Edinson Cavani: The World's Next Elite Striker Deserves More Credit

For a striker, there is no better way to gain global recognition than to continually find the back of the net.

But what if you are a striker that scores at will, yet still doesn’t get the credit when it is due?

I imagine this is how Napoli’s Uruguayan hitman Edinson Cavani feels.

Last season, El Matador lit up Serie A, scoring 26 times en route to leading his club to automatic Champions League qualification.

On top of that success, he was fundamental in his country’s run to a 4th-place finish at the 2010 World Cup, in which he added a goal and an assist to his tally.

After the whirlwind that was the 2010-2011 calendar year appeared to slow down a bit, a new Serie A season began, and Cavani might not be disappointed if he fails to achieve as much as he did last season.

And coming off a weekend in which he single-handedly dismantled Scudetto-holders AC Milan, Edinson Cavani once again has a lot to look forward to.

Hailing from Salto, Uruguay, the former Danubio and Palermo forward has gone from relatively unknown to up-and-comer in a short period of time.

The 24-year-old has demonstrated over the last 15 months how lethal and clinical of a forward he really is.

And even with his eye-opening goal ratio and mesmerizing displays against Europe’s elite, he is often overlooked in discussions about the world’s best strikers.

This is rather disturbing after not only considering his personal success, but also his importance for his club, S.S.C. Napoli.

Cavani was Napoli’s leading goal scorer last campaign, netting numerous important goals domestically and in Europe.

When the Serie A season ended Cavani sat just behind Antonio Di Natale on the scoring charts, and the only reason he finished runner-up to the Italian was due to the fact that he was serving a suspension for the final two games.

Notable games for the Uruguayan include hat tricks against Juventus, Sampordia and Lazio, solidifying the notion that Cavani plays his best football against the bigger clubs.

With that being said, critics and pundits alike should take notice in such accomplishments, and I feel they do not.

When talking about the world’s elite strikers, familiar names like Wayne Rooney, David Villa, Didier Drogba and even compatriot Diego Forlan are always brought up.

So why is Edinson Cavani an afterthought?

Cavani has proven that he can not only score against the “minnows” in Serie A, but by netting so many important goals against the bigger clubs, he has shown great consistency and the lethal instincts needed by a world-class striker.

Also, Cavani’s importance to his club is downright crucial, yet often overlooked.

Perhaps this is due to the fact that the Naples affiliate is currently experiencing a climb back to relevance.

As Napoli continues to climb the Serie A table and dispel the criticism of many, Cavani continues to grow himself.

The Uruguayan plays with a constant smile on his face, thoroughly enjoying every second of every match he participates in.

And while he takes the pitch with the exuberance and excitement of a youngster, his clinical finishing and lethal touch give him a ruthless aura, one that many clubs and countries are beginning to worry about.

A truly world-class striker earns respect for not only his strike rate, but also for the timing of such goals.

If the likes of Rooney and Villa can fit in a category like this, then Cavani surely can.

Perhaps Cavani enjoys flying under the radar, but if his displays against Manchester City and AC Milan hold any testament, the Uruguayan relishes being in the limelight even if critics and fans do not put him there.

His consistency, selflessness and timely scoring have already established Cavani as a favorite amongst Napoli supporters, but what is it going to take for the young striker to gain the same respect and reverence as other big name forwards?

Cavani has blown away all expectations the last 15 months, and Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis seems less crazy now after stating his striker’s services would cost Europe’s biggest “100 million”.

In all fairness, the outspoken owner was never planning on shipping his prized attacking asset out of the Stadio San Paulo in the first place.

After quashing all rumors over the summer of his departure, Napoli should be eternally grateful they were able to retain the services of their star striker.

It has been brutally painful for fans of the Neapolitan club, as they haven’t seen much domestic or European success since the days of Diego Armando Maradona.

Napoli is looking to once again bring respect back to Naples and take the Scudetto back to Southern Italy.

The Neapolitan faithful are backing the club and hoping for success this upcoming season, especially with Cavani leading the lines.