Display omitted •A wide variety of heterogeneous catalysts have been evaluated in the CO2 hydrogenation to methanol.•This review is on discussing metal-based catalysts, oxygen deficient materials and other novel catalytic system.•This review tries to provide a current understanding of catalyst design, catalytic performance and reaction mechanism.•We provide an overview of challenges and opportunities for future research associated with CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. Catalytic transformations of carbon dioxide (CO2) to methanol with the help of hydrogen (H2), originates directly from renewable energy sources, is considered as one of the economic ways to alleviate the global warming and drive chemical and energy companies towards a more sustainable use of resources. Recently, a wide variety of heterogeneous catalysts have been evaluated in the CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. The focus of this perspective article is discussing three catalyst categories: (1) Metal-based catalysts, including modified Cu-based methanol catalysts and noble metals such as Au, Ag, Pd and Pt; (2) Oxygen deficient materials; (3) Other catalytic system with novel reaction mechanism and catalytic structure. In addition, this review tries to provide a current understanding of catalyst design, catalytic performance and reaction mechanism over various types of heterogeneous catalysts with an emphasis on practical aspects for the direct production of methanol from CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. We also provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities for future research associated with CO2 hydrogenation to methanol.