Ranking The BEST Strikers In The World RIGHT NOW! 🌍 | Saturday Social

► Subscribe to Sky Sports Premier League: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsPL
► Watch Sky Sports: https://bit.ly/BuySkySports

This week on Saturday Social Adam Smith & Joe Thomlinson are joined by Nieve Petruzziello, Paul Machin, and Adam McKola. With Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe already registering 57 goals between them so far this season we decided to look at who is the best striker in the world right now? Nieve has been challenged to rank her 20 best strikers in the world and categorise them in the best, world class, great, and good, however only one player is allowed to be in the best category! Who do you think should be in it?

#Football #SaturdaySocial #SkySports #PremierLeague

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:36 Julian Alvarez
01:03 Ousmane Dembele
01:28 Robert Lewandowski
02:36 Victor Osimhen
04:16 Alexander Isak
05:03 Hugo Ekitike
06:08 Marcus Thuram
07:01 Jean-Phillipe Mateta
07:42 Rasmus Hojlund
08:51 Benjamin Sesko
09:10 Viktor Gyokeres
09:55 Nick Woltemade
11:11 Joao Pedro
11:53 Sehou Guirassy
12:50 Lautaro Martinez
14:05 Matteo Retegui
14:30 Dusan Vlahovic
14:46 Who is the best? – Mbappe, Kane, or Haaland

► Premier League highlights: https://bit.ly/PLHighlights2526
► MNF, FNF, SNF & Super Sunday analysis: https://bit.ly/SkyMatchAnalysis
► Gary Neville Podcast: https://bit.ly/GaryNevillePodcast
► Saturday Social: https://bit.ly/SkySaturdaySocial

► Buy this season’s shirts: https://bit.ly/SkySportsShop

More from Sky Sports on YouTube:

► Sky Sports: http://bit.ly/SkySportsSub
► Sky Sports Boxing: http://bit.ly/SSBoxingSub
► Sky Sports Cricket: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyCricket
► Sky Sports Darts: https://bit.ly/SubSkySportsDarts
► Sky Sports Football: http://bit.ly/SSFootballSub
► Sky Sports F1: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyF1
► Sky Sports Golf: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsGolf
► Sky Sports News: http://bit.ly/SkySportsNewsSub
► Sky Sports Retro: http://bit.ly/SkySportsRetroSub
► Sky Sports WSL: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsWSL

► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkySportsFootball
► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skysportsfootball
► TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skysportsfootball
► X: https://x.com/SkySportsPL
► Website: https://www.skysports.com

► To enquire about licensing Sky Sports content, you can find out more here: https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/news/31754/11434270/license-sky-sports-footage

Welcome back to Saudi Social. We are joined by Neve, Paul, and Adam. Right Joe, it has been an incredible start to the season for some of the strikers around the world, notably Kane, Harland, and BAF, who are putting up ridiculous numbers considering we’re still in October, right? I mean, absolutely incredible. Which did get us thinking, who is the best striker in the world right now? Yeah. So, what we’ve done is we’ve tked Neve to tell us. She’s brought forward her 20 best strikers in world football. We’ve got four different tiers to go through. Good. Great, world class, and the best. The best can only have one name in it at the end of this list. So, let’s start with I think Julian Alvarez is the first name you bring forward. Yes. And to be honest with you, right now, I think he’s world class. I think he’s got such a variety of finishing. It’s right up there with the very best of strikers. His free kicks are unbelievable. He’s a very clever footballer. Uh so, yeah, I’d like to put him in world class. Okay. Yeah. Second top score in La Liga. Only Mbappé scored more. pieced up Real Madrid a couple of weeks ago as well, didn’t they? Yeah, we know what it’s meant. He’s been quality player for a long time. Going next, you brought us Dembele Balon winner. So, talk to me about him. Obviously been injured at the start of the season. He’s been injured, but I mean the year that he’s had again, I think we’re dealing with the very best. So, world class. Yeah. Yeah. And he’s not like some of these players aren’t necessarily traditional nines, are they? He’s kind of been sculpted into a nine by Lewis Enrique that is maybe a different style to some of the other names in here. So we’ll keep the flow going. Okay. So with Leandowski, he is world class, right? Currently, I think great would be the category I would go for. Uh I don’t know how you guys feel, but I I know that he’s had multiple uh injury issues at Barcelona that have maybe affected him and slowed him down a little bit. My my immediate thought cuz I looking through the list and trying to trying to group them was without even thinking I just put Leandowski alongside Kane and and Bapin whatever but that wasn’t necessarily factoring in overall form you know in terms of the alltimes again he’s absolutely in that top bracket but if you’re having to knock him down on form it does make sense. Yeah I tend to agree with that as well. I think three of his last four Barcelona goals have come from the bench as well haven’t they? though. Yeah, I think his his goal scoring will never change, but maybe the speed of which he can link up play with like Yalin Rafinia. Sometimes he could slow the game down a little bit and you’re starting to see maybe that. Okay, it’s your list. Yeah, give me four goals in nine for club and he’s got a couple uh for his country as well. A man who’s terrorized your club recently, Paul. Terrorized. Well, you didn’t like that, did you? By the way, scored a penalty and got injured. Cool. beat. I’d like to put him in world class. Am I going too far? What do you guys think? I think he’s had world class periods. It’s just whether you think he’s operating at that level now and has been while he’s been at Galatasra. Obviously, I think when he was in Naples, he was unbelievable. And he’s one of those strikers that I was looking at United going for as well when I think when we discussed it last time I was on, I was talking about how we should go get him. I think I wouldn’t argue him being in world class, but he’s probably a bit like Leandowski where maybe at the moment he’s can he be world class playing in Turkey? Well, that that was going to be my my point really is that this forever thing doubt that hangs over his head of like why aren’t other football clubs making a move for him because I agree in terms of his his goal scoring return has been outstanding for years but there is there is going to be that question mark. Yes. I mean you look at him midweek for Nigeria like dragging them to the to the World Cup with that hattrick effectively. So yeah exactly different I think that’s a big quality he’s got is that he did that in Napoli he does that at Galatas he does that for Nigeria he very much drags a team through in many different ways and also I know you say this about Galatasaray like when he’s faced up against these big teams scoring against Liverpool scored against Tottenham when Galatasai played them so it’s not like this is a player that can’t do it just because of where he is. If you place Julian Alvarez in Turkey, still world class. So, don’t know. I Where you putting in the I’m gonna push for this. I’m gonna I’m gonna go for world class. Wow. Okay. Your list big. Next up, we have got EAC. Where would you have Paul with this? So, again, my immediate thoughts on it. I I think you’ve got that that clutch at the top. We were discussed that we we’ll come on to who are just enshrined as the best at the moment. And then I think there’s a tier beneath that who are the ones in waiting who are going to who are going to take those places in in in years to come. Maybe not of Mbappe because obvious because of his age, but I would put Isak alongside Alvarez Dembele and Awesome in World Class. Although obviously he just hasn’t been fit enough to show it so far this season. So in terms of the Isaka, who do you think will score more goals for Liverpool this season out of the two of them? Oo, theoretically Isak. Um, yeah. No, I’ll go with that. He should score more. Ne, where you put him? Yeah, I’m inclined to agree. So, does that mean next up we got Ekit? Are you going to put him straight in there alongside him if we’re saying he’s not potentially world class though? I mean, he has been incredible um for Newcastle and obviously we’re waiting and see what he can do at Liverpool, but I feel like we’re just giving the worldass tags to anybody these days. Obviously won the league cup with Newcastle, but does he not have to elevate to that next level? Like we’re talking about Alvarez doing it for City and Atletico Madrid and Belell winning a Champions League and Arsen doing Isak’s nowhere near them yet for you don’t think Isak’s near ability I think he could be right up there by the way and I think eventually he’ll probably be world class. Yeah. You think this this like year ahead is him making that journey you know what I think I agree with that we don’t want influenced by Adam there and moved. So what does that mean for me to win? Argument argument where you put Ekit then. So I think I would also want to put him in great in the sense that he’s making that upwards trajectory. He’s so entertaining, so exciting, loads of talent. Uh and that’s a great position to be in, right? Yeah. After that, you’ve got Marcus Terram. Yeah. Five goals, two assists. I feel like flies under the radar. Yeah. at in a little bit with his quality. Yeah, you know, he’s one of those where as a footballer like his intelligence, his work rate. I think he’s just amazing. Maybe as a as a striker, he’s not the most like consistently reliable to score goals and that’s why there’s like a that’s why he’s that level below. But he’s so he is really good. This is difficult. I’m not I’m sort of pondering great good. What What do you guys think? I have not got a strong enough opinion on him to push for anything other than than good because I mean again just looking at the names that you’ve got in great already does that naturally push him down a touch maybe. Yeah, make the call your list. Okay, good. We’ll go with go with good. We’ll go with good. Okay, next up Jean Philipe Mateta international debut as a sub in the win by course scored his first goal as well, didn’t he? Against Iceland. Um I feel like as well he’s a until recently a bit of a striker that’s gone a bit under the radar and now everyone is talking about Mateta who’s brilliant season last season carried that on this season. I’m intrigued to know where you put him. Yeah I mean he’s leading the way of I mean in the year 2025 Crystal Palace are one of the best teams in the country and he’s leading the way of that team. So he is right up there is why he’s in my 20. I do think good’s the place. I think that’s second most shots on target in the Premier League this season by only Harland with more. So the job Glasnner has done with Mateta is amazing. Rasmus Hyland who is actually on really good form for Melbourne country at the moment. I think he’s got six in his last four games. I think Manchester United player improving after leaving the football club I never really had an issue with Hland. I I don’t think he was good enough for Manchester United and I think it was difficult for him being such a young number nine at a massive club with all those pressures and he didn’t really if he had a Cavani or a Zlatan around him I think it would have helped him out massively but it’s nice to see him doing well he handled himself genuinely at Man United he didn’t throw his toys out the Prem a lot of vitriol around him wasn’t there he wasn’t scoring goals and over the summer I think he handled himself I’ve got to say as I remember interviewing him I was so impressed for such a young player like the the personality that he had and how was off the pitch and how intelligent he was actually as well. Four goals, one assist in four appearances for Denmark. Four goals in six appearances for club as well. I think that attitude you talk about is reflected on the pitch and that he is still always running. He’s relentless. He’s making that movement and he’s got he’s playing in a very direct vertical team now at Napoli where Kevin De Bruyne is setting him up. So, it’s no wonder his numbers are going up. Where we put him though? I think good. Okay. Yeah. Next up, Big Ben. Where would you have him? I It’s too early to call him great. is obviously not going to be world class at this point in time. I think he’s one of those strikers like many of them where they have huge potential and maybe one day they could be world class or great but he’s he’s not there just yet. Okay, let’s put him in good for now then. Uh which takes us on to Victor Jockesh. Yes. Yeah. I I personally I think it’s quite difficult really because there’s there’s strikers that are coming into the Premier League and we’re seeing lots of these qualities they’ve got that aren’t actually scoring goals. So it’s quite hard to measure who do we prefer who you know that sort of thing. I I I think what I have liked about him is he’s used his strength to pin back center backs in every game and Es’s benefited from that. Declan Rice benefit benefited from that but then there’s also been games where I thought could you be a bit sharper and find the space yourself to score a little bit. So there’s been good, there’s been not as good. I I think he’s a flat track bully and I think he will score goals, but it’s whether he will do that in the biggest moments in the biggest game. Okay, I think the next name is a good time to bring up the next name, Nick Volult, because there was a lot made of new strikers coming to the Prem, particularly the Victor Kioz Cesco comparison. And it feels like particularly with this one because Newcastle will link with so many players prior to him, it went a little bit under the radar, but the the impression that he’s made early on. I think we’ve got to talk about Volterman and how impressive he’s been for Newcastle and for country as well. Yeah, he’s got such a presence on the pitch when he plays, especially cuz he does like to drop deep a little bit and help out and link up play. Uh, and I think he’s been absolutely brilliant. The only thing I I think from him as well and it’ll come in time is if he gets himself back into the box and keep shooting, keep shooting, like his numbers will hopefully go up and up and up. But yeah, he’s he’s looked as good as any of the strikers, if not maybe one of the most promising some of the strikers that have moved to the Premier League. Looks like he just looks like it’s been effortless really how he’s fit in. You know, sometimes you can you can wait a while for that goal and he’s come in got up and running and I obviously having it watching Liverpool a little bit of time feeling a bit disjointed and how they build up and just Newcastle like they’ve gone look striker cool we know we know how to play to this. It’s great. Yeah, he’s he’s he’s like perfect for Newcastle like he’s already a cult hero and he’s like it’s his size but the way he works with his feet he’s like a cult hero there so let’s stick him up. Yeah. Um next up Pedro. Yeah, which I find it quite difficult because it I I think when Liam Dap comes back, it’d be interesting to see if he can get a world where both of those play. It’s cuz J Pedro’s he’s not a typical striker and the areas of the pitch that you want him probably wouldn’t you probably want somebody else. I’m a big fan of his though. I think he’s a really really good talent and when when Chelsea were interested I was like are we going to have a little dabble have a little sniff at that because I think his fantastic player was incredible for Brighton obviously but has he done enough to maybe be up there with the Leandowskis and Each of this world? I’m not too sure. Okay, let’s put him up then if it’s an agreement on good and we’ll move on to the next name which is Seu Jarassi top scorer joint top scorer in the Champions League last season. His record in the Bundesliga is ridiculous. So where are you putting him? is, you know, to the point where I’m sort of if there was a category here, he’d be right in it. I think he’s absolutely brilliant. The speed in which he does things is exceptional. Like when he gets the ball, flicks it on straight away. He’s got so much talent. His finishing is ruthless. He is a relentless footballer. He He would elevate many teams in the world. They’re putting him in. It’s your list. Great or world class? You know, he’s like, what what do you guys think? I I wouldn’t have expected world class to be honest. Um, is he better than he’s great? I suppose that’s a good way to put I think there’s things he does that’s better. There’s things that Eat that does that’s better. I think maybe I’ll play it safe and put him in. Great. Okay. Okay. We’ve got next up Martinez. Martinez. Good boy. I think he’s well classed, you know. I genu generally do. I think he was great for Inter Milan. Well, he is great for Inter Milan. Um I really like him. Um surprised some of the Premier League clubs had a sniff around him. Fantastic player. You know, you know how you can have your opinion formed on one performance of a footballer and I watched him run away from Virgil Van Djk in a football match and I’ve never rated him since. So I mean not to say he’s not good but like yeah I’ve never van running away to be fair. I think where I sort of back him up for world class is going beyond that that match is I’d say we’re dealing with someone who has been the captain and driven a team to two Champions League finals. We’re talking like two copper Americas in which he was in the team of the tournament for one of them as well. Uh two titles in Italy too. And I think as well his goal scoring is great. He’s always going to be there. He elevates the players next to I think Marcus Terram is as good as he is because he’s next to him. Same with Lukaku. Same with Joeko. Yeah, I think he’s next level. Your list, where do you want to put him? I’m going to go for world class. So many different kind of goals as well. Yeah, a couple more before we get on to the the big three. Do these two quick then. Reti has now moved of course out of Italy. Yeah. So he finished the season with 36 goals and assists in 46 games across the Champions League and Serial Vatal who’s obviously moved to Saudi Arabia, but he’s taken that form with him. He’s taken the form into the Italy national team. I think some of his finishing is really really nice and he is a total talent. Uh I’d probably go with good, but I think he’s on his way to being one of the real good. And then finally, before we get on to your final three, I think we know who the final three will be. You’ve got Vlavic, so just where would you put him on this list so far? Yeah, he’s definitely not I think I’d probably put him at the lower end. I I do I do I don’t mind Vlahovich, but yeah. Okay, he goes in good. So that does leave I think we can all agree here the best three strikers in the world currently. The numbers from these three are absolutely insane. Killian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Erling Harland. You can only put one in the best cuz we want to crown who is the best striker right now. Now I don’t think there’s any wrong answer with this. You could put any of these three in the best for me. Is there one you think is third though? Third? Clearly I’m pro I would say not clearly but I would probably go with third place on current form. Harland. Wow. Oh wow. Second place Kane, first place Mbappe. I was Wow. I think that’s I was torn between Harland and Kane for the best. I think Mbappé is phenomenal, but I just think we kind of take for granted how many goals Erling Harland scores and that’s the job of a striker. And I I think he’s just absolutely ridiculous with the numbers he puts up. And Harry Kane is just he does everything. He does absolutely everything. And I think he’s probably the striker that Harland and Mbappe should be looking up to and be like, I want to have that longevity. I want to keep going and improve my game like that. Let’s give you the numbers actually. But what I will say, I’ve got some numbers of my own because fascinated me because a sort of mo there was a moment this year around April May where I felt like Mbappe had settled in and we were starting to see terrifying Mbappe again. And I looked at the last 25 matches across all competitions and there’s only three matches in that that he hasn’t scored or assisted at least once. And these guys are just as prolific. But there’s been seven matches in those 25s where Kane hasn’t uh and with Holland it’s five. So my point with that is is that that inevitability of scoring being involved in goals he’s got it as much as if not more than these guys. So and he’s also playing an interesting role in which you see him on the left you see him able to move over to the right as well to try and find a little bit of joy. It’s a he’s also I think got Does that not come into your mind when you decide who the best striker is like out and out number nine if if you know Mbappe can shift to the like Kane and Harland are just pure strikers. I think Kane also I mean it’s one of his assets is that he drops deep a lot of the time and people run beyond him because they’ve got a lot of fast players at Bayern. I think with Mbappe what it is for me is that there is a scariness about him that I just it just it’s just like next level like when he gets the ball you can see such fear in defending just something about him that is really is like the best where it’s like oh goodness me how are we going to deal with Mbappe and he’s he’s a total shot machine and like again we talk about how he drifts and plays in all these different positions he’s still his volume of shooting is outrageous. He’s actually has 39 shots this season which is crazy when you consider that again these are strikers who are always shooting and they’re in the well Harland’s actually had it’s in his early 20s the amount of shots he’s had. So it’s nearly double that uh Mbappe has had. So I think yeah I think that Mbappe is just getting scarier and scarier game by game basis. Let’s give you the underlying numbers as well because I say that they all been incredible. 21 goals and assists for club and country this season for Mbappe. 24 goals and assists for club and country this season for Harland. 24 same number goals and assists for club and country this season for Kane. And Harry Kane became the fastest player to 100 goals for a club playing in Europe’s top five leagues ever. So I mean all of them Paul have got incredible numbers. Who would who would you have put? I would maybe simplify it a touch and say Harland just because he’s doing it in the Premier League and I know Kane’s done it in the Premier League. Well, you know, there is that. But I just yeah it’s whether if you’re talking about complete forwards then it’s probably would be between Kane and and Bappe because you’re getting more football from then Harland. But if you just want a a blunt instrument that’s going to score you loads of goals in the Premier League. Um do you think this is the best Harland we’ve seen so far? I think when I’m watching Harland now his all round game feels gone to another level like he’s just more rounded. I know myism is just outrageous. He seems to be actually flourishing in many ways, you know, in terms of like how he talks about it and he always came across as a bit sir and not wanting to do the media stuff whereas you saw him against Brenford and he had the battle with Vanderber and he’s like I had to prop a goal that you know and he’s like he’s laughing about being in a battle and winning physical battles as well as screwing the goals. So he looks Yeah. prime. Okay. Do you want to stick them up in do the do the reveal then? So you’re going Harland three Kane 2 and Killing Mbappe Nev you said was your best striker in the world right now. She’s tight in it. I mean that. So who is everyone’s best? I would probably go high ceiling. Killian Mbappe. I think Harland’s probably the most clinical in the box and most allround player. I love how you’ve gone around the I’m biased with Kane because I do think he’s been probably the most underappreciated striker for many years. But I I can totally understand the logic for I think I would have got him. Yeah, I think I think the logic the scariest I think I would have settled on Kane. You know, you would have gone. The more I think about it, I think Harry Kane is just Well, there we go. Total. You’ve gone Harland, you’ve gone on Bap and you’ve gain it, which shows it’s a good debate, Joe, doesn’t it? Very good debate. Yeah. Let us know what you would have done at home because I think it is a debate that’s been raging on social media for quite some time and doesn’t like it’s going to stop anytime