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The Premier League has been home to some of the world's most prolific attackers. Viewers have been truly fortunate to view innumerable brilliant attackers, all of whom have been lauded for their goalscoring capabilities.
While football has evolved over time, it's still a well known fact that goals win games. On that note, let's take a look at the top five goalscorers in Premier League history.
#5 Sergio Aguero | Manchester City
Sergio Aguero is a fond name in the hearts of Manchester City fans worldwide. Signed from Atletico Madrid in 2011 for a reported £35 million, Aguero spent ten seasons in the Premier League.
A picture of consistency in his time at the Etihad Stadium, Aguero managed a massive 184 league goals in 275 appearances. Boasting one of the best minutes-per-goal ratios in Premier League history, Aguero served as Manchester City's main attacking outlet for the majority of his career.
His contributions directly enabled the Cityzens to win a plethora of trophies. Aguero possesses one of the most decorated trophy rooms in the business; he won the Premier League five times and the League Cup six times. Taking into account his three Community Shield trophies and one FA Cup, it's easy to say Aguero has had a star-studded career.
The 2011-12 season was a particularly standout moment in Aguero's career, with the Argentine scoring the winner in extra-time against Queens Park Rangers to win the Premier League title for Manchester City on the final day of the season.
Widely regarded as one of the best moments in the history of the Premier League, it's fair to say that Aguero has stamped his name in the history books forever.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably one of the best players in the history of the sport. Despite spending only six years in the Premier League, Ronaldo shocked England with his eye for goal.
Having joined from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 for a reported £12.24 million, one could argue that he didn't set the world alight in his first three seasons at Old Trafford, as he failed to score more than 10 league goals in each of those campaigns.
However, Ronaldo finally added end product to his game at the start of the 2006-07 season. He managed an impressive 17 goals in 34 appearances that season and helped Manchester United win the Premier League title.
The following year, Ronaldo only got better. The 2007-08 season turned out to be a record-breaking one, with the Portuguese scoring a record 31 goals in just 34 appearances. He also finished as the top scorer in the UEFA Champions League, enabling United to lift the trophy after an eight-year wait. He picked up the Golden Boot and the European Golden Shoe after scoring a total of 42 goals over the course of the season. His goalscoring prowess sent shivers down the spines of his Premier League rivals, and his contributions enabled Manchester United to retain the Premier League trophy.
The 2008-09 season was Ronaldo's last in the Premier League before his world-record move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. Ronaldo managed 18 Premier League goals in 33 appearances that season, before ultimately parting ways with United for the next phase of his career. Ronaldo certainly takes the cake for being a magnificent goalscorer and remains one of the best in Premier League history.
#3 Wayne Rooney | Everton, Manchester United
Wayne Rooney is third on our list of five best attackers in Premier League history. Spending a total of 16 years in the Premier League, Rooney dazzled audiences regularly with his goalscoring prowess.
Bursting onto the scene with Everton, Rooney sparked interest and appreciation after scoring the goal to end Arsenal's historic unbeaten run. His move to Manchester United in 2004 for £25.6 million was the highest transfer price for any footballer under the age of 20, and Rooney went on to make it worth every penny.
His versatility in attack was always a talking point for pundits worldwide, as Rooney could seamlessly slot into any attacking role. Even capable of being used in midfield, Rooney was always one of the first names on the team sheet. In his 13 seasons with Manchester United, the Englishman scored a record 183 goals in 393 appearances. Some of the goals he scored were truly unbelievable, including the bicycle kick against derby rivals Manchester City.
Returning to Everton in 2017, Rooney spent a year with the Toffees, scoring 10 goals. This took his overall Premier League tally to 208 goals in 491 appearances. He subsequently moved to the MLS to play for D.C. United before returning to England as a player-manager for Championship side Derby County.
Rooney will be fondly remembered as one of the best players the Premier League has ever seen.
#2 Alan Shearer | Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United
Alan Shearer makes the list of the top five attackers in Premier League history. Known far and wide for his goalscoring ability, Shearer spent his entire career in the Premier League. Starting out with Southampton initially, his move to Blackburn Rovers in 1992 coincided perfectly with the introduction of the modern-day Premier League.
Shearer spent four years with Blackburn, scoring 112 Premier League goals in 138 appearances. His goalscoring output was exemplary, with the Englishman scoring 30+ goals in three consecutive seasons. His attacking contributions led Blackburn to the Premier League title in the 1994-95 season, after which Shearer spent another year with the Rovers before moving to Newcastle United.
His stint with Newcastle United can only be described as historic. Spending a total of ten years with the Magpies, Shearer proceeded to etch his name in Premier League history forever. He scored 148 goals in 303 appearances with the club, ending his career with a combined total of 260 goals in 441 appearances. With his goalscoring record still intact, Shearer remains one of the best-ever attackers in Premier League history.
#1 Thierry Henry | Arsenal
Thierry Henry is one of the biggest legends the Premier League has ever produced. Signed in 1999 from Juventus, Henry spent eight years with Arsenal in a stint that was nothing short of phenomenal.
Originally a winger, his eye for goal and blistering pace enabled Arsene Wenger to deploy him as a striker. His decision worked wonders, as Henry seamlessly adapted to life in the English top-flight. He announced himself on the Premier League stage almost immediately, scoring 17 goals in his debut season.
He replicated his feat the following season, scoring 17 goals and winning the Premier League and FA Cup double in the process. The next five years were record-breaking by any standard. Henry scored 20+ goals in five successive seasons, lifting the Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield in the process.
His individual ability was world-class, with the Frenchman winning the Premier League Golden Boot a record four times. The 2003-04 season saw Arsenal win the Premier League without losing a single game, with Henry as an integral part of the setup.
His pace and remarkable consistency attracted suitors worldwide. Henry finally moved to Barcelona in 2007 for the next stage of his career, but it's fair to say he left England after making a massive mark. Henry will forever be remembered as one of the best players to ever feature in the Premier League.
