Jonathan Bead
Discover the Greatest Forwards of All Time: Legends, Cult Heroes, and Club Stalwarts
After the recent amazing performance by Erling Haaland, we asked football fans worldwide to share the name of the greatest forward they’ve ever seen. Football enthusiasts flooded our inbox with an overwhelming response, presenting us with the names of inspiring players that span across generations.
We also asked our chief football writer to weigh in, sharing his decades-long experience of watching some of the greatest players the game has seen. Read on for a small glimpse of the thoughtful entries we received.
Pre-1980
David Adams, hailing from Wiesbaden, Germany, remembers seeing the legendary Pele play live, scoring two goals in the 1958 World Cup final, and later for the New York Cosmos. Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson’s lethal attack, buoyant with dazzling goal-scoring moments at West Ham in the early 70s, was an inspiration to Gerry Naughton, a fan from London. For Steve Berry from Norfolk, Jimmy Greaves’ partnership with Alan Gilzean was a delight to watch, surpassing even Kane and Son Heung-min in today’s condition.
George Best’s scintillating performance at Cyprus vs. Northern Ireland 1971, where he scored a penalty, left a lasting impression on Charles Linehan from Brighton.
Joe Baker, who got the first-ever England cap without playing for an English club, was, for Grant McCulloch, the best footballer of his time. Bobby Charlton’s screamer that scored against Raith Rovers left the fans – including B. Neale from Kirkcaldy – speechless, accentuating Charlton’s power and prowess. George Patterson from Sunderland minces no words while talking about the Puskas and Di Stefano show, where the iconic duo of Real Madrid played in a 1960 European Cup final, displaying exceptional individual and team skills.
Dermot Kiernan, a football fan from Glasgow, considers Bob Latchford to be the perfect striker. Francis Lee helped Manchester City win numerous titles, including the first division, league cup, and FA cup, earning him a place in Neil Allcock’s (from Peak District) heart.
1980s and 1990s
Vincent Mulvey from Greater Manchester admires Dennis Bergkamp’s effortless touch and sublime execution. Paul, a football fan from London, watched Gabriel Batistuta play with fire during a game of Fiorentina against AC Milan in 1998. Even though Sir Alex was trying to sign him, Paul’s beloved Manchester United got the legendary Dwight Yorke instead. For Chi Onyenkwu in Potters Bar, Marco van Basten was the most complete striker he’d ever seen, with both speed, aerial power, and a skillful understanding of the game.
Mourinho might have once dubbed Alan Shearer the most amazing ‘single-season’ scorer in Premier League history, but for Kevin Randle in Leicester, Shearer was the best striker of the era. Luc Nilis’ breathtaking goals for Anderlecht, PSV, and Aston Villa earned him Ronald Smolders’ affection.
Gary Lineker’s impeccable timing and positioning made him the best goalscorer in the box for Stuart from Nottingham. For Sanjoy Banerjee from Ellesmere Port, John Aldridge was the clinical and ruthless hero who helped his teams – Oxford United, Liverpool, and Tranmere Rovers, win titles. Ian Wright was the star of the show for Simon Conrich in London, with his impeccable awareness that other strikers didn’t have.
Henrik Larsson’s Golden Boot wins for Celtic in the Scottish League might not have broken records, but his heroics in Barcelona and even for Manchester United won over Davy from Glasgow. Mark B from Doncaster retains fond memories of Tony Yeboah’s brilliance at Leeds, showcased in a 3-1 win over Man Utd and Howard Wilkinson substituting him. Matt Le Tissier is another favorite, whose brilliance on the field led him to become a cult hero for football fans worldwide.
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