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Most footballers grow up wanting to be strikers. Scoring goals is the most glamorous part of the game and you can't fault that line of thinking because the game ultimately rewards attacking play. Two of the greatest players of the modern era, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, are both incredible attackers with an eye for goal.
A team can be formidable at the back and win midfield battles but if their strikers are not good at converting their chances, it can all amount to nothing. So there is no need to stress the importance of strikers in football and there has never been a shortage of world-class marksmen in the game.
The footballing world is occupied with Euro 2020 and Copa America at the moment and it is undoubtedly a showdown with some of the greatest strikers in the world. The 2020-21 season was a relatively short campaign and there were plenty of strikers who made their marks.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the best five finishers in the world right now.
#5 Harry Kane - England/Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Kane might not be having a great time at Euro 2020 yet but there's no doubting his credentials as one of the top strikers in the game right now. The Englishman has been the best striker in the Premier League for several years now.
Kane won both the Premier League Golden Boot and the Playmaker award this term. He scored 23 goals and provided 14 assists in the English top flight in the 2020-21 season. In total, Kane netted 33 times in 49 appearances for Spurs across all competitions this past season.
The 27-year-old is a well-rounded footballer whose playmaking is almost at par with his poaching ability. He is one of the finest strikers of the ball presently and is not shy of testing the goalkeeper from range either. Kane also has a commanding presence in the air which makes him a threat from crosses and set-pieces as well.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal/Juventus
Cristiano Ronaldo is 36-years-old but he continues to be one of the best footballers on the planet. Having lost a yard of pace in recent times, Ronaldo has modified his game to suit his physical abilities and has evolved into one of the best centre-forwards in Europe.
His movement has always been top-notch and he continues to show a knack for popping up in the right place at the right time. Ronaldo won the Serie A Golden Boot this term, scoring 29 goals from 33 appearances in the Italian top-flight. He has also got off to a good start at Euro 2020 and has scored three goals in two matches so far.
Ronaldo scored a total of 36 goals for Juventus in 44 appearances across all competitions in the 2020-21 season. He is still as cool and composed as ever when presented with goalscoring opportunities and has an incredible leap which enables him to come out on top in aerial duels.
The Portuguese international can also shoot with both feet and was the guiding light for the Bianconeri during a tough season.
#3 Lionel Messi - Argentina/Barcelona
Lionel Messi started the 2020-21 season on a rather bleak note by his standards. But that was expected after the turbulent summer he had where he informed Barcelona of his intention to leave and wasn't able to cop a move. Messi hit top gear midway through the season and ended the campaign as the top scorer in La Liga.
Messi's finishing has always been top-notch. His auxiliary skills being as good or even better has often tended to take the attention away from his world-class finishing ability. The Argentine scored 38 goals and provided 14 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona this past season.
#2 Erling Haaland - Norway/Borussia Dortmund
Erling Haaland is already a sensation at the age of 20. The Borussia Dortmund striker was in flying form in the 2020-21 season. The towering striker's incredible athleticism and finishing ability has helped him become one of the most prolific strikers in the world.
Haaland's off-the-ball movement is brilliant and it shows that he is an intelligent footballer who knows what runs to make and where to be at. The Norwegian international is also great at running in behind the defence and it's difficult to catch up with him once he gains a yard on defenders.
Haaland finished the 2020-21 season with 41 goals from as many appearances across all competitions. He is the most sought-after striker in the world right now and Borussia Dortmund know just how fortunate they are to have him.
#1 Robert Lewandowski - Poland/Bayern Munich
There is no doubt as to who the best striker in the world currently is. Robert Lewandowski's goalscoring rate is ridiculous and there's no one in the world who can match him. A complete striker and perhaps the best example for the modern number 9, Lewandowski has simply been a cut above the rest.
He is the complete package. The 32-year-old is an intelligent footballer whose precise finishing with both head and feet makes him a nightmare for goalkeepers. He is also excellent with the ball at his feet and his physique enables him to be great at holding up play and linking up with his teammates.
Lewandowski scored a whopping 48 goals from 40 appearances across all competitions for Bayern Munich in the 2020-21 season.
