The need for out-and-out strikers has reduced in the past decade as football clubs seek to have forwards who could do a little of everything....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
The emergence of wide forwards has reduced the need for traditional number 9s and a good example is when Son Heung-min and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah won the English Premier League Golden Boot award last season. Both players are not traditional strikers but are prominent goalscorers for their respective clubs.
However, some traditional forwards were still able to give a good account of themselves last season. Below are five of the best strikers in Europe’s top leagues last season:
5. Darwin Nuñez – Benfica/Liverpool
View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Darwin Nuñez impressed for Benfica with his form in front of goal last season and his performance earned him a move to Liverpool for an initial £67.5 million fee.
The Uruguayan striker is quick, tall, and aggressive and he will fit right into Liverpool’s system thanks to his tenacity and work rate.
He scored 34 goals and provided four assists in 41 appearances across all competitions for Benfica in the 2021/22 season. He scored a goal every 83 minutes for the Portuguese outfit last term. This was only bettered by Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland.
Darwin Nuñez beats new Manchester City signing Erling Haaland to a place on the list as a result of the latter’s injury issues last season.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo was for a short time referred to as the ‘problem’ last season but he did what he does best; proving his critics wrong, once again with two hat-tricks against Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur.
He rescued Manchester United on numerous occasions last season as he scored 24 goals and provided three assists in 39 appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils. What makes this impressive is that he was playing in an extremely dysfunctional Manchester United side.
The Portuguese superstar would be looking to have an even better season with the Red Devils next season with the appointment of Erik ten Hag.
3. Kylian Mbappe – Paris Saint-Germain
Kylian Mbappe is perhaps the best all-around striker in the world currently after he morphed into a striker from being a winger earlier in his career.
Last season, he finished as the highest goalscorer and the highest assist maker in the French Ligue 1 as he scored 39 goals and provided 26 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions for PSG last term.
The 23-year-old’s finishing has improved massively and he continues to rack up extraordinary numbers for both club and country.
2. Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski is currently in a contract dispute with Bayern Munich as he seeks a move away from the German Bundesliga side. However, he was the club’s best player last season.
Robert Lewandowski is the most prolific goalscorer across Europe’s top five leagues right now. He won the European Golden Shoe for a second successive year this term. Lewandowski is 33 now but has been in the form of his life over the past two seasons.
The Poland international scored a total of 50 goals and provided seven assists in 46 appearances across all competitions for Bayern Munich last term. His movement is top-notch and his finishing is simply exemplary.
1. Karim Benzema – Real Madrid
Karim Benzema is currently the best striker in world football and has cemented his place in modern football after his performance last season for Real Madrid.
He helped Real Madrid win the Champions League and the Spanish La Liga as he contributed so many goals to the course. He kept delivering the goods when his team needed him most and that’s why Benzema is at the top of this list. The Real Madrid striker scored 44 goals and provided 15 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions for his club in the 2021-22 season.
