We seem to be blessed in the modern game with great forwards. So much so some of the players from earlier this decade often get forgotten about. By modern generation I would say Post USA 94.

Obviously Ronaldo and Messi are up there with Pele and Maradonna. But for some reason despite their goals I don't see them as 'proper' strikers. I know the game has changed. Its like those two are in a league and positions of their own! So taking them out of the equation who else would you put at the top? Because of how many goals they scored its easy to forget.

Shevchenko for example was the best in the world for some time. People often overlook the fact he won the Balon D'or. But he gets forgotten because of his poor spell at Chelsea (Like Torres, Falcao and to a lesser extent Eto'o.). But his time at Dynamo Kiev (twice) and AC Milan show he was great.

Shearer, Batistuta, Van Nistelrooy, Romario were what I would call 'proper' strikers. And have to be up there. Henry and Ronaldo Mk1 were geniuses. And probably most close in style to Messi and Ronaldo of today.

David Villa another who was unbelievable at Barcelona but outshone by Messi as Benzema is with Ronaldo.

Zlatan a genius but like Ronaldo mk1 incredibly never won the champions league.

Klose rarely gets mentioned but has a phenomenal record individually and as a team player. Nobody will even consider Rooney but hard to overlook what he achieved.

Plenty of other Serie A Players I loved watching in the 90 and early 2000s - Weah, Klinsman, Crespo, Vieiri, Del Piero, Baggio.

Any I have missed?

If I had to pick one player from that generation to play for Burnley I would pick Ronaldo the original. Had everything - pace, strength, finishing, heading, skill and but for his injuries would have been the best player of all time.

Andy Payton.

Defoe at his best

ronaldo mk1 and marco van basten

Maybe not top of the list bit Muller seemed to always be on the scoresheet .... Won WC/Champs League and a fair few donestic titles too.

Alan Shearer. Pains me to admit it, but he was world class.

Thing is CFC, you have listed them all from the modern era. Does Ronaldinho count?

No one can't touch Ronaldo mark2 no one.

IanMcL wrote:Defoe at his best

You're fishing with that one, have to be.

Thierry henry. All his goals looked similar, but just try stopping him doing it.

Shearer was the best out and out striker. How he re-invented himself in a different style after the serious injury was staggering.
Ronaldo mark 1 was superb until fitness issues.

Quickenthetempo wrote: Ronaldo mark 1 was superb until fitness issues.

I think his fitness issues showed how good he really was - even in his mid 30s and overweight he was still sprinting past young defenders and scoring.

You've missed vialli and ravenelli, who I believe won the champs league with juventus?

Eto was fantastic for Everton on the Turf, super player even at that age.

Milito was class for Inter when they won the treble. Kluivert in his prime.
Suarez and Aguero have to be up there.

bobinho wrote:Alan Shearer. Pains me to admit it, but he was world class.

Thing is CFC, you have listed them all from the modern era. Does Ronaldinho count?

He crossed my mind. I wouldnt consider him a striker but he was another Messi style. As skilful but not as consistently lethal.

KRBFC wrote:Milito was class for Inter when they won the treble. Kluivert in his prime.
Suarez and Aguero have to be up there.

Milito one of my favourites along with Crespo. Both massively underrated.

Milito is a god among the inter fans!

Filippo Inzaghi
Raul
Del Piero

The way harry Kane been banging em the last 3/4 seasons and no doubt will be for the next 10 years or so surely he will go down as a great modern day striker.

Ronaldo mk1 is the ultimate striker. Nobody before or since comes close to him.

Its hard to imagine Kane in that bracket but he is. Forgot about Raul. Inzaghi was class. Loved inzaghi.

You've pretty much named them all in your opening post but just to contribute, I'll throw in Andy Cole.

Shearer of the modern(ish) game. Irvine beyond that.

Didier Drogba?

gandhisflipflop wrote:Ronaldo mk1 is the ultimate striker. Nobody before or since comes close to him.

********.b@ll@cks

Not Harry Kane..

Denis Bergkamp.

Herts Clarets wrote:Didier Drogba?

Great shout.

Drogba a good shout. Better striker than coin thrower anyway. UTC

I'd have to cast another vote for Ronaldo MK1, absolutley terrifying at the height of his career. Came back after serious injuries and still proved it, but sadly they got the better of him in the end. Not the best athlete, but the best striker.

Drogba is good. And had most of the attributes shearer had but nowhere near as good imo. Lukaku could be. Its a shame that physicality and crossing are two things that seem to have left the game. As players like Shearer will be fewer and fewer.

Missed Stoichkov. Another good one.

Cole and Yorke were an unreal partnership. Cole was great pretty much everywhere!

Suker, Zamorano, Salas, Rivaldo a few more.

Trezeguet? Higuian?

tim_noone wrote:********.b@ll@cks

In your opinion. The 90s was a golden era for football with world class players just about everywhere you looked. Ronaldo in that era was the best of the lot in terms of strikers. He was simply devastating. Now don't get me wrong I can think of 10 strikers from that era alone who were top top players and would walk into most sides today, but for Ronaldo to top that list in that era shows how good he was.

tim_noone wrote:********.b@ll@cks

I think he's spot on. Ronaldo the original was unplayable at his peak. He just didn't miss. And could create for himself.

The fact you think Ronaldo the second is in a league of his own, even above Messi, says it all

Most have been named. I always had a sneaky regard for Jürgen Klinsmann though

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Drogba is good. And had most of the attributes shearer had but nowhere near as good imo. Lukaku could be. Its a shame that physicality and crossing are two things that seem to have left the game. As players like Shearer will be fewer and fewer.

Missed Stoichkov. Another good one.

Cole and Yorke were an unreal partnership. Cole was great pretty much everywhere!

Physicality is very much still a big part of the game.

Romario
Papin

Sidney1st wrote:You're fishing with that one, have to be.

No but I am - Emile Heskey

Oliver Bierhoff wasn't bad.

Roosterbooster wrote:I think he's spot on. Ronaldo the original was unplayable at his peak. He just didn't miss. And could create for himself.

The fact you think Ronaldo the second is in a league of his own, even above Messi, says it all

No I think he's the best striker of the modern game.

robert lewandowski has a phenomenal record at many different levels,and he always scores important goals very under-rated.

Another I forgot. Saw him live first time in 2012 and couldnt believe how good he was. Much quicker and more skilful than I expected.

Van Basten?

Is Pele footballs biggest fraud? I'm sure some of the older ones could answer this question. His record is fantastic in the Brazilian league and American "soccer" though.

Cavani is an exciting player to watch and knows where the net is...and if the seventies are considered the modern game.mario kempes was some player!

Cavanni another good shout

Gabriel Batistuta
Morientes
Suker

Dyched wrote:Gabriel Batistuta
Morientes
Suker

Ahh davor sukor...

tim_noone wrote:Ahh davor sukor...

He scored for fun!!

I've just been scanning through the France 98 squads.

Couple of Dutch masters. Van nistelroy arjen robben. And robben seems like he's been round for ever.full of energy never gives up,in the dyche mould!must be about 53year old.