# Attacker

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Type of sports player usually involved in aggressive play

For other uses, see [Attacker (disambiguation)](/source/Attacker_(disambiguation)).

For the term "attacker" in computer security, see [Hacker (computer security)](/source/Hacker_(computer_security)), [Adversary (cryptography)](/source/Adversary_(cryptography)), and [Adversary (online algorithm)](/source/Adversary_(online_algorithm)).

In some [team sports](/source/Team_sport), an **attacker** is a specific type of player, usually involved in aggressive play. Heavy attackers are, usually, placed up front: their goal is to score the most possible points for the team.[1] In [association football](/source/Association_football), attackers are also referred to as [forwards](/source/Forward_(association_football)) or [strikers](/source/Forward_(association_football)#Striker).

## See also

- [List of footballers with the most official appearances](/source/List_of_footballers_with_the_most_official_appearances)

- [List of goalscoring goalkeepers](/source/List_of_goalscoring_goalkeepers)

- [List of hat-tricks](/source/List_of_hat-tricks#Football)

- [List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals](/source/List_of_men's_footballers_with_50_or_more_international_goals)

- [List of top international men's association football goal scorers by country](/source/List_of_top_international_men's_association_football_goal_scorers_by_country)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Davids, Keith; Hristovski, Robert; Araujo, Duarte; Balague Serre, Natalia; Button, Chris; Passos, Pedro, eds. (2015). *Complex Systems in Sport* (1st ed.). London: Routledge. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-138-93264-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-138-93264-7).

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