Who has been the best striker in the Premier League in 2026?
The Premier League is home to a host of elite No.9s right now, with Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak the frontrunners in the Golden Boot race. That lethal duo faces fierce competition from the likes of Nicolas Jackson, Evanilson, Joao Pedro and Thierno Barry.
We used our Squawka Score to pick out the best 10 strikers during the 2026 calendar year so far. Our rating system takes into account a variety of statistical categories, both defensive and offensive.
As we hit November, it’s Haaland leading the way with a score 74%, proving why he’s the undisputed Golden Boot favourite every single year. Chelsea’s Joao Pedro comes in second at 73%, while Everton’s Thierno Barry is the shock third-place candidate on 70% — level with Ollie Watkins, who left Aston Villa for the Saudi Pro League in the summer.
- Erling Haaland (Man City) – 74%
- Joao Pedro (Chelsea) – 73%
- Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) – 70%
- Thierno Barry (Everton) – 70%
- Evanilson (Bournemouth) – 69%
- Igor Thiago (Brentford) – 68%
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds) – 67%
- Taty Castellanos (West Ham) – 67%
- Dominic Solanke (Tottenham) – 66%
- Igor Jesus (Brentford) – 66%
Read on for more details on these Premier League striker rankings, among players with at least 1,350 minutes played (50%).
5. Evanilson
- Club: Bournemouth
- Squawka Score: 69%
Evanilson’s best form in 2025/26 came after the turn of the year, with the Brazilian netting four of his six Premier League goals post-New Year. He has continued in that vein at the start of this campaign, keeping in touch with Haaland and Isak in the Golden Boot race, while averaging a very impressive 0.43 assists per 90 minutes. Evanilson has rediscovered his scoring touch, but it’s his work for the team and ability to bring others into play that is most valuable for Bournemouth.
4. Thierno Barry
- Club: Everton
- Squawka Score: 70%
Thierno Barry’s debut campaign at Everton could be described as average at best. However, it’s important to note that six of his eight 2025/26 Premier League goals came after the New Year. That appears to have been a sign of things to come, with Barry scoring at a rate of 0.63 goals per 90 this season. The Frenchman is proving a nuisance for defenders in 2026, too, averaging 5.53 aerial duels won and 5.19 touches in the opposition box per 90. Barry deserves huge credit for his form, given he’s the only recognised senior striker at Hill Dickinson Stadium right now.
3. Ollie Watkins
- Club: Aston Villa
- Squawka Score: 70%
Ollie Watkins is now scoring the goals for Al-Hilal, but he ended last season in style, scoring 10 goals in 18 Premier League appearances after the New Year. Watkins added two assists to his total, while boasting a 51.11% shot accuracy. The 30-year-old’s departure in the summer had the potential to be catastrophic for Aston Villa. Thankfully, Nicolas Jackson has been finding the net with regularity.
2. Joao Pedro
- Club: Chelsea
- Squawka Score: 73%
Joao Pedro wasn’t signed to be Chelsea’s striker, but it’s a role he had to take on due to injuries. And it’s a role he’s thrived in, making his Brazil World Cup squad snub over the summer a surprise. Pedro scored nine of his 15 Premier League goals last season after the calendar flipped to 2026 and has carried on that strong form, averaging 0.86 goals and 0.52 assists per 90. He was right in the middle of forming a brilliant understanding with Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers when injury disrupted his progress, but Chelsea will hope he can continue to fire them up the table moving forward.
1. Erling Haaland
- Club: Man City
- Squawka Score: 74%
It wasn’t going to be anyone else. Erling Haaland continues to set the standard when it comes to strikers in the Premier League, even with Manchester City struggling to reach their usual standards. Fresh from another Golden Boot, Haaland is averaging 0.91 goals per 90 this season, which is hardly surprising given that his 1.57 shots per 90 this calendar year ranks him first among strikers to meet the minutes threshold.
How do Squawka’s ratings work?
Squawka’s new player rating system is completely stats-based. Player scores are based on the numbers they put up across a range of on-ball events, from goals scored to tackles won.
Using extensive research and our expertise, we tailored each score to the players’ respective positions. For example, forwards are rated on metrics like shots on target, touches in the opposition box and big chances created. Meanwhile, centre-backs are rewarded for winning aerial duels, making blocks, successful long-range passes and so on.