Ueda’s Stellar Ranking Signals Japan’s Striker Prowess
Confidence is soaring for Japanese football, with their homegrown striker Ayase Ueda earning a high ranking that places him above seasoned European forwards. A recent analysis of strikers set to feature in the 2026 World Cup has ranked Ueda among the elite, highlighting a significant rise in Japanese attacking talent.
Global Striker Rankings Revealed
The comprehensive assessment, which evaluated 48 national teams participating in the upcoming World Cup, divided strikers into five tiers: S, A, B, C, and D. The analysis emphasizes the pivotal role of strikers, stating, “The flower of football is, after all, goals. And the players whose greatest mission is to score them are the strikers.”
The top ‘S’ tier features only three players: Harry Kane (England), Kylian Mbappé (France), and Erling Haaland (Norway). These forwards are described as undisputed stars, with Kane recognized as the season’s leading scorer, a Ballon d’Or contender, and Mbappé consistently showcasing formidable scoring ability. Haaland, the Premier League’s top scorer, is also acknowledged for his exceptional talent.
Ueda’s Ascent to ‘A’ Tier
Ayase Ueda’s inclusion in the ‘A’ tier alongside notable players like Lautaro Martínez (Argentina), Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden), Matheus Cunha (Brazil), and Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) is particularly noteworthy. Ueda’s strong performance in the Dutch Eredivisie, where he topped the scoring charts with 25 goals in the 2025-2026 season, has propelled his reputation. This marks the first time a Japanese player has achieved the top scorer title in a major European league since Kyogo Furuhashi (now at Celtic) in the 2022-2023 season.
While Ueda is considered a key player for the Japanese national team, some analysis suggests his ‘A’ tier ranking might be generous when considering the performance of players placed in the ‘B’ tier. This tier includes experienced European forwards such as Memphis Depay, Romelu Lukaku, and Raúl Jiménez, whose current season form and condition are being considered in evaluations.
South Korean Strikers Positioned Lower
Among South Korean forwards, Cho Gue-sung has been placed in the ‘C’ tier. Players from nations facing early elimination in their respective confederation qualifiers, such as Cape Verde and Haiti, had their strikers largely categorized in the ‘D’ tier.
