In the realm of soccer, debates about the greatest striker in history often revolve around iconic names like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Sergio Aguero, the former Manchester City legend and close friend of Lionel Messi, has raised eyebrows by naming his own choices for the best strikers of all time. Aguero’s selections may come as a surprise to many, as he excludes his dear friend Messi from the top spot.
With 184 goals in 275 games for Manchester City, Sergio Aguero is known for his remarkable career in the Premier League and has remained deeply connected to the world of soccer. Despite his premature retirement due to a diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia, Aguero has continued to stay involved in the sport.
He was present at the 2022 World Cup finals, witnessing Argentina’s triumph in lifting the trophy, and also witnessed Manchester City’s victory in the Champions League final as they secured their first European title.
Aguero has also embraced the world of streaming on the popular platform Twitch, where he is a prominent creator with nearly 5 million followers. During a Q&A session on his stream, Aguero responded to a question asking him to name the three best strikers in the history of soccer.
Sergio Aguero’s top three strikers in the history of football 👀 pic.twitter.com/svDOFJOKP4
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 7, 2023
Without hesitation, the Argentine striker promptly responded with three players who have all made significant contributions to Barcelona. In Aguero’s view, “the top three strikers in football history are Ronaldo Nazario, Thierry Henry, and Luis Suarez, in that order”.
Three strikers who have left a lasting legacy on the mind of Sergio Aguero
Interestingly, Aguero joined Barcelona following Suarez’s departure to Atletico Madrid in 2020. Suarez, who excelled at both club and international level, scored an impressive 198 goals in 283 matches for Barcelona. Additionally, Suarez had an exceptional season with Liverpool, contributing 31 goals and 17 assists in 33 matches, which many consider to be one of the greatest individual Premier League campaigns of all time.
Sergio Aguero has recently named former Liverpool striker Luis Suárez as his third best striker of all time, behind Ronaldo Nazario and Thierry Henry ⚽️
Very high praise, would you say Suarez is the best out-and-out striker of his generation? 👇 pic.twitter.com/MIW72S8o0O
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) July 5, 2023
While Luis Suarez had an outstanding peak in the Premier League, Thierry Henry is widely regarded as the epitome of excellence in the English League.
The Frenchman netted 175 Premier League goals for Arsenal, boasting the best goals-per-game ratio of any player with 100 Premier League goals. He secured two Premier League titles with Arsenal and added two more to his collection at Barcelona, where he also experienced Champions League success in 2009. Moreover, Henry was part of the French national team that won the 1998 World Cup.
The King at Highbury. pic.twitter.com/gSHZGdIyGV
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) July 7, 2023
However, it is Ronaldo Nazario who sits at the top of Aguero’s list. The Brazilian legend, known as “El Phenomeno,” encountered injury setbacks that curtailed his career. Nevertheless, when fit, he was an unstoppable force with incredible speed and a natural instinct for goal.
Ronaldo Nazario at world cup:
19 games
15 goals
2 titlesThe best no.9 World Cup has witnessed 🇧🇷 👑 pic.twitter.com/5QycgLji4t
— Complete Football 247 (@Completefoot247) July 3, 2023
Ronaldo joined Barcelona at the age of 19 in 1996 and showcased his exceptional talents, scoring 34 goals in 37 matches during his lone season with the club. Although injuries plagued his career, his remarkable performances in the knockout stages of the 2002 World Cup, where Brazil clinched their fifth championship, remain iconic and a testament to his extraordinary abilities.
While many consider Lionel Messi the greatest striker of all time, Sergio Aguero’s choices of Thierry Henry, Ronaldo Nazario, and Luis Suarez offer an intriguing perspective.