Summary

  • 32 European strikers were shortlisted

  • A random draw pitted them head-to-head, for you to ultimately pick your winner

  • Ronaldo beat Henry in final

  • Villa and Rooney out in quarters

  • Mbappe and Shearer knocked out in last 16

  • Kane, Bale and Owen were first-round casualties

  • Get involved via #besteurostriker

  1. How can you vote?published at 09:23 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    Vote

    Vote HERE.

    You have until 10:30 BST to vote. Results will be announced around 11:00 BST and then we'll be down to the last 16.

  2. Match 6published at 09:23 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    Thierry Henry v David Trezeguet

    Another big heavyweight clash in the first round. International team-mates, too.

    Media caption,

    Thierry Henry scores against Leeds in the FA Cup on his return for Arsenal in 2012

    Thierry Henry - what do I need to say? One of the very best players to ever grace the Premier League. Scored at least 30 goals for Arsenal in five consecutive seasons and then won the Champions League with Barcelona. Add in the World Cup and the Euros as well.

    League goals: 233

    Champions League goals: 50

    David TrezeguetImage source, Getty Images

    David Trezeguet was in the same crop of French forwards as Henry and really announced himself to the world with a ripping shot at Old Trafford in 1998.

    Won the World Cup that summer, scored the golden goal winner at Euro 2000, spent 10 years at Juventus and made it to another World Cup final in 2006.

    Decent.

    League goals: 187

    Champions League goals: 29

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:22 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    #besteurostriker or text us on 81111 (UK Only)

    Van Nistelrooy got the one man you'd want to avoid in the draw. Sorry Ruud!

    Media caption,

    Ronaldo scores early to put Portugal ahead

    This isn't fair! You've pitted my two childhood idols against one another in RVN and CR7. It feels like sacrilege to pick between them but you can't argue against Ronaldo. Sorry Ruud

    Sean in Nottingham

  4. Match 5published at 09:20 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    Antonio di Natale v Edin Dzeko

    Two under-rated players up against each other?

    Di NataleImage source, Getty Images

    Antonio di Natale has aged like a fine wine, with amazing longevity. He may not be in the first few names to crop up when you're asked for great Italian forwards but who scores over 200 goals in Serie A?!

    Di Natale, that's who. A real late bloomer, the Udinese man scored 67 league goals between the ages of 32 and 34.

    League goals: 209

    Champions League goals: 3

    Edin DzekoImage source, Getty Images

    Edin Dzeko helped Manchester City win the Premier League twice before moving to Roma and scoring 39 times in a single season. Prolific. Don't worry about what he can't do, just focus on the fact he's very very good at hitting the back of the net.

    League goals: 190

    Champions League goals: 22

  5. How can you vote?published at 09:17 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    Vote

    Votes for all 16 first round ties are live on a separate page - HERE.

    You have until 10:30 BST to vote. Results will be announced around 11:00 BST and then we'll be down to the last 16.

  6. Match 4published at 09:17 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    Klaas-Jan Huntelaar v Diego Costa

    Two proper, out-and-out strikers here. Targetmen. Poachers.

    Klaas-Jan huntelaarImage source, PA Media

    Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's stats are not helped by the fact that goals in his native Netherlands don't count when it comes to 'the big five.'

    A natural goalscorer, he doesn't offer much to build-up play but get the ball in the right areas and he remains lethal. A record of 42 goals in 76 caps shows he can do it on the biggest of stages, too.

    League goals: 97

    Champions League goals: 14

    Media caption,

    Fortunate Costa breaks the deadlock

    Diego Costa - you'd want him on your side wouldn't you? Unplayable on his day, unwatchable on an off day. Temperamental, argumentative, bully of a striker. His lack of CL goals is a surprise.

    League goals: 120

    Champions League goals: 11

  7. How many league goals?published at 09:16 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    When we mention league goals here - that's goals scored in Europe's top five leagues (Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and La Liga).

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:15 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    #besteurostriker or text 81111 (UK only)

    Marek Gucciano: Imagine putting Dzeko but not Aguero.

    Important to stress, this is a list of European strikers...

  9. How can you vote?published at 09:13 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    Vote

    All 16 first round ties are live on a separate page - HERE.

    You have until 10:30 BST to vote. Results will be announced around 11:00 BST and then we'll be down to the last 16.

  10. Match 3published at 09:12 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    David Villa v Romelu Lukaku

    Your task doesn't get any easier - we've got two men here who are both record goalscorers for their respective nations.

    Media caption,

    Relive David Villa's sensational goal for Spain against Honduras at the 2010 World Cup

    David Villa is a bona fide Spanish legend, scoring 59 goals for his country and winning the World Cup and the Euros. He scored nine goals at World Cups - only 13 men in history have more. He hasn't scored many CL goals compared to a lot on this list - but he did bag in the final...

    League goals: 186

    Champions League goals: 14

    Media caption,

    Lukaku dinks in to make it 3-0

    Romelu Lukaku simply scores goals wherever he goes. Manchester United were happy to let him go but has he proven them wrong?

    Again, not prolific in the Champions League but that's what playing for West Brom and Everton will do for you.

    League goals: 130

    Champions League goals: 9

  11. Postpublished at 09:10 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    If it was just strikers who have shone in the Euros - he'd be in.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:09 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    #besteurostriker or text us on 81111 (UK Only)

    Garfield Ward: Bit disappointed that Hal @RobsonKanu, external didn't make the draw.

  13. Match 2published at 09:08 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    Gareth Bale v Alessandro del Piero

    I know what you're thinking - Gareth Bale isn't a striker. But he's a forward, sort of, so he's in.

    Media caption,

    Euro 2016: Top-scorer Gareth Bale's three goals for Wales

    Gareth Bale started as a left-back but has still scored an awful lot of goals in his career and you cannot argue with his record on the biggest stage.

    He has won the Champions League four times, scored in two finals and was a key part of the Wales squad to reach the last four at Euro 2016.

    League goals: 122

    Champions League goals: 20

    Alessandro del PieroImage source, Getty Images

    Alessandro del Piero was another more creative, deeper forward rather than an out-and-out goalscorer but the Juventus legend still weighed in with a whopping 290 goals for the club.

    Two-hundred-and-ninety!

    He won the World Cup too so this is another very tough tie.

    League goals: 188

    Champions League goals: 42

  14. Match 1published at 09:04 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    Kylian Mbappe v Harry Kane

    Ooofff - no messing about here. Straight in with two giants up against each other. We're going to lose a very big hitter straight away. Let's take a look...

    Media caption,

    World Cup 2018: Kylian Mbappe goal stretches lead

    Kylian Mbappe is only 21 and he's already pretty much completed football. Won the World Cup, become the second most-expensive player ever, scored over 100 goals...

    All he needs is a Champions League win.

    League goals: 80

    Champions League goals: 19

    Media caption,

    Kane heads home winner for England

    Harry Kane is now 26 and is certainly losing the battle in terms of trophies. His haul of 136 Premier League goals is immense though - he's 13th on the all-time list already.

    Could he catch Alan Shearer on 260? He may have more luck on the England front. He already has 32 goals for his country - 21 behind Wayne Rooney.

    League goals: 136

    Champions League goals: 20

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    #besteurostriker or text us on 81111 (UK Only)

    Memories of a certain player or goal? Favourite striker ever?

    We want to hear your thoughts all day here.

    Media caption,

    Mbappe stretches French lead to 4-2

    Drop us a line on text to 81111 (UK Only and include your name please) or tweet us at #besteurostriker.

  16. The drawpublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    Henry v TrezeguetImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Someone is going out in the first round...

    The draw was made - remotely of course - earlier this week. Here's who's up against who:

    Match 1: Kylian Mbappe v Harry Kane

    Match 2: Gareth Bale v Alessandro del Piero

    Macth 3: David Villa v Romelu Lukaku

    Match 4: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar v Diego Costa

    Match 5: Antonio di Natale v Edin Dzeko

    Match 6: Thierry Henry v David Trezeguet

    Match 7: Zlatan Ibrahimovic v Andriy Shevchenko

    Match 8: Alan Shearer v Thomas Muller

    Match 9: Wayne Rooney v Michael Owen

    Match 10: Henrik Larsson v Mario Mandzukic

    Match 11: Patrick Kluivert v Francesco Totti

    Match 12: Cristiano Ronaldo v Ruud van Nistelrooy

    Match 13: Luca Toni v Robin van Persie

    Match 14: Karim Benzema v Dimitar Berbatov

    Match 15: Miroslav Klose v Robert Lewandowski

    Match 16: Raul v Fernando Torres

    I'll be talking you through each match-up but if you want to dive in and have your vote you can here.

  17. What's the format?published at 08:56 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    We started off with 32 of the best European strikers from 2000 onwards.

    A draw was held, and you can vote on who goes through in each tie. We then progress throughout the day until we reach a final two later on this afternoon...

  18. Who is in?published at 08:53 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    Media caption,

    He's in

    We picked the longlist from players active since - and before in some cases - 2000.

    The strikers had to have scored at least 20 goals in all competitions in three or more seasons - which is why Pippo Inzaghi, for example, misses out.

    International pedigree and success were also taken into account – and the list was picked by BBC Sport journalists.

    Not me - proper journalists.

  19. Who is the best of the best?published at 08:45 British Summer Time 4 June 2020

    Strikeres

    Shearer, Henry, Mbappe, Villa, Rooney, Zlatan, Ronaldo...

    Europe has produced some sensational strikers since the turn of the century - but who is your favourite?

    Time to find out in BBC Sport's European Championship of strikers!