Best Striker in the World

[Hughes35]

Lewandoski is still my fav striker on his day. He’s so graceful on the ball and last few years has been devastating in front of goal.

We sometimes get caught up in the new thing (Haaland and Mbappe) but they will do well to have the career Lewa had. One of the best players never to win a Ballon D’Or. There is a big chance Haaland might join him in that list too. I don’t see Haaland getting a tonne of votes due to his style.

Not sure I agree with this. If Haaland were to score say 45 PL goals in a season, a good amound in the CL and City win both comps, then I think he's pretty nailed on to win the Ballon D'Or.

Agree on Lewa being more graceful / the better all around player though.

 

[Son]

Not sure I agree with this. If Haaland were to score say 45 PL goals in a season, a good amound in the CL and City win both comps, then I think he's pretty nailed on to win the Ballon D'Or.

Agree on Lewa being more graceful / the better all around player though.

The problem Haaland has is he will have to do this hot streak again next season and the season after. It’s gonna be tough when defenders get used to him a bit more in the Premier League along with the wear and tear.

Messi is nailed on for the Ballon D’Or this year so that’s counted out.

Then you might get Mbappe next season as he’s gonna be at the forefront of peoples minds to get it next.

Haaland has to work a lot harder than Mbappe to win the award. He’s gotta win City a champions league and stay away from injuries. Lukaku who is similar in many ways dropped off late 20’s so I feel Haaland might have a short window to win a Ballon D Or.

I hope he proves me wrong though he’s a top footballer.

Lewa and Ibra I’ll always super respect. The number of goals they netted at 30+ is ridiculous. I don’t think either Mbappe or Haaland can replicate that late career even if they score more in their 20’s.

 

[Bebestation]

I found out that Benzema was on a free in 2023.

Obviously he is quite old but I wouldn’t mind that for a season for him to join us?

How has he been?

 

[troylocker]

I found out that Benzema was on a free in 2023.

Obviously he is quite old but I wouldn’t mind that for a season for him to join us?

How has he been?

Injured a lot and rusty in front of goal (Heavily underperforming his xG).
Four different injuries and missed 10 of RMs 26 games so far this season.
Only scored 7 non penalty goals and assisted 1 in 16 games so far.

Not another aging and declining stop gap, please.

 

[Idxomer]

He isn't the best this season but Benzema in top form still plays a different game from any other striker.

 

[troylocker]

The 22/23 season so far for the 6 forwards I consider the best right now (ranked by goals and goalcontributions/90 in league and CL/EL games). No contest this season really:

Haaland
47 goals (8 pens scored/9 total pens) and 8 assists in 3079 minutes (34,2 x 90mins)
1,37 goals/90 - 1,14 non penalty goals/90
1,61 G+A/90 - 1,37 npG+A/90

Osimhen
28 goals (1/3 pens) and 5 assists in 2702 minutes (30 x 90mins)
0,93 goals/90 - 0,90 non penalty goals/90
1,10 G+A/90 - 1,07 npG+A/90

Mbappe
31 goals (3/5 pens) and 8 assists in 3114 minutes (34,6 x 90mins)
0,90 goals/90 - 0,81 non penalty goals/90
1,13 G+A/90 - 1,04 npG+A/90

Lewandowski
25 goals (1/2 pens) and 6 assists in 2852 minutes (31,7 x 90mins)
0,79 goals/90 - 0,76 non penalty goals/90
0,98 G+A/90 - 0,95 npG+A/90


Benzema
22 goals (6/7 pens) and 4 assists in 2446 minutes (27,2 x 90mins)
0,81 goals/90 - 0,59 non penalty goals/90
0,96 G+A/90 - 0,74 npG+A/90

Kane
27 goals (5/7 pens) and 5 assists in 3858 minutes (42,9 x 90mins)
0.63 goals/90 - 0,51 non penalty goals/90
0,75 G+A/90 - 0,63 npG+A/90


Sidenote:
Lacazette overtook the top spot for bolden boot in France with his haul against Montpellier yesterday, before Mbappe leveled the score later yesterday with a goal against Troyes:
24 goals (5/6 pens) and 4 assists in 2575 minutes (28,6 x 90mins)
0,84 goals/90 - 0,66 non penalty goals/90
0,99 G+A/90 - 0,80 npG+A/90

Interesting observation for afterthought:
Lacazette last 4 seasons with Lyon:
14/15 - 27 goals 8/9 pens) - 0,60 npG/90
15/16 - 21 goals (2/2 pens) - 0,58 npG/90
16/17 - 28 goals (10/12 pens) - 0,67 npG/90
22/23 - 24 goals (so far) - (5/6 pens) - 0,66 npG/90

Lacazette's 5 seasons in Arsenal:
17/18 - 14 goals (2/2 pens) - 0,49 npG/90
18/19 - 13 goals - 0,47 npG/90
19/20 - 10 goals - 0,48 npG/90
20/21 - 13 goals (3/3 pens) - 0,47 npG/90
21/22 - 4 goals (2/3 pens) - 0,12 npG/90

A list for non-penalty goal contributions over players 5 season peaks for clubs in Europe last 50 years (updated in feb. 2023):

#1 Messi (2010-2015) - 1,414 npG+A/90
#2 Haaland (2018-2023) - 1,257 npG+A/90
#3 C.Ronaldo (2010-2015) - 1,203 npG+A/90
#4 Mbappe (2017-2022) - 1,194 npG+A/90
#5 Suarez (2013-2018) - 1,188 npG+A/90
#6 Lewa (2017-2022) - 1,073 npG+A/90
#7 Benzema (2011-2016) - 1,049 npG+A/90
#8 Van Basten (1984-1989) -1,047 npG+A/90
#9 Ronaldo (1994-1998) - 1,043 npG+A/90
#10 Zlatan (2012-2017) - 1,014 npG+A/90
#11 Neymar (2014-2019) - 1,000 npG+A/90
#12 Di Maria (2015-2020) - 0,935 npG+A/90
#13 M Gomez (2007-2012) - 0,934 npG+A/90
#14 RVN (1998-2003) - 0,933 npG+A/90
#15 Henry (2001-2006) - 0,931 npG+A/90
#16 Higuain (2011-2016) - 0,926 npG+A/90
#17 Aguero (2014-2019) - 0,893 npG+A/90
#18 RVP (2008-2013) - 0,892 npG+A/90
#19 Eto'o (2004-2009) - 0,876 npG+A/90
#20 Kane (2016-2021) - 0,871 npG+A/90

Haaland and Mbappe's numbers can still improve. The rest had their go.

 

[jesperjaap]

The 22/23 season so far for the 6 forwards I consider the best right now (ranked by goals and goalcontributions/90 in league and CL/EL games). No contest this season really:

Haaland
47 goals (8 pens scored/9 total pens) and 8 assists in 3079 minutes (34,2 x 90mins)
1,37 goals/90 - 1,14 non penalty goals/90
1,61 G+A/90 - 1,37 npG+A/90

Osimhen
28 goals (1/3 pens) and 5 assists in 2702 minutes (30 x 90mins)
0,93 goals/90 - 0,90 non penalty goals/90
1,10 G+A/90 - 1,07 npG+A/90

Mbappe
31 goals (3/5 pens) and 8 assists in 3114 minutes (34,6 x 90mins)
0,90 goals/90 - 0,81 non penalty goals/90
1,13 G+A/90 - 1,04 npG+A/90

Lewandowski
25 goals (1/2 pens) and 6 assists in 2852 minutes (31,7 x 90mins)
0,79 goals/90 - 0,76 non penalty goals/90
0,98 G+A/90 - 0,95 npG+A/90


Benzema
22 goals (6/7 pens) and 4 assists in 2446 minutes (27,2 x 90mins)
0,81 goals/90 - 0,59 non penalty goals/90
0,96 G+A/90 - 0,74 npG+A/90

Kane
27 goals (5/7 pens) and 5 assists in 3858 minutes (42,9 x 90mins)
0.63 goals/90 - 0,51 non penalty goals/90
0,75 G+A/90 - 0,63 npG+A/90


Sidenote:
Lacazette overtook the top spot for bolden boot in France with his haul against Montpellier yesterday, before Mbappe leveled the score later yesterday with a goal against Troyes:
24 goals (5/6 pens) and 4 assists in 2575 minutes (28,6 x 90mins)
0,84 goals/90 - 0,66 non penalty goals/90
0,99 G+A/90 - 0,80 npG+A/90

Interesting observation for afterthought:
Lacazette last 4 seasons with Lyon:
14/15 - 27 goals 8/9 pens) - 0,60 npG/90
15/16 - 21 goals (2/2 pens) - 0,58 npG/90
16/17 - 28 goals (10/12 pens) - 0,67 npG/90
22/23 - 24 goals (so far) - (5/6 pens) - 0,66 npG/90

Lacazette's 5 seasons in Arsenal:
17/18 - 14 goals (2/2 pens) - 0,49 npG/90
18/19 - 13 goals - 0,47 npG/90
19/20 - 10 goals - 0,48 npG/90
20/21 - 13 goals (3/3 pens) - 0,47 npG/90
21/22 - 4 goals (2/3 pens) - 0,12 npG/90

A list for non-penalty goal contributions over players 5 season peaks for clubs in Europe last 50 years (updated in feb. 2023):

#1 Messi (2010-2015) - 1,414 npG+A/90
#2 Haaland (2018-2023) - 1,257 npG+A/90
#3 C.Ronaldo (2010-2015) - 1,203 npG+A/90
#4 Mbappe (2017-2022) - 1,194 npG+A/90
#5 Suarez (2013-2018) - 1,188 npG+A/90
#6 Lewa (2017-2022) - 1,073 npG+A/90
#7 Benzema (2011-2016) - 1,049 npG+A/90
#8 Van Basten (1984-1989) -1,047 npG+A/90
#9 Ronaldo (1994-1998) - 1,043 npG+A/90
#10 Zlatan (2012-2017) - 1,014 npG+A/90
#11 Neymar (2014-2019) - 1,000 npG+A/90
#12 Di Maria (2015-2020) - 0,935 npG+A/90
#13 M Gomez (2007-2012) - 0,934 npG+A/90
#14 RVN (1998-2003) - 0,933 npG+A/90
#15 Henry (2001-2006) - 0,931 npG+A/90
#16 Higuain (2011-2016) - 0,926 npG+A/90
#17 Aguero (2014-2019) - 0,893 npG+A/90
#18 RVP (2008-2013) - 0,892 npG+A/90
#19 Eto'o (2004-2009) - 0,876 npG+A/90
#20 Kane (2016-2021) - 0,871 npG+A/90

Haaland and Mbappe's numbers can still improve. The rest had their go.

In terms of the best striker in the world. I think the most prevalant point is that Haaland currently anyway, is the only one that isnt old, say that as Mbappe is a wide forward on the left like Rashford so cant even include him as he isnt playing there, though undoubtelty he could, much like Henry when he was younger.

Omishen as the next runner of a younger age, really shows the lack of real top quality strikers about as he is a good striker but go back 5/6 years and with no disrespect to him, he wouldnt even be in the conversation pretty much any year before it.....that is why Haaland is way way out in front for me in the current climate. This is a phenomenal young striker in a current climate that the only other phenomenal strikers are at the end of there careers, Omishen is good, but he isnt close to any of the names you mention, let alone those past

 

[dinostar77]

So is the best striker one who scores the most goals and contributes nothing really to team play or one who scores less goals but cann also create assists for his teammates and bring others into play?

 

[troylocker]

So is the best striker one who scores the most goals and contributes nothing really to team play or one who scores less goals but cann also create assists for his teammates and bring others into play?

And who has the most assists per 90 this season out of this lot? Yes, that is Haaland too. Who do you think has been the best this season?

 

[BalanceUnAutreJoint]

And who has the most assists per 90 this season out of this lot? Yes, that is Haaland too. Who do you think has been the best this season?

Haaland has been the best but assists isn't enough of a metric to argue that he's contributing the most outside of goalscoring.

 

[FriedClams]

It’s Haaland. No-one is even close at the moment.

 

[dinostar77]

And who has the most assists per 90 this season out of this lot? Yes, that is Haaland too. Who do you think has been the best this season?

I didnt know about his assists. I dont pay too much attention to man city.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Haaland has been the best but assists isn't enough of a metric to argue that he's contributing the most outside of goalscoring.

It's a good metric that complements and supports what you can see when you watch them play, that he's more and more involved in the build-up, and has progressed massively in that area.

 

[Andrade]

It’s Haaland. No-one is even close at the moment.

Mbappe is a better player. If you're talking about number 9s specifically then yes Haaland is out in front.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Mbappe is a better player. If you're talking about number 9s specifically then yes Haaland is out in front.

How so?

 

[Idxomer]

Mbappe is a better player. If you're talking about number 9s specifically then yes Haaland is out in front.

He hasn't played better this season.

 

[Blood Mage]

Mbappe is a better player. If you're talking about number 9s specifically then yes Haaland is out in front.

Mbappe is a more naturally gifted player sure but he's having a poor season by his standards.

 

[Andrade]

He hasn't played better this season.

Played pretty well in the biggest game in football in front of the eyes of 1.5 billion people.

 

[Andrade]

Mbappe is a more naturally gifted player sure but he's having a poor season by his standards.

Maybe fair. He's not been that good recently. Earlier on in the season though he was very good.

 

[Andrade]

How so?

He's a better footballer.

 

[adexkola]

How so?

Haaland doesn't have tekkers

 

[Moby]

How so?

Haaland doesn't dribble past Auxerre players

 

[Andrade]

Haaland doesn't dribble past Auxerre players

Because dribbling doesn't matter does it? Neither does passing, shooting from distance, linking play, creating, none of it. All that matters is number of tap ins. 2023 football 'fans'

 

[Rooney in Paris]

He's a better footballer.

How so?

Haaland doesn't have tekkers

Haaland doesn't dribble past Auxerre players

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Because dribbling doesn't matter does it? Neither does passing, shooting from distance, linking play, creating, none of it. All that matters is number of tap ins. 2023 football 'fans'

You think Haaland is a tap in player?

 

[Gehrman]

Mbappe is a more naturally gifted player sure but he's having a poor season by his standards.

Mpabbe has been scoring a lot. I know you said by his standards but he scoring a freaking lot. Just not as much as Haaland. Mpabbe has almost 1:1 ratio for club and country which includes a WC.

 

[Josep Dowling]

Played pretty well in the biggest game in football in front of the eyes of 1.5 billion people.

Haaland can’t help he’s Norwegian.

 

[troylocker]

In terms of the best striker in the world. I think the most prevalant point is that Haaland currently anyway, is the only one that isnt old, say that as Mbappe is a wide forward on the left like Rashford so cant even include him as he isnt playing there, though undoubtelty he could, much like Henry when he was younger.

Omishen as the next runner of a younger age, really shows the lack of real top quality strikers about as he is a good striker but go back 5/6 years and with no disrespect to him, he wouldnt even be in the conversation pretty much any year before it.....that is why Haaland is way way out in front for me in the current climate. This is a phenomenal young striker in a current climate that the only other phenomenal strikers are at the end of there careers, Omishen is good, but he isnt close to any of the names you mention, let alone those past

Out of the 39 games Mbappe has played for PSG this season he's played 37 as a central forward.....that likes to drift a bit. Still a striker if you ask me. Plays left winger mostly for France though.

You are right that there's not many top class young #9s out there, but there is a couple outside the three mentioned here that's worth keeping an eye on:

Vlahovic (Juve)
Isak (Newcastle)
Hojlund (Atalanta)
Lautaro (Inter)
Openda (Lens)
David (Lille)
Balogun (Reims)
Wahi (Montpellier)
Ramos (Benfica)
Moukoko (Dortmund)
Brighton also has a couple of youngsters to keep an eye on.

None of them are WC yet, but there could be a gem or two among them...

 

[zaafi]

Played pretty well in the biggest game in football in front of the eyes of 1.5 billion people.

He played pretty bad up until his first goal, which is usually what happens when you get momentum as a team.

 

[Andrade]

You think Haaland is a tap in player?

Mbappe is a better footballer. Haaland scores more goals but Mbappe also scores a lot of goals. Therefore for me Mbappe is a better player. Pretty simple.

 

[Idxomer]

Played pretty well in the biggest game in football in front of the eyes of 1.5 billion people.

The season isn't just the last half-hour of one game.

 

[Andrade]

He played pretty bad up until his first goal, which is usually what happens when you get momentum as a team.

Yes it's because of the virus-ridden team that he became only the second player to score a hattrick in a World Cup final and the most prolific goalscorer in the history of the World Cup final

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Mbappe is a better footballer. Haaland scores more goals but Mbappe also scores a lot of goals. Therefore for me Mbappe is a better player. Pretty simple.

You come across as pretty clueless, but it's ok.

 

[Andrade]

The season isn't just the last half-hour of one game.

Let's see if Haaland can perform like that in a mammoth final first, shall we?

 

[Andrade]

You come across as pretty clueless, but it's ok.

I mean with you there is no 'coming across'. It's abundantly clear that you have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[zaafi]

Yes it's because of the virus-ridden team that he became only the second player to score a hattrick in a World Cup final and the most prolific goalscorer in the history of the World Cup final

Two of the goals were penalties. It really isn't that impressive.

 

[Andrade]

Two of the goals were penalties. It really isn't that impressive.

Silly post

 

[Rooney in Paris]

I mean with you there is no 'coming across'. It's abundantly clear that you have no idea what you are talking about.

Two of the goals were penalties. It really isn't that impressive.

He seems to have a hard on for a performance that was mostly pedestrian/poor for 50% of that game, and that is being elevated by a couple of penalties. The scene is important, it's the grandest occasion in the sport, it's iconic, and it participates to create legends, but it doesn't prove anything with regards to his talents as a footballer (again, if anything, he was poor for large parts of that game, and ones leading up to it too).

I'd say most people who have watched both play would agree Haaland has gone up another level this year and is the best current player, and people trying to make distinctions like "better footballer" are clutching at straws. And this is coming from someone who thinks Mbappé is a terrific player and would love to have him sign for Utd (horrible person though).

 

[Andrade]

He seems to have a hard on for a performance that was mostly pedestrian/poor for 50% of that game, and that is being elevated by a couple of penalties. The scene is important, it's the grandest occasion in the sport, it's iconic, and it participates to create legends, but it doesn't prove anything with regards to his talents as a footballer (again, if anything, he was poor for large parts of that game, and ones leading up to it too).

I'd say most people who have watched both play would agree Haaland has gone up another level this year and is the best current player, and people trying to make distinctions like "better footballer" are clutching at straws. And this is coming from someone who thinks Mbappé is a terrific player and would love to have him sign for Utd (horrible person though).

Yeah, people who are totally ignorant and never watched him at Dortmund might say that. People who've watched their whole careers would say that Mbappe is a better footballer. And I'm no massive Mbappe fan, it's just pretty obvious.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Yeah, people who are totally ignorant and never watched him at Dortmund might say that. People who've watched their whole careers would say that Mbappe is a better footballer. And I'm no massive Mbappe fan, it's just pretty obvious.

I mean as has been noted several times, you tend to be a very agenda driven poster and have no capacity to challenge your own opinions, even with things evolving. It's not particularly interesting to chat about football with you, so enjoy yourself in your little bubble.