The 10 greatest strikers in Serie A history
Serie A has always been a ruthless league for strikers. Organized defenses, tight marking, constant duels: scoring in Italy has never been easy. This ranking brings together the top scorers in the history of the Italian league.
10) Alessandro Del Piero
Serie A stats ⚽
→ Matches: 478
→ Goals: 188 (≈ 0.39 goals/match)
→ 22 goals from direct free kicks
Serie A record 🏆
→ 6 Scudetti : 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2012
→ 1x top scorer : 2007–08 ( 21 goals )
Del Piero 's longevity naturally places him among the best Serie A strikers. Capable of scoring in all situations, often decisive in big moments, he carried Juventus for nearly twenty years . His game intelligence and composure make him one of the best goalscorers in the history of Italian football.
9) Filippo Inzaghi
Serie A stats ⚽
⭢ Matches: 370
⭢ Goals: 156 (≈ 0.42 goals/match)
⭢ 10 hat-tricks in Serie A
Serie A record 🏆
⭢ 3 Scudetti : 1998, 2004, 2011
⭢ 1x top scorer: 1996–97 ( 24 goals )
Inzaghi doesn't touch the ball… but he scores. The Italian striker embodies the quintessential poacher . Gifted with an almost supernatural sense of offside, rebounding, and second balls, Inzaghi is a less complete striker in open play than some others here. But his instinct makes him one of the greatest number nines in the history of the Italian league.
8) Andriy Shevchenko
Serie A stats ⚽
→ Matches: 224
→ Goals: 127 (≈ 0.57 goals/match)
Serie A record 🏆
→ 1 Scudetto : 2004
→ 2x top scorer : 1999–2000 ( 24 goals ), 2003–04 ( 24 goals )
→ Ballon d'Or in 2004
Shevchenko was the modern striker before his time . Fast, clinical, and intelligent in his movement, he dominated Serie A during an era of extremely high defensive standards. Capable of scoring from open play, on the counter-attack, or under intense pressure, he remains one of the most complete number 9s to have ever graced Italian football.
7) Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Serie A stats ⚽
→ Matches: 283
→ Goals: 156 (≈ 0.55 goals/match)
Serie A record 🏆
→ 5 Scudetti : 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2022
→ 2x top scorer : 2008–09 ( 25 goals ), 2011–12 ( 28 goals )
Ibrahimovic is more than just a finisher. A focal point, a technical and mental leader , he has transformed each of his teams into title contenders. His power, technique, and authority make him one of the most dominant strikers of the modern era in Serie A.
Furthermore, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a player who has established himself everywhere he has gone with incredible stats at each club .
6) Antonio Di Natale
Serie A stats ⚽
→ Matches: 445
→ Goals: 209 (≈ 0.47 goals/match)
→ 7 hat-tricks in Serie A
Serie A record 🏆
→ 2x top scorer : 2009–10 ( 29 goals ), 2010–11 ( 28 goals )
Di Natale is the perfect example of an incredibly consistent goalscorer. Without ever playing for a "big" club, he carried his teammates (at Empoli and Udinese ) thanks to his precision, intelligence, and composure. An elite striker, discreet yet ruthless, capable of consistently high-level performances.
5) Ciro Immobile
Serie A stats ⚽
→ Matches: 359
→ Goals: 201 (≈ 0.56 goals/match)
Serie A record 🏆
→ 4x top scorer : 2013–14 ( 22 goals ), 2017–18 ( 29 goals ), 2019–20 ( 36 goals ), 2021–22 ( 27 goals )
Immobile is one of the most prolific goalscorers in recent Serie A history. Capable of stringing together seasons of exceptional performance, he has combined volume, consistency, and efficiency. His long-term ratio makes him one of the most reliable number 9s in modern Italian football.
4) Gabriel Batistuta
Serie A stats ⚽
→ Matches: 318
→ Goals: 183 (≈ 0.58 goal/match)
Serie A record 🏆
→ 1 Scudetto : 2001
→ 1x top scorer : 1994–95 ( 26 goals )
Batistuta symbolizes pure power . Devastating shot, aerial prowess, constant presence in the box: this striker made his mark on Serie A history with his immediate impact and formidable efficiency. A number 9 feared in every stadium.
3) José Altafini
Serie A stats ⚽
→ Matches: 459
→ Goals: 216 (≈ 0.47 goals/match)
Serie A record 🏆
→ 2 Scudetti : 1959, 1962
→ 1x top scorer : 1961–62 ( 22 goals )
Altafini shone consistently, in various tactical contexts and at different stages of the Italian league. His goal-scoring record, combined with his longevity, makes him one of the most consistent strikers in Serie A history.
2) Gunnar Nordahl
Serie A stats ⚽
→ Matches: 291
→ Goals: 225 (≈ 0.77 goals/match)
Serie A record 🏆
→ 2 Scudetti : 1951, 1955
→ 5x top scorer : 1949–50 ( 35 goals ), 1950–51 ( 34 goals ), 1952–53 ( 26 goals ), 1953–54 ( 23 goals ), 1954–55 ( 27 goals )
Nordahl is a statistical anomaly. His goal ratio is simply extraordinary, never before equaled over such a long period in Serie A. Physically dominant and clinical in front of goal, he dominated his era, becoming one of the best strikers in the history of Italian football.
1) Silvio Piola
Serie A stats ⚽
→ Matches: 537
→ Goals: 274 (≈ 0.51 goal/match)
Serie A record 🏆
→ 2x top scorer :
• 1936–37 ( 21 goals )
• 1942–43 ( 21 goals )
Silvio Piola is the undisputed benchmark for goalscorers in Serie A. His ratio, combined with exceptional longevity, explains why his goalscoring record still stands today. Consistent efficiency, adaptability to every era: the ultimate number 9 of Italian football.
Honorable Mentions
Several strikers could also have been included in this top 10 of the best strikers, given how strong their impact in Serie A has been, but they narrowly miss out on profiles that are more dominant over time or at the absolute top.
• Roberto Boninsegna : more than 170 goals in Serie A , a major player for Inter in the 70s, a regular goalscorer in an extremely closed Calcio.
• Christian Vieri : top scorer in Serie A in 2002–03 ( 24 goals ), one of the most physically powerful strikers in the history of the championship.
• David Trezeguet : 171 goals in Serie A , symbol of Juventus in the 2000s, formidable finisher in the box.
• Giuseppe Signori : 3x top scorer in Serie A (1993, 1994, 1996), specialist in shots and free kicks.
• Paolo Rossi : less prolific at club level, but decisive in great seasons and world champion, a prominent figure in Italian football in the 80s.
• Hernán Crespo : top scorer in 2000–01 ( 26 goals ), elegant and efficient striker, performing well in several major Italian clubs.
• Francesco Graziani : consistent goalscorer in the 70s, 1982 World Cup winner, complete profile and highly respected in Serie A.
• Gonzalo Higuaín : modern record with 36 goals in 2015–16 , exceptional peak performance despite a shorter longevity at the top.
These strikers do not make the final ranking, but their name remains inextricably linked to the offensive history of Serie A and fully deserves to be cited among the benchmarks in attack of the championship.