Nowadays, in this beautiful game, the striker has become more mysterious and difficult to define. They are no longer strictly strikers like they used to be, stopping in the 6-yard box ready to attack. They are not attacking midfielders who organize games from the depths, nor are they wide players responsible for pulling apart opposing defenses for their teammates to use.
Instead, they are a powerful combination of all of the above characteristics, talented enough to handle freelance roles, and elegant enough to keep delivering under pressure.
Who is the best men's player at the moment and considering their 2022-23 season. Despite missing most of the season, several players advanced considering their contributions and performances while healthy. Likewise, the performance of individual matches (aka Champions League, World Cup) is taken into account, but it is not the primary factor when voting.
10. Neymar, Paris Saint-Germain/Brazil
Why he appeared on the list:
He is 31 years old and badly injured and has yet to bring Paris the long-awaited Champions League title. But he remains one of the most prolific players in the world. In 29 games this season, Neymar has scored 18 goals and provided 16 assists, including five goals from Kylian Mbappe and three goals from Messi. Only two of Europe's Big Five players have scored more than 1.11 goals and assists per 90 minutes in the league: Erlin Haaland and Neymar. That's a good team. You may not get 4,000 minutes of playing time during his season, but you will get an uninterrupted goal contribution when he's on the pitch.
Expectations for the 2023-24 season:
His high contract, combined with a steady injury injury, has made him a candidate to leave Paris Saint-Germain this year if the club can indeed find a suitor. Could this be the case in Saudi Arabia? Will Barcelona show interest like everyone else? Will Manchester United raise potential offers? Will former Barca manager Luis Enrique, who hired him, keep him in town? There are only so many clubs in the world that can afford him, but wherever he ends up, he should remain one of the most dangerous players on the pitch (when he's on the pitch).
9. Christopher Nkunku, RB Leipzig/France
Why he appeared on the list:
It's pretty good business: RB Leipzig bought Nkunku's transfer rights from Nkunku's hometown club Paris Saint-Germain for €13 million in 2019. Over the course of four years, he scored 70 goals, contributed 45 assists, won the German Cup twice and then reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, and now he goes to Chelsea for €65 million.
Over the course of four seasons, the 25-year-old has gone from left-winger to winger to striker and his game has improved accordingly. His final season at Leipzig was plagued by injuries, but his 2021-22 season was nearly perfect: scoring 35 goals and 16 assists in all competitions (creating 90 chances), including 11 in UEFA games and a hat-trick against Manchester City. He is an all-around striker, able to join forces with others to organize attacks as well as burst into counter-attacks, and few people create quality opportunities for themselves and others more often than he does.
Expectations for the 2023-24 season:
RB Leipzig certainly has hopes and expectations, but it goes without saying that the pressure on Nkunku at Chelsea will increase considerably. The Blues are 12th in the Premier League, largely due to the stagnation in attack. Nkunku has the ability to shoot instantly on the arm and he is very much expected to do that.
8. Lautaro Martínez, Inter / Argentina
Why he appeared on the list:
Nicknamed "The Bull," the 5-foot-9 Argentinian has everything a second striker needs when playing against larger opponents: cunning, speed, lethal shooting skills with both feet and heavy pressure on opponents trying to make a difference from behind. Playing alongside taller and stronger strikers Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku, Martinez scored 21 goals, equalling his career best in Serie A and doubling his assists total to six, while maintaining enough fitness to play all 38 league games.
Last season, Martinez played a selfless supporting role for Argentina at the World Cup, scoring penalties for the national team against the Netherlands in the semi-finals, in addition to helping Inter Milan reach the Champions League final and finish third in the league. Won everything in Qatar. Former Argentina coach Mauricio Pochettino once called him "one of the best players in the world", and he is now only 25 years old.
Expectations for the 2023-24 season:
Given the club's finances, it's hard to imagine Martinez staying longer at Inter and with teams like Manchester United and Chelsea looking for his dynamism in the box, which could become one of the biggest transfer legends this summer.
7. Rafael Leo, AC Milan/Portugal
Why he appeared on the list:
It was a record-breaking season for Leo. He scored one of the most prolific seasons in Serie A, scoring 15 goals and eight assists (an improvement from 11 goals and eight assists in last year's championship season), proving that he is one of the best players in the world in his position. Perhaps the Champions League stats are not enough (1 goal and 3 assists in 11 games), but his incredible performance against Napoli was one of the highlights of the season. He has performed well personally, which is perhaps a better achievement considering Milan's overall poor performance and inability to compete with Napoli for the title.
Expectations for the 2023-24 season:
We now know that Leo will become a Milan player for the foreseeable future after agreeing to a long-awaited new contract, despite being coveted by several of Europe's top clubs. Retaining him and his continued influential performances means a lot to Milan. At the age of 24, he needs a better team around him to lead the Rossoneri back to the top. The European Championship with Portugal will also be his top priority, but in what role? So far, he remains a substitute at international level.
6. Marcus Rashford, Manchester United/England
Why he appeared on the list:
Marcus Rashford scored 30 goals in all competitions for the first time in his career, ushering in his best season. It's a notable shift from his 2021-22 season, when he scored just five goals.
Since returning from the World Cup last December, Marcus Rashford has scored for United in seven consecutive games and scored in major games against Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Barcelona. He has the speed, agility and technical ability to become one of the best players in the world, and last season he started supporting his potential.
Expectations for the 2023-24 season:
Marcus Rashford's aim for 2023-24 is to remain consistent. In 2020-21, he scored 21 goals but did not perform well in the following season. This time, he is expected to build on the success of the campaign.
He benefited from the guidance of Eric Tenhag and was often deployed to the left of the first three rather than in the middle of the best position. He will sign a new long-term contract to keep him at Old Trafford, with the 25-year-old on the cusp of his career. Ten Hag wants to lead United back to the top of European football and wants to build his own squad around players like Marcus Rashford.
5. Antoni Griezmann, Atletico Madrid/France
Why he appeared on the list:
You shouldn't be more active and productive as you enter your 30s, but Griezmann seems to be doing just that. The 32-year-old unexpectedly became France's midfield creator at the World Cup before returning to Madrid and playing at the highest sustained level in years. His 15 goals are his most in the league since 2018-19, his 150 goals reclaimed are his most since 2015-16, and his 15 assists are the most in La Liga and the sum of his last three league seasons.
In his 13th season at the big club, and his second after leaving Barcelona, Griezmann became Bruno Fernandez-esque creativity while maintaining the scoring ability that defined his career.
Expectations for the 2023-24 season:
Griezmann's contract with Atletico expires in 2026, so unless a major Premier League club makes a shocking offer, he is likely to remain in the Spanish capital for the foreseeable future. After what he did this spring, expectations were high for him. Atletico were Spain's best team in the second half of the season, with Griezmann the driving force. If he maintains his level, Atletico are likely to do the same.
4. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool/Egypt
Why he appeared on the list:
Liverpool had a disappointing season, finishing fifth in the Premier League and missing out on a Champions League spot, but Salah still scored 30 goals in all competitions, including 19 in the league. He has now scored 30 goals in each of his last three seasons. It's a remarkable record for a player who doesn't play as a striker, and doing it in a season when the team doesn't play well is a testament to his ability as a goalscorer. He is very close to guaranteeing a goal.
Expectations for the 2023-24 season:
Salah was the first to admit that Liverpool weren't good enough last season and missing out on the Champions League would be hard to accept for one of the best players in the world. A year ago, he signed a new long-term contract and, with his future at Anfield secured, he hopes to see Jurgen Klopp start assembling another team capable of challenging for the biggest trophy. If Liverpool are to re-emerge as City's closest challenger next season, Salah will be expected to contribute the majority of his goals.
3. Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain/Argentina
Why he appeared on the list:
As long as Messi can walk and has the potential to run in a straight line, he should be included in any of the best lists. In addition, he finally fulfilled his dream of leading Argentina to the World Cup, which is basically on par with Diego Maradona in the minds of many football fans in the country. Assessing his level of performance can be difficult because Messi often has teammates run a few extra miles for him, but one of the greatest players in history has a lot of magic left on his feet.
Expectations for the 2023-24 season:
Messi will score a hat-trick against a Major League Soccer team and have a great time in Miami. Unlike other aging stars, he decided to give up his wealth in Saudi Arabia and instead opted to join David Beckham's club, which will still bring him a good income. While we may experience the twilight of his career in 2023-24, we will also see different sides of Messi as a person and undoubtedly an influential figure in world football.
2. Vinicius, Real Madrid/Brazil
Why he appeared on the list:
He is Real Madrid's most important player and La Liga's most exciting footballer. Would you rather see someone rush to the guard? Unless, of course, you're a defender.
"For me, he is (the best in the world)," coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the Champions League clash against Liverpool on March 16. "He didn't score today, but he was decisive. ...... Every time he scored a player on the pitch, he was dangerous. ”
Vinicius scored 23 club goals in all competitions last season and had the second-highest number of assists in La Liga (nine), behind Griezmann. He's not just an amazing footballer either. He took a stand on racism, condemning Valencia fans for racial abuse of him at a match in May and refusing to succumb to narrow, uninteresting criticism of his goal celebrations. "I'm not going to stop dancing," he said.
Expectations for the 2023-24 season:
Being the best player in the world and a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or is a legitimate goal for Vinicius, if not this year, then for the next three or four years. He possesses the talent and relentless work ethic to achieve this.
Vinicius is looking to boost his goal count again (last season's drop slightly after an excellent 2021-22) and help Madrid win La Liga and play in the Champions League. He will miss playing with Karim Benzema, but he will enjoy more opportunities to work with Rodrigo.
Vinicius is equally ambitious off the pitch. The plan is to use his success in Madrid and Brazil to become a true global icon beyond football. You shouldn't bet on it.
1. Killian Mbappé, Paris Saint-Germain/France
Why he appeared on the list:
Where do you want to start? On the pitch? Fifty-four goals were scored in all competitions. He scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final to become the event's top scorer. Won the Ligue 1 top scorer award for the fifth time in a row. Another Ligue 1 title. Some incredibly beautiful moments, and the chance to win the 2023 Golden Globes.
Off-site? Having agreed a major new contract with Paris Saint-Germain a year ago, he was subsequently frustrated and disappointed with the club's strategy throughout the season, clashing with the French Football Federation over image rights with the support of his French teammates and sending a letter to the club confirming his intention to leave as a free agent in June 2024.
Expectations for the 2023-24 season:
Where will he play next season? This is a million-dollar problem. Paris Saint-Germain? Real madrid? Somewhere else? In any case, he will be among the best in scoring, assisting, winning trophies and cheers. He wants to be higher than he is now, and he will too. The Champions League is his biggest goal and he will aim for it again next year. After missing a penalty in the last game against Switzerland, he is also looking to redeem himself at Euro 2024.
Article source: 68 Sports