This guide ranks the top 10 strongest footballers currently playing in the Premier League, based on their FIFA Index strength rating.
We’ll look into the strengths and playing styles of each footballer, highlighting their height, weight, and some key attributes.
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Who Are The Strongest Football Players In The Premier League Right Now?
According to the FIFA Index ranking, here are the strongest footballers in the premier league:
| Rank | Player | Position | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romelu Lukaku | ST | 95 |
| 2 | Virgil van Dijk | CB | 93 |
| 3 | Erling Haaland | ST | 93 |
| 4 | Kurt Zouma | CB | 92 |
| 5 | Axel Disasi | CB | 92 |
| 6 | Willy Boly | CB | 91 |
| 7 | Harry Maguire | CB | 90 |
| 8 | Kristoffer Ajer | CB | 90 |
| 9 | Ibrahima Konaté | CB | 90 |
| 10 | Sven Botman | CB | 90 |
1. Romelu Lukaku
- Strength- 95
- Height- 191 cm
- Weight- 94 kg
One of the strongest football players in the Premier League right now is Romelu Lukaku. Romelu Menama Lukaku is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a striker.
Currently, he is playing for the Serie A club Roma, on loan from the Premier League club Chelsea, and he also represents the Belgium national team.
Lukaku is known for his impressive strength, which is rated 95. He is 191 cm tall and weighs 94 kg, making him a big and physically powerful presence on the field.
From a young age, he has been recognized for his ability to use his physicality to get around defenders and score goals.
Despite his size and strength, Lukaku is not just a target man in the center of the field. He prefers to play as an out-and-out striker or poacher, where he can make the most of his tactical versatility.
Lukaku can also play as a winger to show his well-rounded forward skills. He is strong in the air and beyond his physical qualities, he possesses pace, athleticism, and good awareness.
His technical attributes and vision allow him to link up play effectively, and he is known for getting into good attacking positions or creating space for his teammates with intelligent runs off the ball.
Despite facing some criticism over his movement and first touch, his overall ability and strength make him one of the strongest football players in the Premier League right now.
2. Virgil van Dijk
- Strength- 93
- Height- 193 cm
- Weight- 92 kg
Virgil van Dijk is one of the most powerful football players in the Premier League right now. He is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Liverpool and the Netherlands national team.
Virgil van Dijk is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation. He is known for his strength, leadership, speed, and aerial ability.
Van Dijk is a physically strong player, standing at 193 cm tall and weighing 92 kg. He is right-footed and usually plays on the left-hand side of central defense, although he can also play on the right side.
His strength rating is 93. Van Dijk has many skills that make him stand out. He is fast, has good technique, and is an effective set-piece taker.
His former Celtic teammate, Kris Commons, praised him for being “comfortable on the ball” and having a “wonderful right foot.”
Commons also noted that Van Dijk was good at free-kicks and could read the game well. Neil McGuinness, a senior scout at Celtic, described Van Dijk as the ideal central defender.
He praised his aerial prowess, ball-playing skills, and leadership qualities. McGuinness also noted that Van Dijk has become more tactically aware since moving to England.
In 2018, Steve Douglas of The Globe and Mail described Van Dijk as “powerful in the air, measured with the ball at his feet, quick, and with superb positional sense.”
In a 2019 interview, Lionel Messi called Van Dijk very difficult to beat, noting his agility, speed, and impressive defense and attack abilities.
Paul Merson described him as “the best in the world” as a defensive center-half. Even former Manchester City defender, Vincent Kompany called Van Dijk the best center-back in Premier League history.
In 2022, Erling Haaland praised Van Dijk for being “fast, strong, and ‘bad’ smart,” and in 2023, Ben Foster claimed Van Dijk was the “best defender that has ever lived” during his peak at Liverpool. Overall, Virgil van Dijk is considered one of the strongest and best defenders in the Premier League today.
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3. Erling Braut Haaland
- Strength- 93
- Height- 195 cm
- Weight- 94 kg
Erling Braut Haaland is one of the strongest football players in the Premier League today. He has a strength rating of 93, stands tall at 195 cm, and weighs 94 kg.
Haaland is not only a prolific goalscorer but is also considered one of the best players in the world. He has all the qualities of a perfect center-forward.
Haaland uses his big frame to hold the ball well and involve his teammates. He has the speed and smart movement to run past defenders, can dribble and create chances, and is good at finishing with both feet and his head.
Often, he comes deep to collect the ball and help his team build-up play. He likes to pass the ball wide to a teammate before sprinting towards the goal.
Sometimes, he moves so deep that defenders can’t follow him, allowing him to turn with the ball and create from a forward position.
In the penalty area, he makes quick movements to find space, making it hard for defenders to predict his actions.
When Haaland plays with his back to the goal, he uses his body well to protect the ball. He is strong enough to keep possession under pressure and can help his team by holding the ball after a clearance.
You can see his creativity when he moves into the channel on the left inside. While his main goal is to shoot, he can also pass to a teammate making a late run.
His ability to carry the ball quickly helps create chances, especially on counter-attacks. Even though he doesn’t touch the ball as much as a typical striker, his calmness, patience, timing, and movement off the ball are crucial in building up plays.
Haaland looks up to Zlatan Ibrahimović and Cristiano Ronaldo but also admires players like Michu, Jamie Vardy, Sergio Agüero, and Robin van Persie.
After his amazing first season in England, Gary Neville called Haaland “truly unique,” comparing his strength and skill to Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, and Ronaldo Nazário. Pep Guardiola, his manager, believes Haaland can get even better.
In 2022, Jürgen Klopp named Haaland the “best striker in the world” and praised his physical and technical abilities. FIFPRO declared him the “deadliest striker in football today.”
4. Kurt Zouma
- Strength- 92
- Height- 190 cm
- Weight- 95 kg
Kurt Zouma’s combination of strength, technique, and leadership make him one of the Premier League’s strongest and most impressive football players today.
Born on October 27, 1994, Zouma is a French professional footballer who plays as a center-back and is the captain of West Ham United.
He is known for his incredible strength, with a strength rating of 92, and impressive physical stats, standing 190 cm tall and weighing 95 kg.
Kurt Zouma’s strength and physicality make him a standout player in the Premier League. A report by FourFourTwo in November 2013 highlighted his strength, understanding of the game, and ability in the air.
These qualities make him a formidable defender, although he has been known to have occasional lapses in concentration.
In January 2014, Zouma was recognized as one of the 10 most promising young players in Europe by the British newspaper The Observer.
The newspaper praised his exceptional power, technique, and leadership qualities, which have been important in his role as captain of West Ham United.
In February 2015, Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy compared Zouma to Marcel Desailly, another famous French defender who played for Chelsea.
After a draw with Manchester City, where Zouma made a strong run and a perfectly executed sliding tackle on Sergio Agüero, Murphy noted Zouma’s reliability and confidence.
Ryan Shawcross, another footballer, called Zouma the “ultimate defender” because of his speed, jumping ability, passing, shooting, and tackling skills.
5. Axel Disasi
- Strength- 92
- Height- 190 cm
- Weight- 86 kg
Axel Wilson Arthur Disasi is a French footballer hitting the ground for Chelsea in the Premier League. Standing at an impressive height of 190 cm and weighing 86 kg, Disasi brings a formidable presence to the pitch.
Disasi’s career to the top began in the youth academy of Paris FC. He made his professional debut for the club in 2016 before moving to Reims later that year.
His football qualities caught the eye of Monaco, leading to a €13 million transfer in August 2020. Disasi didn’t disappoint, proving his worth in his debut match against former club Reims, scoring a crucial goal.
However, he sealed a move to Chelsea in August 2023 In £38.5 million transfer fee. Disasi wasted no time in making an impact, scoring on his debut against Liverpool and delivering a standout performance against Manchester City, where he made an astonishing 16 clearances, the most by any Chelsea player in eight seasons.
However, It’s not just about Disasi’s physical strength, but also his composure and tactical awareness on the field.
Despite his towering stature, he possesses agility and speed, making him a formidable opponent for any striker.
6. Willy Boly
- Strength- 91
- Height- 195 cm
- Weight- 97 kg
Willy Boly is one of the most muscular players In the Premier League right now. Boly, currently playing as a center-back for Nottingham Forest, possesses remarkable physical attributes that contribute to his strength on the field.
He’s an imposing figure, standing tall at 1.95 meters (6 feet 5 inches) and weighing 97 kilograms. His height and solid build make him a formidable presence in defense, often dominating aerial duels and holding his ground against opposing attackers.
Boly’s strength isn’t just about his physique; it’s also clear in his playing style. Known for his physicality and ability to outmuscle opponents, he is brilliant in challenges and tackles which makes it difficult for attackers to bypass him easily.
Despite his imposing stature, Boly is not just a brute-force player. He also possesses technical skills and tactical awareness, allowing him to anticipate plays and position himself effectively to thwart attacks.
7. Harry Maguire
- Strength- 90
- Height- 193 cm
- Weight- 100 kg
Despite not having the best season, Harry Maguire’s combination of strength, height, and skill make him one of the strongest football players in the Premier League right now.
Maguire is a formidable presence on the football pitch, currently playing as a center-back for Manchester United, having begun his football career with Sheffield United’s youth system before making his first team appearance in 2011.
His time at Sheffield United saw him make 166 appearances for the club, where he showed his defensive and offensive abilities.
Known for his powerful headers, Maguire has proven to be a threat in set-piece situations. In 2017, Maguire moved to Leicester City, and he won the Player of the Season in the 2017-18 campaign.
His performances caught the eye of Manchester United, who secured his services in 2019 for a record-breaking fee of £80 million, making him the most expensive defender in the world.
Maguire has also been a mainstay in the England national team since making his senior debut in 2017. He has represented his country in major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro.
8. Kristoffer Ajer
- Strength- 90
- Height- 196 cm
- Weight- 94 kg
Kristoffer Ajer, the muscular Norwegian footballer with a height of 1.98 meters (6 feet 6 inches) and weighing 94 kilograms, is one of the strongest players in the Premier League right now.
Starting his professional career with Start in the Tippeligaen, Ajer quickly caught the attention of scouts with his exceptional physical attributes and footballing talent.
His talent led him to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, where he also sharpened his skills as a central defender.
Ajer’s time at Celtic was seen by notable achievements, including a loan spell at Kilmarnock and a milestone of 100 appearances for Celtic’s first team.
In July 2021, Ajer joined Premier League club Brentford on a five-year deal. His move to the English top flight has been seamless, with Ajer showing his strength and defensive skills consistently.
He made his Premier League debut against Arsenal and netted his first goal for Brentford in a match against Southampton.
9. Ibrahima Konaté
- Strength- 90
- Height- 194 cm
- Weight- 95 kg
Ibrahima Konaté Is one of the most powerful players in the Premier League. His physical strength, technical skill, and winning mentality make him a formidable opponent and a strong player for Liverpool as they continue their quest for glory in English football.
Konaté’s strength rating of 90 underscores his formidable presence in the heart of Liverpool’s defense. His imposing stature makes him a force to be reckoned with in aerial duels and challenges for possession.
Opponents often find themselves outmatched when battling against his physicality. But Konaté is more than just strength; he possesses the technical skills to match his strength.
His passing accuracy and ability to read the game allow him to anticipate and intercept passes with accuracy.
This combination of physicality and intelligence makes him a complete defender, capable of shutting down opposition attacks easily.
Liverpool signed him in 2021 from RB Leipzig for a fee of £36 million, and In his debut season, he secured both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup.
Comparisons to Liverpool’s defensive stalwart Virgil van Dijk are not unfounded. Konaté shares many traits with the Dutchman, from his positional awareness to his tackling technique.
Guido Schafer describes him as “a little bit of Virgil van Dijk,” when he highlights his potential to reach the same heights of excellence.
10. Sven Botman
- Strength- 90
- Height- 193 cm
- Weight- 81 kg
Sven Botman is not only one of the strongest footballers in the Premier League in terms of physicality, but also in terms of his skill, leadership, and ability to inspire his team both on and off the pitch.
At 1.93 meters (6 feet 4 inches) and weighing 81 kilograms, Botman cuts an imposing figure on the field. Hailing from Badhoevedorp, Netherlands, Botman began his football career with RKSV Pancratius before joining the renowned Ajax youth academy.
His rise through the ranks was steady, making his senior debut for Ajax in a friendly match against VVSB in June 2018.
Botman’s career took an international turn when he signed with Ligue 1 club Lille in July 2020, where he spent over two seasons.
His performances caught the attention of Premier League giants, and in June 2022, he made the move to Newcastle United in a record-breaking deal.
Since joining Newcastle, Botman has been a rock at the heart of their defense, marshaling the backline with authority and composure.
I mean, we saw his impact when he scored his debut goal for the club in 8-0 victory over Sheffield United.
However, Botman’s career hit a temporary setback when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during an FA Cup match against Manchester City in March 2024.