'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Goals win games, and modern football is a sport geared towards rewarding attacking play. The likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are global superstars who have made their name by being incredibly gifted attackers.
As Brighton & Hove Albion have shown this season, it is important for a team to have good finishers. Chance creation is extremely essential, but if there is no one to finish said chances then there is no point.
We live in a time when there are some extremely talented attackers in the game. We look at the:
10 best finishers in world football right now.
Note: Only finishing as a skill is considered, their other attacking contributions like passing, making runs and getting into good positions have not been considered.
#10 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan)
Regarded as one of the best strikers of the modern generation, Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to impress with his performances for AC Milan.
The 39-year old has played for some of the biggest clubs in world football, including Ajax, Juventus, both Milan clubs, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United. Ibrahimovic has been a consistent goalscorer at every club he has been at and is one of Sweden's greatest ever-footballers.
Ibrahimovic joined AC Milan on a free transfer from LA Galaxy in January 2020, and has led the line for the Serie A giants with aplomb. The former Barcelona man has made 17 appearances in Serie A this season, scoring 15 goals and providing two assists. He looks set to extend his contract with the club.
#9 Andre Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt)
After a poor stint with AC Milan, there were doubts as to whether Andre Silva could fulfill the potential he had displayed at Porto.
Silva joined Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019 on a loan deal from AC Milan, and his good performances resulted in the Bundesliga side signing him on a permanent deal in 2020. The Portugal international has been in phenomenal form this season, scoring 23 goals and providing four assists in 26 Bundesliga appearances.
Silva is the second-top goalscorer in the league this season, only behind Bayern Munich superstar Robert Lewandowski. The 25-year old looks set to play a key role for Portugal in the upcoming Euros.
#8 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Arguably one of the most underrated footballers in the world, Karim Benzema is quietly stitching together another brilliant season for Los Blancos.
A highly-rated talent when he joined Real Madrid from Lyon in 2009 for a fee of £31.5 million, the France international is now considered to be a legend of the club. Benzema is renowned for his creativity, finishing ability, and selflessness, and Real Madrid will find it hard to replace him.
The 33-year old has made 26 appearances in La Liga this season, scoring 19 goals and providing six assists. A complete forward, Benzema is currently Real Madrid's attacking superstar.
Also Read: 10 most overpaid footballers in the world right now (2021)
#7 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
A player who could soon play alongside Karim Benzema is Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe.
The France international continues to be heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid. Such has been Mbappe's rise in football that he is considered to be one of the best footballers in the world, and he looks set to take the place of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the long run.
The 22-year old's explosive pace, dribbling and finishing have all been appreciated. Mbappe has made 27 Ligue 1 appearances so far this season, scoring 21 goals and providing seven assists.
#6 Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan)
Romelu Lukaku's stint at Manchester United might not have gone according to plan, but the striker looks set to lead Inter Milan to a Serie A title this season.
Lukaku joined Inter Milan in 2019 after two disappointing seasons at Manchester United for a club-record fee of £66.5 million. He was signed to replace Mauro Icardi, and the Belgium international has proved to be a sensational acquisition for the Nerazzurri.
The 27-year old has made 29 appearances in Serie A this season, scoring 21 goals and providing nine assists. Inter Milan are 11 points clear at the top of the table, with Lukaku the second-highest goalscorer in the Italian league this season.
#5 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
One of the greatest players to have played the game, Lionel Messi's brilliance is accepted as the norm for him now.
A world-class creator, finisher and dribbler, Messi is Barcelona's greatest ever player. The 33-year old is the club's captain and for some time now has been Barcelona's most important player. Messi has made 28 appearances in La Liga this season, scoring 23 goals and providing eight assists.
The Argentina international's contract expires in the summer and he looks set to leave the club. Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have been heavily linked with the player and it will be interesting to see how Barcelona deal with his potential departure.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo is considered to be one of the greatest players to have played the game, and debate rages on as to who is the better player.
The 36-year old has enjoyed a trophy-laden career for both club and country. Ronaldo has represented some of the biggest clubs in the world, in the form of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. He is Real Madrid's all-time top goalscorer, while he is regarded as one of the greatest players to have played in the Premier League.
Now at Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy expectations. His strength, physicality and energy have all been crucial for the Serie A giants. The Portugal international is the top goalscorer in Serie A this season, scoring 25 goals in 27 league appearances.
Also Read: 5 reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo has had a better career than Lionel Messi
#3 Erling Braut Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
Erling Braut Haaland looks set to be Kylian Mbappe's closest competitor in the near future, with both young stars expected to take the place of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo soon.
The Norway international could soon depart Borussia Dortmund, with the club struggling this season despite Haaland's stunning form. Haaland joined Borussia Dortmund in January of 2020 from Red Bull Salzburg for a fee of £18 million, and if the 20-year old decides to leave in the summer, Borussia Dortmund will gain a handsome profit.
The former Molde striker has made 23 appearances in the Bundesliga this season, scoring 21 goals and providing five assists. A transfer saga could develop in the summer, with clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, Barcelona, Chelsea and Real Madrid all said to be interested in the player.
#2 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
It is hard to imagine where Tottenham Hotspur would be this season without the contributions of Harry Kane.
A prolific goalscorer, the England international's creativity has stood out this season. Kane has scored the most goals and provided the most assists in the Premier League this season. In 29 league appearances, the striker has scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists.
With Tottenham Hotspur extremely inconsistent under Jose Mourinho's management, Kane has been linked with a move away. Reports have suggested that the 27-year old will try to leave the club if they fail to qualify for Champions League football next season. Both Manchester clubs have been suggested as potential destinations.
#1 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Arguably the best player in the world at the moment, Bayern Munich signing Robert Lewandowski on a free transfer has to be one of the best bargains in the history of football.
The Poland international was Bayern Munich's most important player as they won the treble last season. Lewandowski has been in frightening form once again this season. Excellent technically, with good fitness levels, the former Borussia Dortmund striker is well-known for his clinical finishes.
The 32-year old has made 25 appearances in the Bundesliga this season, scoring an astounding 35 goals and providing six assists. Lewandowski is currently out injured, and his absence was felt as Bayern Munich lost 3-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the quarter-final of the Champions League.
Also Read: Top 5 attacking midfielders in the world this season (2020/21)
