Center forwards are often defined by their end product -- cold stretches in front of net can lead to raised eyebrows. But even when the goals dry up, the best strikers still find ways to influence matches.
They'll make darting runs behind the opposition defense, opening up space for their teammates. They are confident enough on the ball to drop into midfield and create chances themselves. Most importantly, they are thinking one step ahead of everyone else, anticipating rebounds or hustling to get on the receiving end of a cross.
A great center forward is the focal point of the attack, and a must-have for any team aspiring to glory.
All stats provided by ESPN Research, all ages and teams correct as of Aug. 18.
The 2026 FC 100, position by position
Go to: Goalkeepers | Fullbacks | Center backs | Defensive/central midfielders | Attacking midfielders | Wide forwards | Center forwards
20. Alexander SØRLOTH, Atlético Madrid/Norway, 30
What makes him special: At 6-foot-5, Sørloth is near unplayable in the air and a composed finisher in front of goal.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: New to the list
One key stat: Led Atlético Madrid with 13 LaLiga goals in 2025-26. Only Robert Lewandowski (60) has scored more goals over the past three LaLiga seasons than his 56.
Why he's on the list: Sørloth might have spent the World Cup playing as an unconventional right winger for Norway -- inevitable given that their striker is Erling Haaland -- but he's really a center forward battering ram. At times last season, he was pushing Julián Alvarez for the No. 9 starting spot at Atlético Madrid, and his goals-per-minute ratio was far superior, finding the net 13 times in 1,981 LaLiga minutes -- five goals more than Alvarez, with similar playing time.
Despite his output, there's something about Sørloth that has never completely won over coach Diego Simeone, who has been frustrated that for all of Sørloth's ability, the Norwegian can't influence games more regularly. "Before the match, I went up to him and said, 'Don't you realize that the other day, you played 15 minutes and had three chances?'" Simeone said in February, after Sørloth scored twice in a 4-2 win over Espanyol. "That's the player we need."
It's the player Sørloth ought to be, given his physique and clinical finishing, if he could find more consistency.
What's next: Sørloth has been linked with a move away from Atlético Madrid this summer -- due in part to Simeone's doubts about him -- but then, so has Alvarez. Right now, it's unclear whether either player will stay, and therefore who'll be first choice at Atlético in 2026-27. If Alvarez goes and Sørloth remains, it will be a huge opportunity to cement his place as a starter. -- Alex Kirkland
19. Viktor GYÖKERES, Arsenal/Sweden, 28
What makes him special: A powerful striker and a clinical finisher, he delivered when needed for Arsenal during their title-winning campaign.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 3
One key stat: He had three games with at least one goal and one assist last season in all club competitions, tying Leandro Trossard (3) for most by an Arsenal player. All three of those games came after the start of January, tied for most among players on English clubs (all competitions).
Why he's on the list: He was perhaps not the instant success many hoped he would be at Arsenal after his €70 million move from Sporting Club, but it's impossible to sneer at his numbers. In 55 appearances, he netted 21 goals, including 14 as the Gunners ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League title. Perhaps his most memorable performance came in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, when he netted a brace in a 3-1 win, and he notched five goals in Arsenal's run to the Champions League final.
Gyökeres also delivered for his country this year. He scored a hat trick against Ukraine and an 88th-minute winner against Poland as Sweden came through the playoffs to reach the World Cup. At this summer's tournament, he registered a goal and two assists before Graham Potter's side fell to France in the round of 32.
What's next: While Gyökeres' statistics are fine, there is a desire for him to score even more goals. That, in part, is down to the huge success he had in Portugal with Sporting, where he scored 97 goals in 102 appearances. He is far from guaranteed to start Arsenal's big games under Mikel Arteta this season, either, and was famously left on the bench in the Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Only by scoring more goals -- and in important matches -- can he really kick on and establish himself as Arsenal's undisputed No. 9 rather than a quality rotation option. -- Sam Marsden
18. Mikel OYARZABAL, Real Sociedad/Spain, 29
What makes him special: Known for being a direct and inventive winger, his transformation into a center forward was key in Spain winning their second-ever World Cup this summer.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: 2
One key stat: Leads all Spanish players with 21 goals for club and country in 2026, five goals ahead of the next best (Lamine Yamal).
Why he's on the list: Since breaking through at the Basque Country club in 2015, Oyarzabal has been a clever wide player known for slashing defenses with his intentional runs and accurate crosses, though he was also an asset for his goals. Having scored more than nine LaLiga goals per season almost every year since becoming a first-team fixture, the 29-year-old took his game up a notch in 2025-26, contributing 15 goals and four assists across over 2,700 minutes. It couldn't help Real Sociedad to more than a 10th-place finish in LaLiga, with a run of eight games without a win to close the campaign, but he would go on to play a profound role for Spain at the World Cup, and in a wholly different position.
As the attacking fulcrum for La Roja, Oyarzabal was the most unorthodox center forward -- but it worked. His five goals tied Spain's record for most scored at a single World Cup, and his connective play around the penalty area helped propel his team through the competition. Out of possession, Oyarzabal led the press from deep in the opponent's half, and his output was vital as Yamal struggled for fitness through much of the tournament.
At the peak of his powers, Oyarzabal matches intelligence with physical skill, and his ability to play multiple positions in the attacking third almost feels unfair.
What's next: Despite being linked with Barcelona seemingly every year, Oyarzabal has remained committed to the club and the region that made him even though he has just two years left on his contract. "I've said it a thousand times, Real Sociedad and San Sebastián are my home," he told Mundo Deportivo in an interview after the World Cup. "It's my safe haven, where I grew up, and Real Sociedad is the club that gave me the opportunity to be here today ... so, in that respect, I'm calm, without going crazy." -- James Tyler
17. Donyell MALEN, Roma/Netherlands, 27
What makes him special: He runs fast, wins duels and shoots hard.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: New to the list
One key stat: His 14 goals in Serie A last season were tied for the second most, trailing only Lautaro Martínez (17). His 105.6 minutes per goal average was the highest among all players with 10-plus goals.
Why he's on the list: Malen has proved to be an odd tactical fit for lots of teams. He has a center forward's brain in more of a winger's body, and he can confound managers who don't quite figure out his skill set. But in the right system, he is devastating. After a frustrating year at Aston Villa, the 27-year-old landed at Roma in January and was transformative.
Malen unleashed a torrent of high-quality shot attempts and led Roma in goals (14 in all competitions), shots (70), shots on goal (31), one-on-one attempts (53), successful one-on-ones in the box (five), fouls won in the attacking third (seven) and ball recoveries in the attacking third (13). From mid-March onward, Roma lost only to Scudetto winner Inter and charged from sixth place -- eight points out of third -- to a season-ending third.
Malen isn't much for link-up play, but he's relentless in front of the goal, and he can finish like few others.
What's next: Roma predictably made Malen's loan-to-buy deal permanent after the successful spring audition, and they'll pair him with another summer addition, Santiago Castro (Bologna). If he's a worthy complement and Malen remains on the front foot, Roma could be a contender to win Serie A. -- Bill Connelly
16. Marcus THURAM, Inter Milan/France, 29
What makes him special: The perfect teammate, he is unselfish, hard working and a dream to have in your squad and to work with as a manager -- not to mention being very good on the pitch.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 2
One key stat: He tallied 13 goals in Serie A last season, tying his most in a single season (also 13 for Inter in 2023-24 and 13 for Borussia Monchengladbach in the 2022-23 Bundesliga).
Why he's on the list: Forwards like Thuram are very valuable. He can play on his own up front or in a front two, and he makes the players around him better with his energy, his runs and his ability. He is strong and great in the air, too.
In 2025-26, Thuram added goals to all the other things he does for the team -- 18, with eight assists, in 44 games across all competitions -- and it helped guide Inter Milan to another Serie A title and even a domestic double with the Coppa Italia. A lot relied on Thuram, especially during Lautaro Martínez's injury, but the France international delivered. He suffered an injury during the World Cup, which limited his game time and his impact, but he is such a reliable and trustworthy forward that any team would love to have him.
What's next: After three straight years with at least 15 goals at Inter, Thuram has just turned 28 and is entering what should be the best stage yet in his career. -- Julien Laurens
15. Antoine GRIEZMANN, Orlando City/France, 35
What makes him special: Combining outrageous talent with hard-working humility, Atlético Madrid's record scorer is already having fun in MLS.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 8
One key stat: Made 22 goal contributions in the 2025-26 season for Atlético Madrid (14 goals, eoght assists), the most by a player age 34 or older in LaLiga.
Why he's on the list: Griezmann's emotional farewell at Atlético in May brought home the scale of his legacy at the LaLiga club, and underlined just how difficult he'll be to replace. No player has scored more goals for Los Rojiblancos; only three players have made more appearances.
Griezmann's farewell tour in his final weeks in Spain yielded plenty of tributes, but it was coach Diego Simeone who summed it up best, with an impromptu and emotional speech in a news conference ahead of a Champions League game with Barcelona. "I wanted to take this opportunity to speak, not just as a coach, but also as an Atlético fan," Simeone interrupted, to Griezmann's surprise. "You are an admirable person, in a society where young people need role models. Thank you for everything you have given us. ... I care about you deeply. But you know that if you don't run tomorrow, you're coming off!"
Griezmann's numbers in 2025-26 might not have been outstanding -- his seven goals and four assists in LaLiga reflective of his diminished role in the side -- but his experience, and quality, were still palpable as Atlético made the Champions League semifinals for the first time in nine years.
What's next: Griezmann was always open about his desire to end his career in MLS, motivated by his genuine, lifelong obsession with U.S. sports and culture. He got his long-awaited move to Orlando City and he's already scoring goals for his new side, netting against San José Earthquakes on July 23. Retiring from France duty in 2024 meant he had no World Cup obligations, and he should now be fresh to make an impact throughout the remainder of the 2026 MLS campaign. -- Alex Kirkland
14. Cristiano RONALDO, Al Nassr/Portugal, 41
What makes him special: One of the best to ever play the game, Ronaldo found a new level after turning 40.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 9
One key stat: Has 11 career World Cup goals in 27 games played, both records for Portugal. His 27 games played in the competition is the most for a player who has never won the title.
Why he's on the list: Ronaldo has always been a mainstay on the FC 100, missing out just once in a decade during his difficult season when he was cast out from Manchester United. Yet his 2025-26 season with Al Nassr saw one of the sport's GOATs return to his best, and we saw the dominance and confidence that have made him must-see viewing for over two decades. His 28 goals paced Al Nassr to their first Saudi Pro League title since 2018-19, and his first league title for any team in five seasons.
It's a shame that Ronaldo's World Cup career closed with a whimper rather than a bang, with a talented and deep Portugal side muddling through to the round of 16, where the team was defeated by Spain in a rather lifeless game. Ronaldo did add two more goals to his account in the tournament -- becoming the first player to score in six consecutive World Cups -- but overall, his decision to step away from this tournament feels right both for him and for his country, which need to figure out its next iteration.
What's next: There has been no chatter about a possible return to Europe, with Ronaldo seemingly focused on sustained success at Al Nassr, though the two-year extension he signed in 2025 will expire next summer. Is there room for another chapter in his mid-40s by that point? We don't know, but we will be watching. -- James Tyler
13. Robert LEWANDOWSKI, Free agent/Poland, 37
What makes him special: One of the greatest goal scorers to ever play the game, and he's still proving it well into his late-30s.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 10
One key stat: He scored every 118.3 minutes in LaLiga last season, the second-best average among players with 30-plus matches (Kylian Mbappé, 104.2).
Why he's on the list: Even as other areas of his game were questioned in his final season with Barcelona, Lewandowski's goal-scoring touch rarely deserted him. He scored 19 goals to help Barça win LaLiga and the Supercopa de España, entering the club's top 10 goal scorers of all time with 120 goals in just four years at Camp Nou. The sendoff he got in his final home game for the club against Real Betis was spectacular and revealed the esteem with which he is held by Barça fans after he helped restore the club to the upper echelons of European game following his arrival from Bayern Munich in 2022.
The highs of the farewell he received were tinged with some disappointment, such as losing his status as a guaranteed starter when he battled for the No. 9 spot with Ferran Torres. He also missed out on the World Cup after Poland lost in the qualifying playoffs to Sweden.
What's next: Lewandowski has nothing left to prove, but he will want to make his mark in the United States having joined the Chicago Fire. It has been almost 30 years since the Fire won the last of their three MLS Cups. They are currently well-placed to contend in the Eastern Conference, and given his track record for winning trophies, that has to be the aim for the Polish striker. "I see the potential to win the titles with this club," he said when his signing was confirmed earlier this year. -- Sam Marsden
12. Ollie WATKINS, Aston Villa/England, 30
What makes him special: Elite movement and durability have made him the scourge of Premier League defenses for a long, long time.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: 2
One key stat: He became the first player in Premier League history to score a brace against each of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea in the same campaign.
Why he's on the list: Watkins has hit 20-plus goals and assists for four seasons running with Aston Villa, which is an incredible feat. His movement is top-tier among forwards, while he also works diligently to enact his manager's pressing instructions and cover his teammates.
After a slow start to 2025-26, during which he faced questions over his fitness and sharpness in front of goal, he hit top form when it mattered in March, scoring 13 goals in two months. His performance in the Europa League semifinal second leg against Nottingham Forest, which Villa won 4-0, might just have been his best ever for the club.
What's next: No Villa player's future was secure at the club this summer, and links to Fenerbahçe in Turkey persisted throughout June and July, but he looks set to stay and lead Unai Emery's line once again. -- Sam Tighe
11. Igor THIAGO, Brentford/Brazil, 25
What makes him special: A massive, 22-goal breakout season in the Premier League saw him finish behind only Erling Haaland in the scoring stakes, and it catapulted him to the 2026 World Cup with Brazil.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: New to the list
One key stat: He led Premier League players with eight penalty goals last season. Only Harry Kane (10) had more among players in Europe's Big Five leagues.
Why he's on the list: No one knew what to expect from Thiago going into the 2026-27 season. He had been signed the summer before for a then-club-record £30 million, but major injury issues wiped out pretty much his entire maiden campaign. Last year represented a fresh start, and a chance to live up to his billing.
Boy, did he.
Not only did he score consistently, powering Brentford comfortably into the top half of the table and proving relegation fears well wide of the mark, but he also roughed up defenses, occupied center backs and created enough distraction for teammates to thrive. Thiago is the prototypical focal-point striker that a "lesser" side dreams of, as his physicality can be just as important as his goals.
What's next: Curiously, due to a lean end to the season and disappointing World Cup, it almost feels as though Thiago now has to prove himself all over again. -- Sam Tighe
10. Hugo EKITIKE, Liverpool/France, 24
What makes him special: A natural finisher with the potential to become a star.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: New to the list
One key stat: Led Liverpool with 15 goal contributions (11 goals, 4 assists) in the Premier League last season.
Why he's on the list: Ekitike was Liverpool's standout signing last term, hitting the ground running following his £60 million move from Eintracht Frankfurt. With fellow striker Alexander Isak struggling for both form and fitness, Ekitike immediately cemented himself as a fan favorite and also established himself in the France squad.
His season was ultimately cut short when he ruptured an Achilles tendon against PSG in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, denying him the opportunity to compete at the World Cup. However, the 24-year-old still has all the potential to go on and become one of the best strikers in Europe.
What's next: Achilles injuries are among the worst a footballer can encounter, and they require a lengthy rehabilitation process. As such, Ekitike is not expected to feature for Liverpool until 2027, although he is already putting in the work at Anfield to ensure as swift a comeback as he can muster. -- Beth Lindop
9. Victor OSIMHEN, Galatasaray/Nigeria, 27
What makes him special: Almost no one in the world is as capable of creating high-quality shot after high-quality shot.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 4
One key stat: Scored seven goals in the 2025-26 Champions League season, his most in a single edition.
Why he's on the list: Osimhen is an enigmatic player, having followed his muse to Naples and Istanbul, where he spent the majority of his prime-age years. But he remains an impossibly talented goal scorer, combining physical skill and spatial awareness like almost no other No. 9 in the world.
Osimhen has averaged at least 1.05 combined league goals and assists per 90 minutes in three of his past four seasons, and he has averaged at least four shot attempts per 90 for five straight years. Granted, he has spent the last two seasons with the most dominant team in the Turkish Super Lig, but in case people began to doubt what he was capable of in 2025-26, he averaged 4.5 shots per 90 and scored seven goals in the Champions League last season as well, as Galatasaray won two of three against Liverpool and stomped Juventus.
Osimhen claims to have idolized Didier Drogba growing up, and damned if he doesn't play like it.
What's next: Who knows? Osimhen has been a frequent topic for the transfer rumor industrial complex for years, and he has been heavily linked to clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Atlético Madrid this summer. He would be a transformative signing for either, but after years and years of major-club rumors, the only move he's actually made was to Galatasaray.
Predicting where he'll actually land is a fool's errand, but wherever he plays, he'll be excellent. -- Bill Connelly
8. João PEDRO, Chelsea/Brazil, 24
What makes him special: A clinical striker with link-up play and ball control, he was one of the bright spots in a weird season for Chelsea.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: New to the list
One key stat: He led Chelsea with 26 goal contributions last season in all competitions.
Why he's on the list: Pedro arrived at Chelsea last summer at the same time as the club spent £30 million on striker Liam Delap. Yet it was Pedro who became one of Chelsea's most important players. He finished his debut season at Stamford Bridge as the club's top scorer (20 goals), as well as the Premier League's fifth-highest scorer. Those stats are more impressive when you consider that none of those goals came from the penalty spot.
Pedro is a gifted player. His technique and ability to link the midfield to the attack by dropping deep from the striker position is a rare skill. In a confused and messy season at Chelsea that saw them miss out on European competitions entirely following a poor end to the campaign, Pedro was their brightest spot, winning the club's player of the season award.
He will have been devastated to miss out on the World Cup, in what was one of the most surprising omissions of the tournament. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti even admitted that Pedro "deserved" to be picked, and was only left off because they picked another player instead. It was a decision Ancelotti might have come to regret as backup forwards Igor Thiago and Endrick both disappointed. Brazil were knocked out in the round of 16 by Norway.
What's next: For Pedro, it's a case of new year, new coach. It is a feeling he will know well -- he had nine different managers in three years during a previous stint at Watford -- and it will be fascinating to see how new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso deploys Pedro. The striker is clearly a big piece of Alonso's plans, as the club is reportedly in talks to extend his contract after just one season at the club. -- Connor O'Halloran
7. Kai HAVERTZ, Arsenal/Germany, 27
What makes him special: A forward with world-class link-up play and a threat in front of goal who took his game up a level to win trophies with Arsenal.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 6
One key stat: He scored two goals in the 2026 World Cup, reaching five career goals in the tournament. Only four other Germany players reached five or more career World Cup goals before turning 28 (Thomas Müller, Gerd Müller, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Helmut Haller).
Why he's on the list: Havertz has endured a frustrating 18 months that have seen him hampered by knee and hamstring injuries. Those knocks held him to just 12 appearances for Arsenal in the Premier League, which saw him score two goals, though he was most effective in the Champions League, where he scored four goals in six games before showing his best in the final, scoring after six minutes to give Arsenal a lead over PSG before losing on penalties.
He is not the quickest forward, but his movement is sublime: His opportunistic run off the shoulder of PSG defender Willian Pacho created a chance that he took superbly. That was nothing new to him -- Havertz previously scored in the Champions League final for Chelsea, although that time he ended up lifting the cup. It was when Arsenal took Havertz off that they no longer posed the same threat to PSG's goal.
Furthermore, Havertz doesn't always get the adulation reserved for many of the world's top 100 players. He told the Guardian before the World Cup: "It is often said about me 'Havertz didn't score again, he's useless!' And when I do score, they say: 'Well, he's supposed to, it's about time!' I don't hold it against anyone; that's perfectly normal."
At the World Cup, Havertz scored twice in Germany's opening game against Curaçao and again in their round-of-32 clash with Paraguay, although he missed the opening penalty in the shootout, which eventually helped ensure his country's unlikely exit.
What's next: Arsenal signed striker Viktor Gyökeres last summer, although the Sweden international didn't quite light up the Premier League despite a modest goal total. With Arsenal repeatedly linked with a move for Atlético Madrid's Julián Alvarez, it doesn't bode well for Havertz's future at the Emirates, though he is one of world football's most versatile players. Before he moved to the Premier League, he was nicknamed Alleskonner, meaning jack-of-all-trades. He has an obvious allure to want to keep him around. -- Connor O'Halloran
6. Lautaro MARTINEZ, Inter Milan/Argentina, 28
What makes him special: He's a consistent goal scorer and winner.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 5
One key stat: He scored 20-plus goals in five straight seasons for Inter Milan, leading the team in scoring in each campaign.
Why he's on the list: The man knows how to find the back of the net as well as anyone. Inter Milan's captain enters the year third on the club's all-time list with 175 goals, and seeing as how he consistently scores 20-plus goals a year, he has a shot later in his career at eclipsing Giuseppe Meazza's Inter record of 287 goals.
Martínez, 28, is coming off another sterling campaign with the Italian club, which he joined in 2018. Despite suffering a calf injury that limited him to one appearance between mid-February and the beginning of May, he registered 28 goal involvements across all competitions, with 22 goals and six assists. His 17 Serie A goals were the most in the league, and his individual success led to team success, with Cristian Chivu's side winning both Serie A and the Coppa Italia.
,
His three goals for Argentina at the World Cup were the second most on the team behind Lionel Messi, and while he came off the bench in the team's final three games, that arrangement worked well for him: he scored critical goals as a substitute against Switzerland and England.
What's next: Martínez is under contract with Inter Milan through 2029. Other clubs have sniffed around and tried to court him away from Serie A, but he has always remained in Italy. As a result, you can expect more of the same from him going forward. He'll score goals, he'll create goals, he'll work hard, and in all likelihood, he'll keep winning things. As for his international career, we'll wait and see what role Martínez plays for Argentina as the Copa América approaches in 2028. -- Bill DiFilippo
5. Julián ÁLVAREZ, Atlético Madrid/Argentina, 26
What makes him special: A goal-scoring center forward who's also a playmaker, a wide forward, and a free-kick specialist.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 2
One key stat: He reached 25 career Champions League goals in his 41st game, breaking Lionel Messi's record for fewest games needed by a South American to score 25 Champions League goals.
Why he's on the list: There's a reason Barcelona are so keen to sign Alvarez this summer and make him their successor to Robert Lewandowski. Alvarez, 26, is approaching his peak, but there's a feeling he hasn't quite reached his potential at first Manchester City, and then Atlético Madrid. At City, he was the backup to Erling Haaland -- no easy task -- and at Atlético, he has been a sometimes awkward fit for coach Diego Simeone's style. A challenging 2025-26 saw him score just eight goals in LaLiga, compared to 17 the season before. However, he did contribute a more impressive 10 goals in Atlético's run to the Champions League semifinals, including goals against Tottenham, Barcelona and Arsenal in the knockout stages.
Alvarez began the World Cup on the bench for Argentina, with coach Lionel Scaloni preferring Lautaro Martínez, but Alvarez had won a place in the team by the knockout stage, starting every game from the round of 16 onward, including against Spain in the final, where he found it difficult -- like his team -- to make an impact, registering no shots in his 102 minutes on the pitch.
What's next: It's one of the summer transfer window's biggest questions. Will he stay at Atlético, where he still feels somewhat out of place and is clearly unhappy? Or will he "fulfill his dream" -- as he raised eyebrows by publicly pleading during the World Cup -- of joining Barcelona? Real Madrid had a €150 million bid for Alvarez rejected by Atlético earlier in the summer. That's a problem for Barça, who had hoped to pay much less to sign their new No. 9. Right now, Alvarez is back in preseason training at Atlético and his future remains uncertain. -- Alex Kirkland
4. Ousmane DEMBÉLÉ, Paris Saint-Germain/France, 29
What makes him special: The current Ballon d'Or holder is two-footed, quick and full of skill, which makes him a dream to watch and a nightmare to play against.
Rank in 2025 FC 100 (wingers): 5
No. of FC 100 appearances: 6
One key stat: Made a goal contribution every 70 minutes in league and Champions League play last season, the second-best average behind Harry Kane (60) among players with 30-plus matches played.
Why he's on the list: He's a front-runner to win another Ballon d'Or after another successful season in which he delivered when it mattered for PSG and enjoyed a strong World Cup with France (six goals, two assists in eight games). He led PSG to another Champions League title with a goal in the final, three in the semifinals and two in the quarterfinals, ending the 2025-26 campaign with 22 goals and 12 assists in 44 games for Paris in all competitions.
Dembélé played less in Ligue 1 because he had some injuries and was not needed as much domestically, but he was a great leader for the Parisians in Europe, guiding this team by example. And some of the goals he netted were so spectacular -- like against Lille or Bayern Munich -- and a credit to his talent. At 29, he is in the form of his life, and the way he got there under manager Luis Enrique, after some difficult years at Barcelona, is impressive.
What's next: Negotiations over his contract extension at PSG are ongoing, but this won't disturb his form and momentum. He is at his peak, and there is no reason he would stop now. Watch out for more Dembélé magic. -- Julien Laurens
3. Erling HAALAND, Manchester City/Norway, 26
What makes him special: Perhaps the best out-and-out goal scorer on the planet
No. of FC 100 appearances: 6
One key stat: Scored seven goals in the 2026 World Cup, the most by a men's player in his debut World Cup since Poland's Grzegorz Lato in 1974.
Why he's on the list: Haaland's numbers speak for themselves. In 198 Premier League appearances, he has scored 162 goals, and in three of his four seasons at the Etihad, he has won the Golden Boot. Last season, he topped the charts with 27 and reached 38 in all competitions, though he didn't stop there, making the most of his first World Cup.
In North America this summer, Haaland scored seven times as Norway reached their first World Cup quarterfinal in their first appearance at the tournament since 1998. He found the net twice in the 2-1 win over Brazil in the last 16, including a trademark header over the top of Arsenal rival Gabriel Magalhães, and won new fans with his endearingly goofy persona on social media. It shows that Haaland has the ability and the personality to be the face of the sport once Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo finally hang up their boots.
What's next: There has often been talk that one of Spain's big two -- Barcelona or Real Madrid -- could tempt Haaland away from City. However, he's under contract at the Etihad until 2034, which means he won't be going anywhere for a while. He'll have more trophies and more records in his sights ahead of the new season even as he adapts to a new manager in Enzo Maresca. -- Rob Dawson
2. Kylian MBAPPÉ, Real Madrid/France, 27
What makes him special: Became the top scorer in Men's World Cup history this summer, another high point for arguably the most complete center forward in the game right now.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 9
One key stat: He became the first men's player to win the Golden Boot at two World Cups and the fourth to score 10-plus goals in a single World Cup. His four multigoal games at the 2026 World Cup are tied for the most ever in a single tournament.
Why he's on the list: No player -- not even Lionel Messi -- has scored more than Mbappé's 22 career World Cup goals, with 10 of them coming in this latest edition as the France star once again proved himself to be a devastatingly effective forward on the sport's biggest stages. No one else boasts his combination of devastating speed, smart movement, physical strength and finishing ability. France ultimately fell short as they were eliminated by Spain in the semifinals, but Mbappé couldn't have done much more to get them there.
In LaLiga, it's now two seasons without a major trophy for Real Madrid, but Mbappé still scored 25 league goals in 2025-26, and another 15 in the Champions League. He's already 27th on Madrid's all-time top scorers list after just two years at the club. Give it another two seasons, and he'll be in the top 10.
What's next: Madrid have fallen way short of meeting expectations since Mbappé's arrival in 2024, but he has delivered individually with his goals. Now he needs silverware. "It's not about goals, it's about winning trophies," he said last year. And he's right. Perhaps coach José Mourinho can build a team to make that happen, with Mbappé as its focal point.
The key will be finding a way to blend Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and new teammate Yan Diomande into a functioning front line. Meanwhile, with France, Mbappé is now going to be playing for one of his boyhood idols, Zinedine Zidane, who has replaced longtime coach Didier Deschamps. -- Alex Kirkland
1. Harry KANE, Bayern Munich/England, 33
What makes him special: Since joining Bayern Munich, the goal records have come tumbling down and he has won some trophies -- there's so much more to his game, too.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 9
One key stat: He reached 14 career World Cup goals, the most ever by an Englishman. His 73 goals for club and country this past season (including the World Cup) were the most by any player since Lionel Messi's 82 goals in 2011-12.
Why he's on the list: He's not just on the list; he's top of it. The fact he has beaten outrageous competition in the form of Mbappé, Haaland and Dembélé to the No. 1 ranking symbolizes how high his stock is off the back of yet another goal-filled campaign.
Kane scored 58 goals last term across all competitions, topped Bayern goal-scoring records previously held by the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Gerd Müller, and netted six times at the 2026 World Cup for England as the Three Lions finished third. Some of the finishes he produced -- in particular, the game winner against DR Congo -- were utterly breathtaking, too.
At the same time, he continued to redefine what we expect from a No. 9 on the pitch, leaning more heavily than ever into his playmaker instincts. We saw him dropping so deep to find the ball he was receiving short passes from the goalkeeper at times, and the fact that he was just as happy to tee up chances for the likes of Michael Olise and Luis Díaz as he was to take aim himself paints those ludicrous goal tallies in an even finer light.
What's next: What's left? At the club level, it's just the Champions League. There's no doubt that will be the aim for Kane and Bayern in 2026-27, though he'll have to wait until the Euros in 2028 to have another chance at silverware with England. -- Sam Tighe
The 2026 FC 100, position by position
Go to: Goalkeepers | Fullbacks | Center backs | Defensive/central midfielders | Attacking midfielders | Wide forwards | Center forwards