The best strikers in the world command fees of hundreds of millions of euros yearly from top clubs looking to improve their goal-scoring stats. We’ve come to be used to watching these forwards play for Europe’s top clubs. But often, these players are transferred from other leagues, and, sometimes, don’t want to depart the competition in which they’ve excelled din the first place.
This is why today we are looking at the best strikers in the world in 2024 as long as they don’t/haven’t played in one of the top five leagues in Europe (Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga).
The Best Strikers in the World in 2024 Outside of the Major Leagues
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Saudi Pro League)
Cristiano Ronaldo, yes, wasn’t up to his regular standard this Summer at Euro 2024. However, the stats back in the Saudi Pro League, show that the Portuguese continues to work on netting the goals. He managed 50 last season. Considering that the Saudis haven’t exactly toned down their spending this year, it’s not unthinkable to have the Pro League gain up on the major European domestic leagues.
Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon, Primeira Liga)
Portugal’s Primeira Liga has always been a scout’s heaven. So many of the best players in the top are Portuguese or departed the Primeira Liga at a young age. Viktor Gyokeres is neither of these things but had an incredible 2023/2024 campaign. The 26-year-old Swede scored 29 goals in 33 games. It’s enough to give the scouts something to think about.
Luuk De Jong (PSV Eindhoven, Eredivisie)
Few teams played more attractive football in 2024 than Peter Bosz’s PSV Eindhoven. Up front was a veteran and master of goalscoring, Luuk de Jong. A player who thrives when given the right amount of faith, de Jong scored 29 goals in the Eredivisie and helped PSV to one of the most dominating campaigns of Dutch clubs in years.
Paulinho (Aletico Mineiro, Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A)
Paulinho is the latest Brazilian striker to have landed on the radar of the top European clubs. He may have not earned as much fame as, for example, Endrick. But he’s outscored him. Paulinho registered 20 goals last season, and the Brazilian might consider taking another stab at European football after his initial failed attempt at joining up with Bayer Leverkusen.
Vangelis Pavlidis (AZ Alkmaar, Eredivisie)
Vangelis Pavlidis is another late-bloomer. The 25-year-old, capped 38 times for Greece, just had the best season of his career, scoring 29 goals for AZ Alkmaar. To be fair, Pavlidis had increased his goal-scoring stats across the previous season consistently, but this season’s have been so spectacular that they’ve led to a transfer to Benfica Lisbon.
Michael Santos (Talleres, Argentine Primera Division)
Michael Santos, to be fair, even in South America, has rarely done enough to warrant his consideration as among the very best strikers of the continent. A journeyman forward, the Uruguayan, however, did register his very best season in 2023, playing for Talleres in the Argentine Primera Division.
He has since moved twice, which is nothing new, and has retained some of the spark of the months that helped him to be chosen for the Argentine League’s Team of the Season.
Brian Brobbey (Ajax, Eredivisie)
Brian Brobbey didn’t score as many goals as some of the other strikers in Eredivisie, but they likely earned more headlines than all of them. The 22-year-old is one of the most talented young strikers in the world, on the radar of teams like Manchester United, and his strength and finishing make him one of the most exciting players to watch for the near future.
Martín Cauteruccio (Sporting Cristal, Peruvian Primera)
Martín Cauteruccio is proving that players can have the season of their careers at any age. The Uruguayan is 37 and just signed this year with Sporting Cristal from Lima. He has thus far scored 23 goals in 27 matches! It’s been enough to put Sporting 2nd in the table and make them unexpected title challengers. It’s never too late!
Tiquinho Soares (Botafogo,Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A)
Tiquinho Soares is a veteran striker who, at 33 years of age, has played on three continents and will be familiar, especially to fans of FC Porto. But Soares can still put them in. Last season, he scored 17 goals for Botafogo, helped the team finish fifth, and looks to be on course to register for a similar season this time around. It goes without saying that, often times, the very best football isn’t to be found in the top European leagues and this is proof.
Adrian Martinez (Racing Club, Argentine Primera Division)
Adrian Martinez hasn’t had an easy road to becoming a professional athlete. He, too, has been something of a journeyman, has served a stint in jail, and has reached 32 years of age, But singing to Racing Club in December of last year has proven to be the best move yet. He has netted 12 goals in 14 league matches and 15 goals overall. I’m told that Martinez and Argentine fans couldn’t be more delighted.
