Striker facts for kids

A forward trying to score a goal.

A striker (also called a forward) is a football player. They play closest to the other team's goal. Strikers are usually the players who score the most goals for their team.

Coaches often use two main types of strikers. One is the centre forward, whose main job is to score goals. The other is the second striker, who helps set up goals for others. They might pass the ball or create chances.

Strikers are part of a team's formation. A formation shows how players are arranged on the field. The last numbers in a formation usually show how many attackers there are. For example:

• 4-3-3 means there are four defenders, three midfielders, and three attackers.
• 4-4-2 means there are four defenders, four midfielders, and two attackers.
• 3-4-3 means there are three defenders, four midfielders, and three attackers.

Famous Football Strikers

Many amazing players have been known for their goal-scoring skills. Here are some of the top strikers from different leagues and competitions:

Top Scorers in Leagues

• German Bundesliga:
  • Gerd Müller: 365 goals
  • Klaus Fischer: 265 goals
  • Jupp Heynckes: 220 goals
• Premier League (England):
  • Alan Shearer: 260 goals
  • Andrew Cole: 187 goals
  • Thierry Henry: 174 goals
• La Liga (Spain):
  • Hugo Sánchez: 234 goals
  • Raúl: 228 goals
• Ligue 1 (France):
  • Carlos Bianchi: 179 goals

Top Scorers in Major Competitions

• FIFA World Cup:
  • Miroslav Klose (Germany): 16 goals
  • Ronaldo (Brazil): 15 goals
  • Gerd Müller (Germany): 14 goals
• UEFA Champions League:
  • Raúl: 71 goals
  • Ruud van Nistelrooy: 60 goals
  • Andriy Shevchenko: 59 goals
  • Thierry Henry: 51 goals
  • Alfredo Di Stéfano: 49 goals

See also

In Spanish: Striker para niños