Ranking the top 5 attackers of the 21st century

The world has witnessed some of the best footballers in history since the turn of the century who have lit up the world's biggest stages with their performances.

Attackers certainly get a lot more limelight than other players because goals win games. There are attackers of various kinds - wingers, second strikers and centre-forwards.

On that note, here's a look at the top five attackers in the 21st century.

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#5 Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, Everton)

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney is one of the best goalscorers in the history of the game. Having spent a total of 16 years in the Premier League, Rooney dazzled audiences regularly with his goalscoring prowess.

Known for his versatility in attack, Rooney could seamlessly operate in any attacking position.

Rooney was lethal as a centre-forward. Capable of scoring match-winning goals in crunch situations, Rooney had an eye for the audacious. He could shoot from anywhere on the pitch and even scored from the half-line on three occasions.

Wayne Rooney tops the charts for the most goals in Manchester United history. Rooney racked up 253 goals in 559 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils.

With five Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League title to his name, it's fair to say that Wayne Rooney had an illustrious career.

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#4 Luis Suarez (Barcelona, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid)

Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez is one of the most prolific goalscorers in the modern game. Suarez initially burst onto the scene with Ajax, for whom he made 159 appearances in all competitions. He scored 111 goals for the Amsterdam outfit before moving to Liverpool.

At the English club, Suarez put on some of the best individual displays the Premier League has ever seen. Although Suarez didn't win the Premier League, he won the Premier League Golden Boot as well as the European Golden Boot awards. Suarez netted 82 goals in 133 matches in all competitions for Liverpool.

His exploits at Liverpool earned him a move to Barcelona in 2014, where he went on to form a devastating attacking trident with Lionel Messi and Neymar. Suarez scored 195 goals in his six years at the club, rising to third in the club's all-time goalscoring list.

He moved to Atletico Madrid last season in a shocking move, but has continued to impress with his attacking prowess. A key part of the Rojiblancos' squad, Luis Suarez won the La Liga title last season with Atletico Madrid.

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#3 Thierry Henry (Arsenal, Barcelona)

Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry is one of the biggest legends the Premier League has ever seen.

Boasting a trophy-laden career with Arsenal and Barcelona, the Frenchman is certainly one of the best goalscorers to have ever played the game. Widely renowned for his electric pace and inch-perfect finishing, Henry sent shivers down the spines of opposition defenders.

Henry spent most of his career with Arsenal, scoring a mammoth 228 goals. He also had stints with Monaco and Juventus, where he scored a combined 31 goals before joining Arsenal. One of the highest goalscorers in Premier League history, Henry is Arsenal's all-time top goalscorer.

A bonafide Arsenal legend, Henry was known for his ability to score goals out of nothing. He could take on the entire defensive line by himself and come out victorious.

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#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus)

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo will doubtless go down as one of the best players in football history.

Having enjoyed a long and illustrious career in Portugal, England, Spain and Italy, Ronaldo has made a habit of scoring goals wherever he has gone. Famed for his adaptability and big-game mentality, Ronaldo has certainly made his mark in club and international football.

Originally a winger, Ronaldo underwent a metamorphosis with his style of play after moving to Spain.

He adopted a more direct approach: receiving the ball and taking shots as opposed to dribbling on the wing and crossing. That change paid fruitful dividends, as Ronaldo notched up a gargantuan tally of 450 goals during his time with Real Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo is no stranger to goalscoring records. He has broken several such records throughout his career. To name a few, Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer for Real Madrid and Portugal and has also scored more goals than any other player in the history of the UEFA Champions League.

The 36-year-old seems to have no plans of slowing down any time soon. Ronaldo, who won the Serie A Golden Boot award last season, will be itching to go for more in 2021-22.

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#1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Lionel Messi

Among the plethora of great players to have played the game, fans are truly lucky to have witnessed Lionel Messi.

Arguably the best footballer of all time, Messi has had a hugely successful career for club and country. An ever-present in Barcelona's lineup, Messi has been known to operate on the right side of attack. Known for his versatility, Messi can play as a second striker or a false 9 as well.

Displaying an ultra-entertaining style of play, Messi can often be seen dribbling past defenders or setting up goals for his teammates. One thing that puts Messi above his competitors is his ability to produce assists.

In 778 games for Barcelona, Messi has scored a staggering tally of 672 goals and has also produced an impressive 305 assists in all competitions. A prolific goalscorer, Messi has scored goals galore in all the competitions he has played in.

Messi also has 76 goals for Argentina in 151 appearances. He recently led Argentina to the Copa America 2021 title, bagging four goals and five assists in the tournament to take home the tournament's Golden Boot award.