Ranking the 10 Most Dangerous Strikers in Football
Every football team has dangerous players and huge scoring threats in front of goal. But when it comes to world football as a whole, it can be somewhat difficult to break down which players are the most elite and therefore the most dangerous strikers on the planet.
A top-10 list like this will vary between one person to the next, and in order to break down the most dangerous strikers in the world, a couple of points have to be made.
The first—and most important—point is as to which players can and can't be considered as strikers. We'll break down that shortly and rule out a few players.
Secondly is the notion of being a dangerous striker.
This list is not just an evaluation of which striker is the best, per se. It's about noting which strikers are the most dangerous with and without the ball at their feet. It's a slight difference from best, but it is an important one to keep in mind as we break down the top 10.
The other key point to mention here is that this list will be shaped a great deal by the 2012-13 season—given that it is the most recent testimony as to the danger of certain players. That's not to say that other seasons and longevity haven't been taken into consideration, but it is an acknowledgement of the apparent bias towards players who have shone the brightest in 2013.
So with all of that out of the way, let's get this list underway.
Read on to see who are the 10 most dangerous strikers in world football.
What (and Who) Constitutes a Striker?
1 of 11As mentioned previously, it's important to breakdown which players can be considered as a striker and which fall into other categories. For that, we need somewhat of a definition for strikers, and we've taken this definition from reputable football website Zonal Marking to understand who and what a striker is.
"Used here to refer to a play who stays high up the pitch in central positions with the intention of scoring goals. A more specific term than ‘forward’ [which they simply describe as a player who plays in the highest band on the pitch].
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Thus with that in mind, let's rule out a number of players here, who may have otherwise made the list if striker was referring to just any player in a forward position.
| Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 25 | Forward (best as a No. 10) |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | 28 | Left or central winger |
| Gareth Bale | Tottenham Hotspur | 23 | Left or central winger |
| Thomas Muller | Bayern Munich | 23 | Wide Forward or winger |
| Wayne Rooney | Manchester United | 27 | Forward/midfielder |
| Stephan El Shaarawy | AC Milan | 20 | Left winger |
10. Romelu Lukaku
2 of 11| Chelsea | 20 | Profile via Transfermarkt |
Having spent a season on the bench at Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku simply burst onto the world football stage this year with a number of blistering performances on loan at West Bromwich Albion.
The Belgian international striker showed great pace and physicality for a player only 20 years old and also finished the season with a tremendous strike rate—netting 16 goals and seven assists despite spending the early part of the year coming on as a substitute only.
Lukaku has an inane ability to create something out of nothing, and his constant pressure on defenders always seems to see chances fall his way.
At 20, Lukaku still has a long way to go in terms of becoming a world-class striker.
However, in terms of being dangerous and a player you can't afford to take your eyes off of, the Belgian is a worthy candidate.
9. Neymar
3 of 11| FC Barcelona (was Santos) | 21 | Profile via Transfermarkt |
Regardless of whether you think Neymar is overrated or worthy of the hype, and regardless of how he'll fit in alongside Lionel Messi at Barcelona, there is little doubting his incredible dribbling and attacking skills make him an incredible player and one of the most dangerous strikers in the world.
Ever since he burst onto the scene, Neymar was a huge threat with the ball at his feet.
He was constantly marked and under pressure and yet he still managed to create space. Be that with his blistering running or mazy dribbling skills, Neymar continued to create chance after chance and showed great finishing skills also to turn those chances into goals on the score sheet.
Few players in world football can attest to the ability to beat defenders one-on-one or even three-on-one like Neymar can, and, for that, he's definitely a dangerous striker.
Perhaps even more so now that he's alongside Messi and Andres Iniesta.
8. Mario Mandzukic
4 of 11| Bayern Munich | 27 | Profile via Transfermarkt |
Following a move over the 2012 summer transfer window to Bayern Munich, the play of striker Mario Mandzukic was a key reason for the incredible treble-winning season the Bavarians just had.
Mandzukic finished the year for Bayern with 22 goals and four assists—a remarkable achievement given the fact he was splitting time with the likes of Mario Gomez during the season. But as the year wore on, and the Champions League final grew closer, it was clear that Mandzukic was the man to watch for.
And understandably so.
The 27-year-old is a great finisher and a player with incredible vision. He knows where to be and when to be there, and he rarely falters in finishing any chance given to him. Mandzukic also possesses great hold-up play and is strong in the air also—making him a very volatile striker to watch for in world football, especially with the slew of talent behind him in Bayern Munich's midfield.
How he will fare under Pep Guardiola still remains to be seen, but with the striker's creative skills likely to be utilized even further, it's hard to see it being anything other than success for the Croatia international.
7. Sergio Aguero
5 of 11| Manchester City | 25 | Profile via Transfermarkt |
Sergio Aguero had an incredible 2012 at Manchester City, and while his 2013 season wasn't as prolific, the Argentinian still was able to chalk up some very strong numbers and showcase his skills once more.
The 25-year-old finished with 17 goals and six assists for the year, and that was despite going down injured early on. His production was also hampered by the play of those around him, with David Silva having a quieter year and Yaya Toure also dropping further back in midfield than usual.
However, there can be no disputing Aguero's on-field danger. He has exceptional speed and dribbling ability and cannot be left unmarked inside the box.
He has great poise and timing in his shooting, and has made a habit of making very difficult goals in very big games look remarkably easy—examples of which were shown against Liverpool and Manchester United (shown here and here respectively).
Aguero is a natural finisher and, for that, one of the most deadly strikers in the game.
6. Luis Suarez
6 of 11| Liverpool | 26 | Profile via Transfermarkt |
Controversial Liverpool striker Luis Suarez might have found his name in the headlines for the wrong reasons at the end of the year, but that should eradicate his performances up until that fateful incident. For the reality is that—like him or not—Suarez had carried Liverpool through the first half of the year with his brilliant goalscoring and chance-creating ways.
And had he not done so, their season would have finished much worse.
The Uruguay international striker is perhaps a candidate to spend more time on the wing or even as a secondary striker next season now that Daniel Sturridge is permanently established, and it's easy to see why. Suarez has great dribbling skills and excellent vision to couple with his dynamic finishing, and as he showed throughout 2013, is able to score goals in whatever the situation.
Long-range efforts, scrappy goals inside the box, free kicks, drives from outside the box, long runs with the ball or finishing off a great passing move—it doesn't matter.
Suarez took a huge step forward in 2013 and despite his off-field controversies, has quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in world football.
5. Robin Van Persie
7 of 11| Manchester United | 29 | Profile via Transfermarkt |
Without doubt, the greatest striker performances of the 2012-13 English Premier League season belonged to Manchester United man Robin van Persie.
Having signed from Arsenal, Van Persie quickly established himself at the top of United's attack with great success. He scored a plethora of goals in a consistent fashion and finished the season with the Golden Boot Award—an achievement that the Dutchman definitely deserved for his efforts in the year.
However, perhaps the most potent thing about Van Persie during the season (and in years gone by) has been his timing. He scored so many goals late in the game for United to either bring them back for a draw or a win, and that turned out to be the difference in their title-winning season in the end.
Deadly from a dead-ball situation; deadly with the ball in the air; and deadly with the ball at his feet—Van Persie showed just how much of a world-class striker he is in the year just finished. And I'm sure that if you asked goalkeepers right around Europe who had to face the Dutchman, they would quickly state the 29-year-old as one of the most deadly strikers in world football today.
4. Edinson Cavani
8 of 11| Napoli | 26 | Profile via Transfermarkt |
The achievements of Edinson Cavani in the season just past have been well-documented, with the Uruguayan chalking up an incredible 38 goals and eight assists for Napoli. Moreover, he single-handedly kept their attack running many times during the year and was rarely ever shut down by defenders.
Cavani possesses an incredible combination of pace, dribbling skills and proficiency in front of goal make him a truly dangerous striker in world football. He can cut in from either flank or simply blow by them on the wing—creating chances for others players in the middle of the field.
He provides great pressure in defense and his ability to harry defenders and create turnovers is an instrumental part of his game, and one that continues to thrive.
Without doubt the most dangerous striker currently in Serie A.
3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
9 of 11| Paris Saint-Germain | 31 | Profile via Transfermarkt |
Big, strong, outspoken and enigmatic—that is Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
And as far as dangerous strikers go, there are few that rival the talents of the Sweden international. His multi-faceted game was instrumental in Paris Saint-Germain making strong runs in both Ligue 1 and in Europe this season, and his proven past success shows that he's truly one of the great strikers in football.
Ibrahimovic is a menacing figure whose strength and dominance in the air provides for a great target man in attack. He is a deadly finisher and usually builds a strong rapport with those around him—something that leads him to him as a great assist-maker as well as goalscorer.
This was shown in the season just passed where Ibrahimovic scored 35 goals and also provided 18 assists for Paris Saint-Germain in all competitions.
However, perhaps Ibra's most deadly factor is his dribbling skill. Which—for a big man who loves to impose himself physically—is incredibly decisive and strong. He has incredible touch and poise, and his wandering nature always makes him a handful for defenders to deal with.
Take this famous goal when playing for Ajax, for example.
Deadly.
2. Robert Lewandowski
10 of 11| Borussia Dortmund | 24 | Profile via Transfermarkt |
As Real Madrid can attest to, Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski has quickly emerged as one of the most dangerous strikers in world football—and for good reason.
The Polish international is an absolute machine in front of goal (36 goals, 14 assists this year), and possesses so many great skills that he is nearly impossible to defend. Be it in the air or on the ground, Lewandowski is a prolific finisher and rarely misses chances given to him—making him one of the most dangerous players to come up against in any competition.
Especially with the Dortmund midfield that he has behind him.
Lewandowski has a great first touch that allows him to take the ball away from defenders with ease. He is very strong on either foot and possesses a great combination of technical skill and pace. On or off the ball, he is a always a player to watch for.
Throw in his natural goalscoring instincts and ability to be in the right place at the right time, and it's clear he's one of the most dangerous strikers in the world.
1. Radamel Falcao
11 of 11| AS Monaco (was Atletico Madrid) | 27 | Profile via Transfermarkt |
However, in terms of deadliness, there is none greater than Radamel Falcao, whose summer switch from Atletico Madrid to AS Monaco is deservedly a much-discussed topic.
He might have only finished the year with 34 goals and three assists for Atletico, but don't let those numbers fool you. Falcao is infinitely greater and more dangerous than any other player on this list, with his do-it-all ability making for a very difficult striker to shut down effectively.
Falcao is quick, strong, great in the air and deadly in front of goal. He can adapt to any system and formation required and has the mental skill to know how to break through whatever defensive system or pressure that might be thrown his way. That's allowed him to lead Atletico back as a powerhouse in La Liga and it will no doubt have a similar affect on Monaco next season in Ligue 1.
Give him an inch and he'll take a mile? That's Falcao.
Who do you think is the most deadly striker in world football today?
Comment below or hit me up on Twitter: Follow @dantalintyre
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