These are the legends that defined the striker position in the 1980s.
In the end, all that matters in football is getting the ball into the net, and having talented attackers on your squad may greatly aid in that process. There were many of them throughout the 1980s, from those who excelled on the international scene to those who scored goals for their club frequently. We go over the best of them here.
Diego Maradona may have scored the greatest goal of all time, but Marco van Basten arguably scored the second-best with his incredible volley that ended the Netherlands' Euro 1988 triumph against the Soviet Union (of all the stages to do it on). Basta was much more than just that special striker, though. In 147 games for Ajax between the 1983–1984 and 1986–1987 seasons, he scored a startling 140 goals; 33 of those goals came for AC Milan during their 1988–1989 European Cup-winning season. Being a true beast of a centre striker, it is understandable why he was awarded the Ballon d'Or three times, with his first two victories being in 1988 and 1989.
Diego Maradona would have been ranked first if he had played as a "main" striker, but because of his more frequent usage as a supporting striker, he is ranked second. Not that we can even begin to diminish the indisputable brilliance of maybe the greatest player in sport history, who against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal scored the Goal of the Century, unquestionably the sport's best goal ever (when he also got... that other goal...)! There will never be another player quite like the late, great Diego, who, before the 1980s ended, helped Napoli win the UEFA Cup and Serie A. He also somehow led Argentina to victory at the aforementioned World Cup.
Widely considered one of the greatest British footballers of all time, Kenny Dalglish is renowned as the finest to ever don the iconic Liverpool shirt – and for good reasons! Arriving from Celtic in 1977, the Scottish striker – who netted 30 goals in 102 international appearances – ascended to legendary status at Anfield, earning the moniker "King Kenny." During his tenure, he scored 172 goals, provided 167 assists, and formed a formidable partnership with Ian Rush in attack. Upon retiring in 1990, Dalglish left behind a memorable legacy at Liverpool, having made 515 appearances and secured 14 major trophies, including 12 during the 1980s and two European Cups.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stands as one of West Germany's most prolific strikers, tallying 45 goals in 95 caps. A European champion in 1980 and a runner-up in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, the Bayern Munich icon topped the Bundesliga scoring charts three times in the early 80s. His exceptional talent earned him the prestigious Ballon d'Or in 1980, which he retained the following year, affirming his status as one of football's elite players.
Liverpool legend Ian Rush is renowned as one of English football's most prolific strikers, clinching the Reds' top scorer title five times in the 1980s. Winner of the 1983/84 First Division Golden Boot, Rush formed a formidable partnership with Kenny Dalglish, securing numerous league titles, FA Cups, and European Cups at Anfield.
From the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, Jean-Pierre Papin established himself as one of the premier center-forwards globally, demonstrating his skill for both club and country. As the top scorer in Ligue 1 for Marseille in 1987/88, 1988/89, and 1989/90, Papin made his international debut for France in 1986, contributing two goals as Les Bleus secured third place in that year's World Cup.
Some other top strikers of this era are players like Hugo Sanchez, Jorge Valdano, Paolo Rossi, Jurgen Klinsmann, and Gary Lineker.
