It comes as no surprise that one of the best football leagues in the world also has also featured some of the world’s best strikers. From Eric Cantona to Thierry Henry, these are best eleven forward to play in the Premier League era.
Thierry Henry
The King of Arsenal, Thierry Henry remains Arsenal’s all-time scorer with 228 goals in all competitions. Gaining the reputation as one of Europe’s most feared strikers, Henry became the Premier League’s top goal-scorer in 4 different seasons, notching a prolific 32 goals and 23 assists in the 2002-03 season. With the ability to score anywhere on the pitch, he elevated his game in the 2003-04 season, scoring 39 goals in the Gunners unbeaten top-flight league season. Considered the greatest Gunner of all-time, Henry won two league titles, three FA Cups, four Golden Boots, and five Player of the Year awards throughout his career.
Alan Shearer
Considered to be one of the best Premiership goal scorers of all-time, Alan Shearer bagged 206 goals in the 405 games in his decade-long Newcastle career. But even before his spell with The Magpies, he won Premiership player of the year in 94/95 for scoring 34 goals and leading the Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League championship.
Eric Cantona
The charismatic French striker spent five years at Manchester United, making 185 appearances and scoring 82 goals. He helped the team win their first-ever Premier League era title in 1992. Winner of five Premiership titles and two League and FA Cup doubles, ‘The King’ of Old Trafford helped put back United on top as one of the best team’s in world football.
Dennis Bergkamp
With creativity and vision, Dennis Bergkamp came to define class during his 11 seasons at Arsenal. He scored 120 goals with the club, most notably the one-touch and subtle flick past the Leicester City goalkeeper in 1997, where he also scored his first hat-trick. Bergkamp also recorded 94 assists during his time at Highbury, making him the Gunners top assist-provider to this day.
Wayne Rooney
After making an illustrious hat-trick to start his Man United career against Fenerbahce in the Champions League 2004, Wayne Rooney went on to become United’s all-team leading scorer with 253 goals. He won 16 trophies at Old Trafford, including five Premiership titles, the FA Cup, and the Champions League title in 2008. As an Evertonian, he scored his first Premier League goal at the age of sixteen against Arsenal.
Luis Suarez
Luis Suárez had a slow start to his Premiership career, only netting 11 league goals in his first full season with the Reds. However, the striker came to be an incredible force up top the following two seasons where he scored a combined 54 league goals. The Uruguayan won the 2013-14 PFA Player of the Year award. He was also mired in controversy for his racist taunts against Patrice Evra in 2011 and for his second biting incident against Chelsea’s Ivanovic in a 2012 Premier League match.
Didier Drogba
Undoubtedly one of the greatest players in Blues’ history, Didier Drogba scored 157 goals in 341 appearances for The Blues. He also helped Chelsea equalize in the 2012 Champions League final before scoring the winning penalty against Bayern Munich. The Ivorian scored consistently in the biggest competitions, 36 goals in European matches and a goal in four FA Cup finals. The twice Premier League Golden Boot also won three League Cups.
Sergio Aguero
Considered one of the best players to don the sky blue shirt, Sergio Aguero is the team’s record goalscorer with 146 Premiership goals. In his first year with the side, he famously scored the game-winning goal in the 94th minute to beat Queens Park Rangers and win the Premier League over Manchester United. With three Premier League titles and three League Cups under his belt, Aguero looks to add more his trophy vault under coach Pep Guardiola.
Ian Wright
A prolific goal-scorer, Ian Wright spent seven years with the Gunners where he notched 185 goals and won five trophies. He remains second on Arsenal’s all-time scoring list behind the one and only, Thierry Henry. Wright’s antics both on and off the field also made him a cult favorite among fans.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
The Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy seemed to rain goals for Manchester United during his time in the Premiership, scoring a whopping 150 goals in 219 fixtures. He led the Red Devils in goals from 2002 – 2005, along the way winning the Premier League and an FA Cup. He also finished as the Champions League top scorer three times. The prolific scoring Dutchman also bagged 64 goals in his 96 caps with Real Madrid. He was the team’s top scorer in the 2006-07 season. A two-time La Liga champion, he, unfortunately, suffered injuries in the latter half of his tenure for the club.
Robbie Fowler
Ranked as the sixth top Liverpool scorer of all time, Robbie Fowler took Anfield by storm when he joined the club in 1992. He scored a total of 183 strikes for The Reds, scoring 30 or more goals in three consecutive seasons. He was awarded the PFA Young Player of the year for the 1995 and 1996 seasons. Unfortunately, multiple injuries slowed down his clinical finishing ability later in his career.
Andy Cole
The English center-forward played for numerous teams in the 1990s including Arsenal and Newcastle but experienced the most success with the Manchester United side. He peaked in form as the replacement for a retiring Eric Cantona and then flourished in a partnership with Dwight Yorke in the 1998-99 season, helping the Red Devils to the historic Treble. By the end of his career, Cole took home a Champions League, five Premier League trophies, and two FA Cups.
