatine the close price. Some fishy he's a "system" halfway guardant who mightiness not beryllium arsenic prolific elsewhere, truthful determination is simply a bully accidental he'll enactment put. Expect him to pb the enactment for Italy astatine the 2026 World Cup (assuming they qualify). -- Gab Marcotti

10. Antoine GRIEZMANN, Atlético Madrid/France, 34

What makes him special: A originative genius with an astir unsocial versatility and enactment ethic for his teams.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): 6

One cardinal stat: He tied for astir extremity contributions for Atlético Madrid successful the Champions League this play with 8 (6 goals, 2 assists).

Why he's connected the list: Griezmann lit up the archetypal fractional of the play -- similar erstwhile helium scored 7 goals successful 5 games betwixt November and December -- and, portion helium tailed disconnected successful 2024, helium remains a clutch subordinate and a crippled changer who tin thrive successful each midfield oregon attacking position. His shot IQ is mode supra average, and adjacent astatine 34, helium keeps moving to assistance his team.

There aren't galore similar him inactive playing. You person to physique your squad astir him, but helium is perfectly worthy it.

What helium says: "I effort to beryllium a implicit subordinate -- successful onslaught and defence -- and to amended each year. When I'm connected the pitch, I bask myself and effort to springiness my all. It's similar erstwhile you played connected the thoroughfare with your friends. Now each clip I score, I crook into a small lad again. It's intolerable to explicate however blessed scoring makes you."

What they say: "He's a crippled changer, highly important to the squad. Every clip helium tin assistance us, helium gives the squad an other boost. We anticipation helium continues this way. We request him, and his focus." -- Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone

What's next: He has decided to widen his declaration with Atlético, though helium mightiness person to modulation into an interaction oregon superb sub relation for the Colchoneros arsenic helium gets older. He could person near and gone to MLS, but his clip astatine Atlético, the nine of his life, is not implicit conscionable yet. -- Julien Laurens

9. Serhou GUIRASSY, Borussia Dortmund/Guinea, 29

What makes him special: Goals, silly. He scores tons and tons of goals.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): Unranked

One cardinal stat: Scored 21 goals successful this Bundesliga season, a caller nine grounds for a subordinate successful his archetypal Bundesliga play astatine Borussia Dortmund.

Why he's connected the list: Here's a implicit database of players who person scored much goals than Guirassy successful the Big Five leagues since the commencement of 2023-24: Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé. That's it. Guirassy had ne'er scored much than 11 league goals successful a play earlier 2023, but helium scored 28 of them portion starring Stuttgart to the Champions League successful 2023-24, past helium scored different 21 astatine Borussia Dortmund successful 2024-25. (Seven of those goals came during the late, seven-game unbeaten tally that allowed BVB to rally from 11th to 4th and suffice for the Champions League.)

He's a coagulated passer, and helium tin nexus up play if you inquire him, but he's connected the transportation to instrumentality tons of shots and people tons of goals, and he's 1 of the champion successful Europe astatine it.

What helium says: "I person had 2 brainsick seasons, but I've not changed anything. I'm not moving more, I'm not sleeping more, I'm not doing much video analysis. It's conscionable a question of confidence. And I person understood that astatine the highest level, endowment isn't enough. You person to propulsion done the symptom obstruction successful challenges, successful the effort you enactment in, successful making high-intensity runs again and again, much rapidly and much often than your opponents. Perhaps that is wherever the alteration has travel from."

What they say: "He's similar our beingness security astatine the moment." -- Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac

What's next: Guirassy signed a four-year declaration with the determination to Dortmund past summer, truthful the 29-year-old volition apt stay with the Schwarzgelben into his 30s. And portion Guinea volition person to rally for Guirassy to play successful adjacent year's World Cup, helium volition diagnostic for BVB successful this summer's Club World Cup and, acknowledgment successful portion to his ain performances, adjacent season's Champions League. -- Bill Connelly

8. Viktor GYÖKERES, Sporting CP/Sweden, 26

What makes him special: A lethal striker with an exceptional extremity grounds successful Portugal.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): 30

One cardinal stat: His 54 goals this play successful each competitions for Sporting, astir by a subordinate successful a top-flight nine (all comps) this season.

Why he's connected the list: Gyökeres has had to hold for his clip successful the spotlight, but present that he's yet connected the large stage, he's making the astir of it. His stints astatine Brighton & Hove Albion and Swansea City weren't peculiarly notable, but helium recovered signifier successful the Championship with Coventry City. Our communicative earlier this twelvemonth showed however the transfer marketplace abstraction TransferRoom helped gain Gyökeres a astonishment determination to Sporting CP successful 2023, and helium has been thing abbreviated of phenomenal since. The Sweden striker has scored an unbelievable 96 goals successful 101 games crossed 2 seasons -- numbers that enactment him connected par with the precise best.

Sporting manager of shot Hugo Viana -- present successful the aforesaid relation astatine Manchester City -- deserves immense recognition for plucking him from Coventry successful England's 2nd tier. Gyökeres looks acceptable to determination connected this summer. And portion determination volition beryllium questions astir whether helium tin people astatine the aforesaid complaint successful 1 of Europe's much competitory leagues, helium has surely earned himself the accidental to try.

What helium says: "There are galore rumors circulating. We volition spot erstwhile the clip comes what volition happen. Playing for 1 of the champion teams successful Europe, that is the objective."

What they say: "Viktor's biggest spot is his mentality. When helium decides he's going to bash something, he's the benignant that volition bash it. He went distant that summertime astir arsenic a antheral connected a mission." -- Aberdeen caput of recruitment Chris Badlan

What's next: Arsenal and Manchester United are among the clubs being linked with Gyökeres, who could beryllium disposable for astir €60 cardinal successful the transportation window. Arsenal look champion placed to onshore him arsenic Mikel Arteta searches to capable the spread astatine halfway forward. -- Rob Dawson

7. Julián ÁLVAREZ, Atlético Madrid/Argentina, 25

What makes him special: A World Cup victor and Atlético's caller icon, successor to Antoine Griezmann.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): Unranked

One cardinal stat: He scored 29 goals this play successful each competitions, the astir goals by an Atlético Madrid subordinate successful his archetypal play for the nine since Radamel Falcao scored 36 successful 2011-12.

Why he's connected the list: At the commencement of this season, €75 cardinal felt similar a batch of wealth to motion Álvarez. Now, it looks similar a bargain. Twenty-nine goals successful each competitions is an awesome record, but much than that, Álvarez has carried the load of starring the enactment astatine Atlético, adapting to manager Simeone's demanding, team-first doctrine portion besides providing countless moments of joyous accomplishment and invention. He has looked similar the implicit forward: selfless and diligent disconnected the ball, objective and single-minded connected it.

Atlético's play ended successful disappointment, but that was successful nary mode down to Álvarez. It was a cruel twist that possibly his astir high-profile infinitesimal was unspeakable luck: slipping arsenic helium stepped up to instrumentality a punishment successful the Champions League shootout with Real Madrid, touching the shot doubly -- astatine slightest according to the refereeing squad and UEFA -- to lend to Atlético's elimination from the competition. Next season, he'll beryllium retired to enactment that right.

What helium says: "I don't know. ... I mightiness have, but I don't know." -- Álvarez to teammates, connected whether helium touched the shot doubly for his punishment vs. Real Madrid

What they say: "He's different, similar Luis Suárez was, similar [David] Villa, they person a gift. They marque the difference." -- Simeone

What's next: He'll play for Atlético astatine the Club World Cup, and past -- established arsenic the team's starring prima -- assistance them combat for adjacent season's LaLiga title. -- Alex Kirkland

6. Alexander ISAK, Newcastle United/Sweden, 25

What makes him special: A lethal finisher with some feet.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): 18

One cardinal stat: He scored the second-most goals successful the Premier League this play (23), with his mean of 120.4 minutes per extremity besides 2nd champion of immoderate subordinate successful the competition.

Why he's connected the list: With a genuine shortage of world-class halfway forwards successful the planetary crippled close now, Newcastle person 1 of the hottest successful shot with Isak -- a young, prolific, proven extremity scorer who is performing successful 1 of the world's apical leagues. The Sweden international's goals person already helped Newcastle extremity a 70-year hold for their archetypal large trophy this season, toppling Liverpool 2-1 successful February to assertion the Carabao Cup, and lone the Reds' Mohamed Salah has scored much than Isak's 23 goals successful the Premier League this term. With truthful galore clubs looking for a apical striker, Isak's worth astatine Newcastle has rocketed.

What helium says: "As I person said galore times, I don't truly look excessively overmuch oregon deliberation excessively overmuch astir my future. I person said I americium blessed present and we are contenders for titles, which is what you privation to triumph arsenic a shot player."

What they say: "I consciousness that Isak has enactment himself into the 'world-class' class now, with his performances for Newcastle implicit the past 2 seasons. Along with Mohamed Salah astatine Liverpool and Manchester City's Erling Haaland, helium is 1 of the 3 standout forwards we person got successful the Premier League. He's similar an assassin, the mode helium puts chances away." -- erstwhile Newcastle United and England striker Alan Shearer

What's next: The large question hovering implicit Isak is wherever helium volition beryllium adjacent play and whether Newcastle tin clasp onto the erstwhile Real Sociedad forward. The Magpies privation to manus Isak a caller declaration -- his woody runs until 2028 -- but Liverpool and Arsenal are 2 clubs blistery connected his tail. Newcastle volition person to amusement they person the ambition to pursuit the biggest trophies to stave disconnected involvement successful their prima player. -- Mark Ogden

5. Lautaro MARTINEZ, Inter Milan/Argentina, 27

What makes him special: A accordant and prolific extremity scorer.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): 12

One cardinal stat: He scored 9 goals this play successful the Champions League, tied for the astir successful a UCL run by an Inter subordinate (with 2002-03 Hernán Crespo).

Why he's connected the list: Martínez ticks a batch of boxes erstwhile you're talking astir the world's champion strikers. He has averaged astir a extremity each 2 games crossed 7 seasons astatine Inter, starring the squad to a fig of notable successes. He has helped them triumph 2 Serie A titles and different 5 home trophies, and was portion of the squad that reached the 2023 Champions League final, adjacent scoring 9 goals successful 13 games successful this season's contention to acceptable up a last against Paris Saint-Germain successful Munich. A World Cup victor with Argentina successful 2022, helium scored 11 planetary goals successful 16 games successful 2024.

What helium says: "I similar immoderate players, but I don't person immoderate idols. I particularly watched [Radamel] Falcao astatine River for his movements. I spot myself arsenic akin to him successful the mode helium attacks the goal, but he's not a subordinate who comes to maneuver adjacent a fewer meters backmost similar I bash astatine Inter oregon similar I did astatine Racing."

What they say: "Lautaro is spectacular, awesome -- he'll go a large subordinate and he's already showing signs of that. He is objective successful one-on-one situations, scores tons of goals and has large question successful the box. He has bags of prime and he's a implicit striker. He has a batch successful communal with Luis Suárez." -- Inter Miami guardant Lionel Messi

What's next: He has been followed by Premier League clubs specified arsenic Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea for a fig of years, but helium has a agelong declaration astatine Inter. The biggest purpose connected the skyline is to assistance Argentina support the World Cup successful 2026. -- Gab Marcotti

4. Erling HAALAND, Manchester City/Norway, 24

What makes him special: Simply put, he's 1 of the champion extremity scorers successful the world.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): 3

One cardinal stat: Haaland leads the Premier League with 85 goals since 2022-23; nary different subordinate has much than 66 successful that span (Salah has 66).

Why he's connected the list: It says everything astir Haaland's prime that, successful what is being considered arsenic a mediocre season, helium managed scored 30 goals successful 40 games. He missed retired connected a 3rd successive Premier League rubric aft Manchester City slipped mode disconnected the gait successful the league, but for the 3rd twelvemonth successful a row, Haaland has reached 20 league goals and 30 successful each competitions.

You tin reason each time astir imaginable limitations successful his all-around game, but what's not up for statement is his quality to enactment the shot successful the net. He's 1 of lone a fewer players who tin people astir immoderate benignant of goal. He's assured one-on-one oregon poaching successful the box. He scores headers and acrobatic volleys. It's the benignant of scoring instrumentality that makes him Man City's MVP.

What helium says: "First I'm looking astatine myself. I haven't been doing things bully enough, I haven't been scoring my chances. I person to bash better. I haven't been bully enough. Of course, our assurance is not the best. We cognize however important assurance is, and you tin spot that it affects each quality being. That is however it is. We person to proceed and enactment affirmative adjacent though it is difficult."

What they say: "In the past erstwhile we scored goals and Erling was truthful prolific and helping us, it was due to the fact that of the team. But erstwhile you person problems astatine the backmost and middle, it is each astir the team. Not conscionable 1 player. If it's conscionable 1 player, it would beryllium casual to spot the crushed why. It's not astir that. Erling is truthful important for us, volition beryllium important for us, and we request to usage him better." -- Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola

What's next: Haaland has committed his aboriginal to the nine for the adjacent 10 years, truthful he's acceptable to beryllium astatine the halfway of immoderate rebuild takes place. -- Rob Dawson

3. Harry KANE, Bayern Munich/England, 31

What makes him special: He has been 1 of the champion forwards successful the athletics for 10-plus years, and helium has dropped nary hint of slowing down. He got his archetypal trophy, a Bundesliga title, too!

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): 2

Key stats: Kane averaged a extremity each 94.2 minutes successful league, home and European competitions this season, the 2nd champion of immoderate subordinate successful the Bundesliga. He besides finished arsenic the Bundesliga's apical scorer with 26 goals, the 5th clip successful his vocation that helium has won the Golden Boot successful a league.

Why he's connected the list: After a legendary decade-plus astatine Tottenham Hotspur, Kane near England successful the summertime of 2023 to commencement a caller act. Seems similar it was a beauteous bully decision. In 2 seasons with Bayern Munich, the 31-year-old has scored 82 goals with 23 assists, and portion injuries constricted his minutes a spot successful 2024-25, helium inactive scored 38 goals for the Bundesliga champions.

His crippled is beauteous well-known astatine this point: He tin instrumentality portion successful link-up play if you want, and he's a much consenting presser than a batch of elite forwards, but his spot is simple: He's going to get his shots. He was archetypal successful the Bundesliga successful goals (26) and shots connected extremity (54), and helium was 2nd successful changeable attempts (114). He creates abstraction himself, helium gets connected the extremity of crosses, and helium puts the shot successful the net. Those are beauteous utile things to beryllium large at.

What helium says: "It feels bully to beryllium a champion. It's been a agelong clip coming, a batch of hard work. I consciousness truly happy."

What they say: "I cognize Harry present arsenic a top, apical nonrecreational who does what is asked of him and helium does it present with Bayern Munich." -- England manager Thomas Tuchel

What's next: Kane's Bayern declaration expires successful 2027, though helium has fixed nary denotation that he's considering moving connected aft that. Regardless, we cognize what's astir apt successful store for the adjacent 2 seasons: He's going to people a batch of goals, triumph different fewer trophies and, assuming bully health, commencement up apical for England astatine different World Cup. -- Bill Connelly

2. Robert LEWANDOWSKI, Barcelona/Poland, 36

What makes him special: One of the champion finishers of his procreation is inactive having a large interaction astatine the apical level of the crippled 20 years aft his nonrecreational debut. He's besides 1 of conscionable 3 players (along with Messi and Jan Oblak) to look successful each 9 editions of our yearly ranking.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): 26

Key stats: His 7 goals successful LaLiga are 3rd astir successful Europe's apical 5 leagues this season. He reached 34 goals successful the Champions League knockout stage, tied with Karim Benzema for the third-most UCL knockout signifier goals (Ronaldo 67, Messi 49).

Why he's connected the list: At 36, Lewandowski conscionable had his champion play for Barça yet. The Polish striker's 40 goals helped the Catalan nine extremity the run with a home treble. Sandwiched betwixt wide men Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, helium recovered himself person to extremity and with much chances than helium did successful his archetypal 2 years successful Spain. There were immoderate vintage Lewandowski moments, too: His brace against Real Madrid successful LaLiga successful October and a superb onslaught against Atlético Madrid successful Barça's comeback triumph successful March were pivotal moments successful the rubric race.

What helium says: "People speech astir my age, but I consciousness large physically and determination is nary quality betwixt my information from a fewer years agone and now. I privation to support playing astatine the highest level for a fewer much years yet."

What they say: "To play astatine this level astatine his age, it of people takes a peculiar talent, but you besides person to beryllium precise professional. He takes large attraction of himself, similar Cristiano Ronaldo, and has large physique and fitness. He shows each time what a nonrecreational helium is and focuses connected controlling each small item to beryllium astatine his best." -- Barça manager Hansi Flick

What's next: Lewandowski has 1 much twelvemonth to tally connected his declaration astatine Barça, but his presumption volition apt travel nether much menace adjacent play arsenic helium turns 37. His situation is to support his spot by doing what helium has ever done: uncovering the backmost of the net. -- Sam Marsden

1. Kylian MBAPPÉ, Real Madrid/France, 26

What makes him special: The cleanable operation of gait and skill, with goals galore added to his output since moving to Madrid.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all forwards): 1

Key stats: His 43 goals this play successful each competitions are the astir each clip by a Real Madrid subordinate successful his debut season, and the astir by a subordinate successful Europe's apical 5 leagues. Also, helium managed 31 goals successful LaLiga this season, making him the 4th subordinate successful LaLiga past to people 30-plus goals successful his archetypal play successful the league, and astir since Ronaldo Nazário (34 goals) successful 1996-97 with Barcelona.

Why he's connected the list: He is the champion guardant successful the world. He has breached plentifulness of records successful his archetypal play astatine Real Madrid, scoring successful each the finals helium played -- on with chapeau tricks successful El Clásico and against Manchester City successful the Champions League -- contempt playing successful a dysfunctional team. The database of his vocation achievements truthful acold is incredible, adjacent if a Champions League rubric remains elusive.

Whether helium plays coming successful from the near oregon arsenic a No. 9, helium is up of everyone other successful presumption of stats astatine his property aft becoming the youngest astatine beauteous overmuch everything successful France, including scoring successful the last and winning the World Cup arsenic a teenager.

For a archetypal play successful Madrid, adjacent though the run ended with lone a UEFA Super Cup and an Intercontinental Cup, Mbappé tin beryllium arrogant of what helium did. He scored much goals successful a debut play astatine the Bernabéu than immoderate subordinate successful the club's history. He has been carrying a squad with large flaws each season. There is nary different subordinate similar Mbappé close present successful soccer, and helium has not adjacent reached his peak.

What helium says: "I've been scoring a batch for years. So for people, it's go the norm. I've ne'er complained that my performances could beryllium normalized. Whoever you person maine play with, immoderate garment I'm wearing, wherever I am, immoderate the year, I volition ne'er beryllium satisfied -- adjacent much truthful successful the lawsuit of a trophy I haven't won, with the Champions League."

What they say: "I tin lone fto Mbappé beryllium and expect that helium volition execute arsenic overmuch arsenic Cristiano Ronaldo did astatine Real Madrid. Can helium bash it? Yes, I deliberation helium can, and helium volition astir apt go a Real Madrid fable similar [Cristiano] Ronaldo is." -- erstwhile Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti

What's next: He knows helium could person done much for nine and country, and helium volition person his eyes connected overmuch much adjacent twelvemonth nether a caller manager (Xabi Alonso) and arsenic a person of a squad that should beryllium overmuch better. Targeting triumph with France astatine this summer's UEFA Nations League finals, and adjacent summer's World Cup, besides tops his to-do list. -- Julien Laurens

The 2024-25 FC 100, presumption by position

Go to: Goalkeeper | Fullbacks | Center backs | Defensive/central midfielders | Attacking midfielders | Wingers | Center forwards