Best for last. The final post in my FM16 Best Players series is all about the
10 best strikers in the game.
Picking the top 10 in FM16 is pretty simple on paper, but ruthless in practice. I ranked every player using a blend of Current Ability and Potential Ability, with Current Ability always carrying more weight because it tells you who performs right now, not who might explode in five seasons.
If two players were tied on Current Ability, then I used Potential Ability as the tie-breaker. In other words, if they are equally good today, the one with the higher ceiling gets the edge.
I have been doing these list for quite some time now and if you are wondering how the lists looked back in FM2014 or FM2015 then check the Best Players in FM14 or the Best Players in FM15.
If the player is already included in the Best FM16 Wonderkids list it doesn't mean that he can't be included in the best FM2016 players list as well.
Right then, let us get into the 10 Best Strikers in Football Manager 2016.
10. Gonzalo Higuaín
Higuaín is that striker you sign when you do not want drama, experiments, or a slow start. Plug him in, feed him chances, and he just scores. Not the flashiest on the list, but in FM16 he is the definition of reliable.
9. Thomas Müller
Müller being listed as a striker feels odd until you actually use him. He does not play like a classic number nine, he plays like chaos in human form - popping up in pockets, nicking goals, and making defenders look stupid without ever looking fast.
8. Edinson Cavani
Cavani is pure movement. If your tactic creates half chances rather than tap-ins, he is your guy - always on the shoulder, always making the run, always one step ahead of the back line.
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan at 33 is still Zlatan. You sign him for goals, but also for aura - he drags your whole team up a level, bullies centre-backs, and turns crosses into goals even when the build-up is ugly.
6. Carlos Tevez
Tevez is the striker you pick when you want bite. He does not just finish chances - he presses, fights, wins the ball back, and turns matches into street battles. In the right system, he feels unfair.
5. Karim Benzema
Benzema is not just a goal scorer in FM16 - he is glue. He links play, drops in, creates space for others, and still ends the season with stupid numbers because his movement and composure are elite.
4. Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski is the perfect striker template. Strong, sharp, consistent, and absolutely ruthless in the box. If you want a forward who wins you titles without needing babysitting, this is the one.
3. Sergio Aguero
Agüero is the cheat code for anyone who plays quick football. He turns half chances into goals, makes defenders panic, and once he gets going you start checking the fixtures just to see how many he can score next.
2. Luis Suarez
Suárez is a nightmare to play against and a joy to use. He presses, he scraps, he finishes from stupid angles, and he seems to score even when your team plays badly. In FM16, he is basically inevitable.
1. Lionel Messi
It is Messi. The rest of the list is just fighting for second place. In FM16, he is the player who wins you matches you have no right to win, turns boring games into highlights, and makes you rethink what "best player" even means.
Conclusion
This list is not just about who is the most famous name. It is about who changes your save. These are the strikers who decide tight matches, win you finals, and turn a good season into a ridiculous one.
If you want consistency, you go for the machines like Lewandowski or Higuaín. If you want chaos and moments, you pick the difference-makers like Agüero or Suárez. And if you want the ultimate shortcut to glory, well, you already know the answer.
