Unveiling the strongest players in football history
Regardless of the era, the strongest players in football have a way of leaving an indelible mark on the beautiful game. Those who can beat opponents, use their strength to score goals or keep strikers at bay with their dominance can often be the difference between winning and losing matches. From Yaya Toure’s dominant form in midfield for Manchester City to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s powerful attacking ability, which has helped him win trophies wherever he has gone, the strongest footballers have always had the ability to rise to the top. With that in mind, here are the 10 strongest players in football history that Premiumsoccertips.net has compiled.
Ranking the strongest players in football
10. Jan Koller (Career Span: 1994-2011)
With such a formidable physique and height, the 6ft8 Jan Koller was truly a beacon of man. Particularly for teams like Lokeren, Anderlecht and Borussia Dortmund, the Czech striker was a beacon for wingers and creative midfielders to look up to, and he proved himself to be a prolific goalscorer, as well as a striker who could bring others into play.
In a career spanning 587 games, the towering Koller showed great composure, physical strength and attacking ability, scoring 245 goals, as well as a record 55 goals in 91 games for his country. With the ability to shut down even the strongest defenders, Koller struck fear into the hearts of countless people across the five countries he played for. Due to his sheer size and loud style, he was nicknamed Dino throughout his career.
9. Eusebio (Career: 1957-1980)
At his peak, the legendary Eusebio was one of, if not the, most athletic figures of his time. With a lack of technology and understanding of different countries compared to modern times, the British public could not believe the sheer size and ability of the Mozambique-born striker when Portugal reached the 1966 World Cup.
He was unlike anyone they had seen before, and truly challenged the stereotype of what a footballer should look like, as well as the perception of black athletes at the time. Known for his speed, Eusebio combined direct running and exquisite dexterity with sheer power to great effect. He scored 733 goals in 745 matches during his career and is recognised not only as Benfica’s greatest player of all time, but also as a much-needed sporting figure for post-colonial Mozambique and the African continent in particular.
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Times in service: 1999-2023)
Swedish icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic was a pioneering footballer and a character in his own right, combining grace and elegance with physical power and aggression. Rewarding fans with some truly spectacular moments, the powerful Zlatan set a record for the Swedish national team with 62 goals in 122 games, complementing a club career with some of the biggest teams scoring 511 goals in 866 appearances.
A prime example of Zlatan’s power comes from his physical stamina and longevity with AC Milan in the twilight of his career. He could still push defenders aside, leap over defenseless players with ease and even combine with Inter’s Romelu Lukaku. At 41, his fitness and work rate are simply relentless. Speaking to GQ about his fitness regime in 2023, the veteran striker aptly put it: “Motivation is not a problem for me, because I like to be active. I like to challenge my body – it makes me happy, it makes me feel good, it makes me feel alive. I take it to the extreme: I have a thing where I’m never satisfied, I always try to raise the bar every time.
7. Yaya Toure (Career: 2001-2019)
While Zlatan was a complete striker at his peak, Yaya Toure shared that flair in the centre of the pitch. The Ivorian ball-handler could pick the most unlikely of passes, dribble past his markers, and shoot. A low blow to him was just a hint of his physical abilities, which were also notable for his powerful tackles and tireless stamina.
That was Toure’s peak form in midfield, especially for Manchester City – he was dubbed the “human train” and “giant” by many pundits. He was widely regarded as one of the best players in the world in his position, and Toure deservedly won four African Footballer of the Year awards. As well as leading Ivory Coast to victory at the 2015 AFCON, the midfielder has won 17 trophies in his career, including six in a calendar year with Barcelona and Manchester City’s first league title in 44 years.
6. Adama Traore (Time in service: 2013-present)
We’re not so sure about Adama Traore’s claim that he doesn’t lift weights. Whether trained or natural, the agile winger’s physique has been revered since his arrival from Spain to English shores and Aston Villa.
Currently at Fulham via Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Premier League regular’s aesthetics are of course striking, but his physical prowess extends beyond his powerful shoulders and bulging biceps. His powerful legs have seen him swerve past full-backs across the country and he’s even clocked a top speed of 36.6 km/h, making him the sixth fastest player in world football. Speaking in 2021, Traore spoke about the importance of speed to his game:
“I think it’s natural. Since I was a kid, speed was my most important thing and I’ve been fast ever since. I’ve said this before but people don’t believe me that I don’t use weights – because if you do weights, it can make you slower in the future”.
“If I can be strong in any aspect of my game and work on any part of my body, it helps me”.
5. Romelu Lukaku (Career Length: 2009-present)
Napoli and Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku has been a big, physically imposing striker since he was a child. His natural presence meant he towered over youth football opponents and referees, with even the parents of opponents questioning his true age. However, once those barriers were overcome, the striker’s goalscoring ability and sheer athleticism made him a formidable force in the senior game.
Chelsea’s bet on the young Anderlecht star was unsuccessful, but loan spells with West Bromwich Albion and Everton have highlighted the physical dominance and dynamism that has propelled him into a career with over 300 career goals at the time of writing. His size, strength, physique and ability to hold up the ball with his back to goal have caused huge defensive problems across Europe, as well as on the international stage, where he remains Belgium’s all-time leading goalscorer with 85 goals in 119 games.
4. Danny Shittu (Career Period: 1999-2015)
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Danny Shittu migrated to England when he was seven years old and grew up in the “rough East End of London” as one of seven siblings. His early life was anything but ordinary, but it fueled his determination to succeed, and he almost went on to study computer science at university. However, rather than nurturing his intellectual abilities, Shittu developed a love of football and made the most of his physique to become a formidable defender.
Although he had to write letters to over 92 clubs at the start of his career, Shittu found his feet at Charlton Athletic before eventually seeing out a 16-year career. Synonymous with tumultuous spells at Queens Park Rangers, Watford and Millwall, he even represented the Nigerian national team 32 times. A great example of Shittu’s power was when Bolton’s Darren Pratley bounced off him in 2014 as he calmly dribbled the ball out of defence. The commentators of the day were laughing along with the midfielder:
“Darren Pratley is laughing! He tries to tackle Danny Shittu and ends up falling backwards!”
3. Hulk (Career Length: 2004-present)
You have to be a pretty big guy to be nicknamed ‘Hulk’, but for Givanildo Vieira de Sousa, it’s perfectly justified. Strongly built for a footballer, the Brazilian earned his nickname because he resembled actor Lou Ferrigno, who played the Hulk on TV in the 1970s and boasted incredible physical strength when he bullied defences around Japan, Portugal, Russia, China and Brazil.
Described by FIFA’s official website as “a powerful, direct centre-forward – or winger who knows how to get in the box”, Hulk has scored over 400 goals in his career. Gifted with a superb shot, Hulk once silenced some racist Benfica fans with a superb strike into the top right corner. That shot was clocked at an incredible 108km/h (67mph) in 2021. At 38, he proved he can still do it, scoring two free-kick goals in one game for Atletico Mineiro – the second of which was clocked at a reported 119km/h (around 74mph).
2. George Elokobi (Time in service: 2002-2022)
Having shown himself to be a gentle giant in recent years as manager of FA Cup favourites Maidstone United, George Elokobi has cut a very different figure on the pitch to his time in the dugout. Playing for the likes of Colchester United, Maidstone and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Elokobi’s career as a muscular defender has seen plenty of challenges along the way. However, his sheer tenacity and hard work has seen him win four promotions and score in every division from the Premier League to the National League South.
Although not the tallest of centre-backs, the Cameroonian goalkeeper has made use of his strength and has been famously quoted by our previous entry, Adama Traore. Elokobi once revealed to the Daily Mail: “I don’t do any weights. I’m just strong. This is who I am. I don’t do any weights – no strength training whatsoever. If I didn’t do anything for the next two years, I would still look like this. I can refine them. But I don’t need to torture myself in the gym”.
1. Adebayo Akinfenwa (Times in service: 2001-2022)
Topping this list is a man who looks more like a bodybuilder than a goalscorer. Adebayo Aknifenwa, also known as ‘The Beast’, is a massive and notorious target man in the Football League, scoring some important goals for the likes of Torquay, Swansea, Northampton, Gillingham, Wimbledon and Wycombe. His career tally of 234 goals is very respectable, but it’s his strength and physique that give him particular appeal.
After YouTuber KSI liked the striker’s card in FIFA 12 Ultimate Team, Akinfenwa was able to play up to his ‘Beast’ persona even more, and became a symbol of strength for a generation, being the strongest player in the video game on multiple occasions. Renowned for trying to change the narrative around footballers, the very likeable Akinfenwa has challenged the stereotypes and is driven by the ‘Too Big to Play Football’ view of years gone by.
Conclusion
Physical strength has always played a key role in football, helping players overcome challenges and create unforgettable impressions. Players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Yaya Toure or Adebayo Akinfenwa not only demonstrate outstanding strength but also bring irreplaceable value to their teams. With the combination of technique, speed and physical strength, they have proven that strength is not simply a physical factor, but also a symbol of determination and the spirit of overcoming difficulties in football. These faces are not only a source of inspiration but also leave an eternal legacy in the hearts of football fans around the world.
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