If we’re completely honest, goals are why we watch football. And when it comes to the Premier League, no one delivers drama like the strikers. These players are the finishers who defined eras and broke records. But what makes a striker great in the Premier League? Apart from the tremendous goals, it’s about consistency over seasons.
In this article, we’ve ranked the 15 greatest Premier League strikers based on goals scored in the league alone.
Jamie Vardy – 143 Goals
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Jamie Vardy knew no academy or shortcuts. This athlete was built on just grit. He went from non-league striker to Premier League champion and record-breaker. His 11-game scoring streak in 2015 broke a Premier League record. Vardy became the blueprint for the modern counter-attacking forward.
Robin van Persie – 144 Goals
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Van Persie left Arsenal and immediately fired Manchester United to a title with 26 goals in 2012–13. It won’t be wrong to say that he switched clubs and shifted power. Ice-cold in front of goal, he won back-to-back Golden Boots and defined clinical finishing in his prime.
Teddy Sheringham – 146 Goals
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Sheringham stayed relevant into his forties as he aged like fine wine. He scored in the Premier League at 40 years and 268 days. This player is known for clever positioning and passing vision and thrived at Spurs. He won a treble with Manchester United without ever relying on speed.
Les Ferdinand – 149 Goals
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This footballer is all about strength, timing, and air supremacy. Ferdinand ruled the skies with powerful headers and sharp finishing. His 25-goal haul for Newcastle in 1995–96 nearly clinched a title. He formed an iconic strike duo with Alan Shearer and became a fan favorite for his fearless style.
Michael Owen – 150 Goals
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At 18, Michael Owen was already unstoppable. He won two Golden Boots before turning 20 and claimed the Ballon d’Or in 2001. His electric pace and instinctive finishing lit up Liverpool’s attack. Unfortunately, injuries slowed him down, but 150 goals by 29 says a lot about the player he is.
Jermain Defoe – 162 Goals
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Few strikers could find space like Defoe. He scored for five different Premier League clubs and never stopped delivering. His sharp movement and snap-shot finishing made him lethal from anywhere around the box. He remains one of the most consistent scorers of the 2000s.
Robbie Fowler – 163 Goals
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Fowler showcased pure striker’s instinct in its more natural form with precision. He scored 30+ goals across all comps in three straight seasons by age 22. His 4-minute-33-second hat-trick against Arsenal once set a record.
Thierry Henry – 175 Goals
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Henry completely styled goals by making scoring look like art. As Arsenal’s all-time top scorer and a four-time Golden Boot winner, he led the legendary Invincibles side. With pace, vision, and flair, he redefined what a striker could be in English football.
Frank Lampard – 177 Goals
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Even though he wasn’t even a striker, Frank Lampard deserves a place on this list. Lampard scored 177 goals as a box-to-box midfielder, which makes him the Premier League’s top-scoring midfielder ever. His ability to time runs and smash long-range efforts made him Chelsea’s top scorer and a key figure in their rise to dominance.
Mohamed Salah – 184 Goals
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Salah was a major flop at Chelsea, but that didn’t stop him. He came back and rewrote everything with 32 goals in his debut season for Liverpool. He set a 38-game record and won multiple Golden Boots. Eventually, he led Liverpool to a league title and Champions League. He’s still not done.
Sergio Agüero – 184 Goals
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One swing of his right foot changed Premier League history. Agüero’s 2012 title-winner for City still echoes. But his legacy runs deeper. He scored at least 20 goals in five straight seasons, made goal-scoring look effortless, and never took a day off.
Andrew Cole – 187 Goals
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Cole scored 187 times without relying on spot kicks. He won five Premier League titles with Manchester United and once scored 34 goals in a single season for Newcastle. This player was efficient, underrated, and absolutely relentless inside the box.
Wayne Rooney – 208 Goals
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Rooney’s debut goal was a screamer against Arsenal at 16, and that set the tone. He mixed aggression with world-class finishing and became Manchester United’s all-time top scorer who led them through their most dominant era. Wayne was a playmaker and a finisher rolled into one.
Harry Kane – 213 Goals
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Kane’s rise wasn’t instant, but once he got going, he didn’t stop. He’s won three Golden Boots and is already the Premier League’s second-highest scorer. The player stood out for precise finishing and intelligent movement. He’s a complete forward and still has years left to chase Shearer.
Alan Shearer – 260 Goals
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The record still stands. Shearer’s 260 goals came from strength, rocket shots, and unshakable consistency. He won the title with Blackburn and became a Newcastle legend. No one matched his dominance over a full career, and no striker screams “Premier League” more than Shearer.