- Crystal Palace forwards ranked
- Championship gems that stood out
- From match-winner to dazzling feet
Throughout Crystal Palace’s history, they have had many exceptionally gifted players who have worn the Red, Blue and White shirt. From legendary defenders to fantastic midfielders, but Palace forwards are always remembered fondly by Eagle supporters and other Premier League fanbases.
Currently, Oliver Glasner’s side has Ismaila Sarr, who can get anyone inside Selhurst Park on their feet, and everyone knows about Jean-Phillipe Mateta’s iconic celebration, which is followed by Vengaboys ‘Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!’ ringing from the Tannoy in South London.
Where you’re looking for flair, skill or a talisman, the Palace supporters have seen it all. With that said, Read Crystal Palace has ranked the top five attackers that have played for the club.
Ranking factors include ability, goals and assists, overall career and impact at Selhurst Park.
5 – Yannick Bolasie
The DR Congo international began his career in the lower leagues in England, before moving to Selhurst Park from Bristol City for €630,000.
While Yannick Bolasie doesn’t have the same numbers as the others on the list, he is still one of the most exciting players who has ever walked through the doors at Palace.
Every time he picked up the ball, you knew something special was going to happen, and he even had his own skill trademarked, the ‘Bolasie flick’.
He built a formidable partnership with Wilfried Zaha before his move to Manchester United, but Bolasie was instrumental in keeping the club in the Premier League following their promotion.
He moved to Everton in 2016 for £28 million, a massive profit for the London outfit. At 36-years-old, he still supplies his magic for Brazilian side Chapecoense.
4 – Michael Olise
Another Championship gem, Michael Olise joined from Reading just a year after Eze’s arrival. The French international initially struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League, but when he eventually did, he was unstoppable.
Across two seasons, he got 29 goal contributions in the league, and it wasn’t just in front of goal that he dazzled.
His amazing footwork, combined with his attacking threat, gave any defender nightmares. They would eventually lose him to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, where he has continued to rip European defences apart.
3 – Eberechi Eze
Eberechi Eze moved to the Eagles from Championship side Queen’s Park Rangers in 2020, and during his time at the club, he set Selhurst Park alight.
Following his debut season at the club, he sustained a significant injury that saw him miss the majority of the 2021/22 campaign, with many fearing it would affect him.
However, he bounced back strongly, registering ten league goals and four assists, as he earned his first call-up for England.
He continued to thrive when Glasner arrived, and he capped it off by scoring the only goal against Manchester City at Wembley as the Eagles went on to lift the FA Cup.
Whether it’s creativity, goal-scoring, or hard work, Eze showed future players what it means to wear the Palace shirt.
2 – Ian Wright
The 62-year-old moved to Palace in 1985 from non-league side Greenwich Borough. It took Ian Wright some years to get into the first team, but when he did, he couldn’t stop scoring.
During his six and a half years at the club, Wright found the back of the net 118 times, and he helped the club avoid the drop after their promotion in 1988/89.
He fired them to the FA Cup final in 1990 for the club’s first time, though unfortunately for Wright, they would lose to Manchester United in a replay.
He moved to Arsenal in 1991 and continued to show Gunner fans his incredible goalscoring ability. In 2005, Wright was named Palace’s ‘Player of the Century.’
1 – Wilfried Zaha
Few players define a club quite like the Ivorian, as everyone already knows about his time at the club and what he brought to those who packed out Selhurst Park.
Their all-time appearance maker had different spells at the club, and each time he showcased immense quality.
Whether he was scoring the goals, picking his teammates out, or creating moments of magic, Wilfried Zaha had it all.
Steve Parish labelled him as the greatest player in the club’s history, and it’s hard to disagree.
He was sometimes criticised for moments of madness, but those made him an even better player, as he’s remembered by all Premier League fans as a special player who wore the Red and Blue shirt.
He left England in 2023 to join Turkish side Galatasaray, but the 33-year-old is currently at MLS side Charlotte.
Crystal Palace Top Attackers Ranked
| Ranking | Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilfried Zaha | 458 | 90 | 54 |
| 2 | Ian Wright | 100 | 38 | 1 |
| 3 | Eberechi Eze | 169 | 40 | 28 |
| 4 | Michael Olise | 90 | 16 | 25 |
| 5 | Yannick Bolasie | 144 | 13 | 25 |
