Molybdenum is a refractory metal, which has good high temperature strength, creep resistance, thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance and low sputtering rate. Molybdenum is an important candidate material to meet the development of new generation nuclear energy technology. In the irradiation environment, ion irradiation will change the microstructure of molybdenum metal. This paper reviews the recent studies on the damage behavior of molybdenum metal by irradiation. The effects of different ion irradiation on the microstructure, surface morphology, mechanical properties and optical properties of molybdenum are analyzed. On the basis of the existing research, the future research direction of ion irradiation on the damage behavior of molybdenum metal is prospected, so as to provide reference for the development of metal molybdenum and the application of nuclear reactors.