Football Manager 2022: Best Strikers (STC)

One of the backbones or areas of strength of every successful team is their sting in attack and ability to expertly convert scoring opportunities.

Similarly, owning the finest marksmen gives your team an extra edge on FM22, and we will be taking you through the stars with the highest current ability in the game.

​Choosing the best strikers (ST) on FM22

​Here, welook at the top-rated strikers in FM 22, with Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sergio Agüero being among the very best.

The players below have been ranked based on their current abilities, with the minimum being 155 CA, and a positional rating of at least 20 in the game.

At the bottom of the page, you’ll find a full list of all of the best strikers (ST) in FM22.

1. Robert Lewandowski (190 CA / 190 PA)

Team: Bayern Munich
Age: 32
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 190 CA / 190 PA
Wage: £328,847 p/w
Value: Not for Sale
Best Positions: ST
Best Attributes: 20 Finishing, 20 Work Rate, 20 Determination

Robert Lewandowski has inked his name as one of the world’s finest marksmen, and while he doesn’t have room for a potential rating improvement, his 190 CA makes him a top pick in FM22.

Best deployed as a pressing forward, the 32-year-old’s 20 finishing, 18 anticipation, and 18 decisions makes him a fox in the box and one of the most difficult frontmen to keep at bay. He is also known for his creativity and ability to hold up the play, and this is built on his 20 work rate, 16 teamwork, and 16 strength.

After rising to prominence in the Polish top-flight, Robert Lewandowski moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2010, where he inspired the club to two successive Bundesliga titles and the German Super Cup before joining rivals Bayern Munich for free in 2014. The 32-year-old has been a regular face in the Polish national team, making 127 appearances and scoring 72 goals since his debut in 2008.

2. Kylian Mbappé (184 CA / 196 PA)

Team: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 22
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 184 CA / 196 PA
Wage: £412,818 p/w
Value: £89 million – £129 million
Best Positions: ST
Best Attributes: 20 Pace, 20 Acceleration, 19 Off the Ball

Despite his young age, Kylian Mbappé has already built a reputation for himself as one of the most versatile and prolific attackers around. His current ability of 184, which could rise to a potential 196, makes him one of the best strikers on FM22.

A nightmare for any defensive unit, Mbappé possesses lightning-quick speed, fancy footwork and an eye for goal, featuring 20 pace, 20 acceleration, 18 dribbling and 17 finishing. While he is best deployed as a striker, the versatile Frenchman is adept at playing on either flank, and his 18 composure, 19 off the ball, and 17 technique make him calm and collected under pressure from opposing full-backs.

Mbappé quickly burst onto the scene with his string of stellar performances for AS Monaco, where he was pivotal in handing them their first title in 17 years before earning a staggering £165.7 million move to rivals Paris Saint-Germain. Despite his young age, the forward already boasts a huge trophy cabinet, including the World Cup for the French national team.

3. Harry Kane (184 CA / 185 PA)

Team: Tottenham Hotspur
Age: 28
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 184 CA / 185 PA
Wage: £200,000 p/w
Value: £187 million – £251 million
Best Positions: ST
Best Attributes: 20 Penalty taking, 19 Finishing, 19 Determination

One of the most well-rounded strikers on FM22, Harry Kane earns a place among the top-rated strikers thanks to his current ability of 184.

Best when used as a deep-lying forward in the game, the Englishman will not just rain goals up top but he can also drop deep to create goalscoring opportunities. This is underpinned by his 19 finishing, 18 vision and 18 teamwork. Kane’s intelligence on the ball and ability to pull one out of the hat in strenuous situations stands him out from most of the rest thanks to his 16 technique, 16 decision, and 18 composure.

Having started his career at the Tottenham Hotspur academy, Harry Kane would go on loan stints with the likes of Millwall, Norwich City, and Leicester City before finally breaking into Spurs’ senior team, where he has stamped his name as one of the best forwards in the history of English football. The 28-year-old earned his first England call-up back in March 2015 and has since made 65 appearances and scored 41 goals.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo (182 CA / 196 PA)

Team: Manchester United
Age: 36
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 195 CA / 196 PA
Wage: £480,000 p/w
Value: Not for Sale
Best Positions: ST
Best Attributes: 20 Penalty Taking, 20 Determination, 20 Natural Fitness

Despite being in the twilight of his glittering career, Cristiano Ronaldo still commands a place among the top-rated strikers on FM22 thanks to his 182 CA, which could rise to a potential 196 in his final playing days.

Ronaldo is known for possessing a high affinity for scoring goals, particularly on the biggest stages. In FM22, this is owing to his 19 finishing, 19 anticipation, and 20 penalty taking. A born leader on the pitch, given his 19 leadership, the Portuguese superstar is unmatched aerially with 19 heading and 17 jumping reach. He also boasts god-like fitness thanks to his 20 natural fitness.

After rising through the ranks in the Sporting Lisbon academy, Ronaldo would go on to conquer Europe with the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. The 36-year-old, who holds the record for most international goals scored with 115 in 182 games, has also done it on the international stage, guiding Portugal to Euro 2016 glory and the Nations League title.

​ 5. Karim Benzema (180 CA / 180 PA)

Team: Real Madrid
Age: 33
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 180 CA / 180 PA
Wage: £275,000 p/w
Value: Not for Sale
Best Positions: ST
Best Attributes: 19 First Touch, 19 Technique, 18 Passing

A veteran marksman with a minimum of three-to-five years still in him, Karim Benzema has already hit his peak at a current ability of 180, which earns him a spot among the best strikers on FM 22.

Best used as a deep-lying forward, the 33-year-old’s ability to collect and hold up play, while drawing his teammates into the attack, might be his best asset. In FM22, this ability comes from his 16 teamwork, 19 technique, and 17 vision. The Frenchman also possesses a keen eye for goal thanks to his 16 finishing, 18 composure, and 17 decisions.

After being out of the French national team set-up for almost six years, Benzema returned to the fold back in May to lead Les Bleus’ line at the Euro 2020 before guiding them to the UEFA Nations League title in 2021.

6. Erling Haaland (177 CA / 190 PA)

Team: Borussia Dortmund
Age: 21
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 177 CA / 190 PA
Wage: £130,000 p/w
Value: £100 million – £113 million
Best Positions: ST
Best Attributes: 20 Determination, 19 Pace, 19 Natural Fitness

Despite just turning 21-years-old in July, the Dortmund man commands a place among the best strikers on FM22 thanks to his 177 current ability, which could peak at 190 under proper management.

Strong, deadly in the box, swift on the counter, and with an affinity for scoring absolute bangers, Haaland possesses deadly skills for a striker; his 18 finishing, 19 pace, and 17 strength allow him to replicate this in-game. With ratings of 16 first touch, 18 off the ball, and 17 balance make the Norwegian goal machine adept with the ball at his feet.

Haaland has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the zenith of European football, and it isn’t hard to see why as the youngster constantly terrorised the very best defenders during his spell at Red Bull Salzburg before switching to Bundesliga powerhouse Borussia Dortmund. The 21-year-old picked up the 2020 Golden Boy award and has been pivotal for his national team, scoring 12 goals in 15 appearances since his 2019 debut.

7. Romelu Lukaku (174 CA / 185 PA)

Team: Chelsea
Age: 28
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 174 CA / 185 PA
Wage: £350,000 p/w
Value: £217 million – £271 million
Best Positions: ST
Best Attributes: 20 Strength, 20 Balance, 20 Penalty Taking

Romelu Lukaku has, over the years, risen to the peak of European football and his current ability of 174 with room to rise to a potential 185 makes the Belgian one of the finest strikers on FM22.

The 28-year-old is known for his eye for goal, unmatched strength to easily bounce off defenders, and this is down to his 18 finishing, 20 strength, and 16 aggression. For his towering size and build, he also boasts lightning-quick pace and the ability to hold up play, thanks to his 18 pace, 15 acceleration, and 19 teamwork.

After a somewhat disappointing spell with Manchester United, the former Anderlecht, Chelsea, and Everton man moved to Italian powerhouse Inter Milan, where he was crucial in ending their 11-year wait for the Scudetto. He then made a sensational club-record £97.5 million return to Chelsea in August. The towering forward has been ever-present in Belgium’s senior team, where he leads the nation’s all-time scoring chart with 68 goals in 101 caps.

All of the best strikers (ST) on FM22

​Listed in the table below are the best strikers (ST) available in FM22, sorted by their current abilities.

If you are in need of a trusted centre forward who can ultimately spearhead your team to glory, the players listed above are best suited for the task.