What is the name of the main protagonist of Final Fantasy VII?

The main protagonist of Final Fantasy VII is Cloud Strife. He is introduced as an aloof mercenary wielding the enormous Buster Sword and joining AVALANCHE’s attack on a Shinra mako reactor.

Cloud claims to have been a first-class SOLDIER, but the game gradually reveals that his memories and identity are unreliable. His past is connected to the SOLDIER Zack Fair, the Nibelheim incident, Professor Hojo’s experiments, and Sephiroth’s return. This identity mystery is one of the game’s central narrative devices.

Aerith, Tifa, and Sephiroth are all crucial characters, but none is the game’s main protagonist. Aerith and Tifa are party members and major emotional anchors, while Sephiroth is the principal antagonist. Cloud also leads the modern Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth projects, extending his role beyond the original 1997 game.