The leading No.9s in world football are difficult to separate, but Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland stand above the rest. This ranking considers only specialist centre-forwards, excluding wingers, wide forwards and attackers who move into central positions.
10. Undav
Deniz Undav’s inclusion may divide opinion, but his 21 goals for club and country in 2026 are impossible to overlook. Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike may have greater reputations, yet neither can clearly be placed above the Germany international on the evidence of the past 12 months.
9. Chelsea striker
Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to take a visibly struggling Neymar to the World Cup instead of the Chelsea forward is presented as one of the biggest mistakes of his managerial career. The Chelsea striker, however, appears to have finally addressed the club’s long-running problem at centre-forward.
8. Kai Havertz
Viktor Gyokeres drops out of the previous ranking, with Kai Havertz returning to the list after recovering his form. The Arsenal forward is not a conventional No.9 and has recently resembled a Thomas Muller-style ‘Raumdeuter’, but his movement has helped make the Gunners’ attack more fluid.
Havertz is less prolific than Gyokeres, yet is considered a more complete and gifted footballer.
7. Julian Alvarez
Alvarez remains an enigma. Eight La Liga goals last season was a disappointing return for a player reportedly valued at €150million, while his tendency to disappear during less prominent matches remains a concern.
His major-stage record is far stronger. He contributed to Manchester City’s treble, played a significant part in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, scored against Switzerland this summer and impressed during Atletico Madrid’s run to the Champions League semi-finals. His future at Atleti will be closely watched after his proposed dream move failed to materialise.
6. Mikel Oyarzabal
Oyarzabal scored the winner in the Euro 2024 final, registered five goals at the 2026 World Cup and has 19 goals in his past 23 appearances for Spain. Despite those outstanding numbers, he has stayed with his boyhood club rather than pursuing a higher profile elsewhere.
5. Victor Osimhen
Osimhen’s Champions League displays against Liverpool and Juventus last season suggested he was ready to lead the line for a club such as Barcelona or Manchester United. Despite the transfer window passing without a move, 2027 may offer another opportunity.
4. Lautaro Martinez
Lautaro Martinez has scored 40 times for Argentina and 175 for Inter, making him their fourth and third-highest scorers respectively. He has won three Scudetti, claimed the Capocannoniere award in the past two Serie A seasons and helped Inter reach two Champions League finals.
3. Erling Haaland
Haaland’s 62 goals in 55 games for Norway, his record at Borussia Dortmund and his treble-winning campaign with Manchester City underline his extraordinary scoring ability. At 26, he is already being discussed among the greatest pure No.9s since Gerd Muller.
2. Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe is the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer and the first player to win two Golden Boots. Wayne Rooney said he is “as close to R9 as you’ll see”, while Ronaldo Nazario said Mbappe reminds him of himself in his prime.
Questions remain over Mbappe’s defensive work and his failure to win the Champions League, but his individual brilliance is historic.
1. Harry Kane
Kane scored 61 goals in all competitions for Bayern Munich last season, won a second European Golden Shoe and scored a hat-trick in the DFB Pokal final. He also scored six times at the World Cup.
Unlike Haaland, Kane regularly drops deep, creates for teammates and controls matches as a playmaker. He has scored in each of his past five club and country appearances, and could yet be the first of the leading trio to win the Ballon d’Or.
