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Football, when boiled down to its most essential elements, is a game that is won by the team scoring more goals than the opposition. That explains why attackers hog most of the limelight, as they invariably find the net more often than any other player on the field.
It should come as no surprise then that attackers are the best-paid players in the game. That is evident from the fact that all but two of the ten biggest transfers in the history of the game have involved attacking players. More and more teams have begun spending big over the years to bolster their offences.
As is the case with midfield and defense, there are many types of attackers. This included the centre-forward, second striker and winger, to name a few. On that note, let's have a look at the five most expensive attackers in football history:
#5 Antoine Griezmann - €120 million
Antoine Griezmann isn't a traditional center forward who bangs in goals, but is an extremely skilled option to have upfront. The Frenchman was a key performer for Atletico Madrid, scoring 133 goals in 257 appearances. Griezmann's incredible performances for Diego Simeone's side prompted Barcelona to shell out €120 million for the forward's services.
However, the 30-year-old had a slow start to life at Camp Nou, scoring only 15 times (and assisting four times) in 48 appearances in all competitions in 2019-20. Girezmann mostly operated in an unfamiliar wide position, which did not help his numbers. To his credit, though, the Frenchman improved in his second season at Barcelona, producing an excellent return of 20 goals and 13 assists.
Griezmann has also excelled in French colors, scoring 38 times in close to 100 appearances. But he could not replicate his Euro 2016 heroics in the 2020 edition, scoring only once in four games as Le Bleus exited in the Round of 16 against Switzerland.
It has now been rumored that Griezmann could be out of Camp Nou and on his way back to Atletico. Barcelona need to offload a plethora of players to accommodate Lionel Messi's contract extension and Griezmann is viewed as a saleable asset.
#4 Joao Felix - €127.2 million
Joao Felix is one of the most exciting young attackers in the game. But eyebrows were raised when Atletico Madrid paid a whopping €127 million for the then teenager's services in the summer of 2019.
After a breakout season for Benfica, the 21-year-old has largely failed to replicate the same exploits at Atletico. Felix has scored just 19 times in 76 games across all competitions. The young attacker made a promising start to his 2020-21 campaign for the eventual champions, but faded as the season progressed due to injury.
Felix is also yet to make his mark for Portugal, scoring just thrice in 18 appearances. The 21-year-old, who operates as a second striker, played just one game at Euro 2020 as holders Portugal crashed out in the Round of 16.
#3 Ousmane Dembele - €135 million
Ousmane Dembele arrived amid much fanfare at Barcelona in the summer of 2017 after a dazzling campaign at Borussia Dortmund.
But four years and a plethora of injuries later, it can be said that Dembele has arguably been one of Barcelona's worst transfers in the club's history. The €135 million man has been a pale shadow of his illustrious self at Dortmund, often failing to break into the Barcelona first team, even when fully fit.
In 118 appearances in all competitions, the 24-year-old has had a massively underwhelming return of 30 goals and 21 assists. Dembele almost joined Manchester United last summer, but the move broke down in the 11th hour.
The winger enjoyed an improved 2020-21 campaign, scoring 11 goals in 44 appearances. Barcelona have also offered him a 'renewed' contract with a 50% salary reduction due to their financial concerns. The deal seems to be telling him not too subtly that he remains surplus to requirements a year after a move away fell through.
It remains to be seen where the Frenchman will play when the 2021-22 club season commences.
#2 Kylian Mbappe - €145 million
Kylian Mbappe at PSG
Kylian Mbappe is arguably one of the best young players in the game. He has repeatedly been tipped to carry forward the legacy of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The Frenchman is only 22, but he already has a dazzling resume in club and international football. Mbappe has won four Ligue 1 titles, three of them with PSG, and is the first teenager in six decades to score in a FIFA World Cup final.
Four years after his gargantuan €145 million move from Monaco, it can be said that Mbappe has been a roaring success at PSG. The Frenchman has averaged more than a goal contribution per game (193 goals and assists in 171 matches).
Mbappe had an underwhelming outing at Euro 2020. He failed to score in four games and missed a penalty in France's shootout defeat to Switzerland. But there is no doubting the class and pedigree of Mbappe, who could soon turn down a contract extension at PSG to join Real Madrid.
#1 Neymar - €222 million
Brazilian superstar Neymar arrived at PSG on a world-record €222 million transfer in the summer of 2017.
After winning a continental treble and multiple league titles at Barcelona, the 29-year-old landed on French shores to pull out of Lionel Messi's shadow. Although he hasn't played as many games as he would have hoped to, Neymar has registered 139 goal contributions in 116 games for PSG.
Rumors of a return to Barcelona have surfaced every summer since Neymar joined PSG. However, the Brazilian signed a lucrative contract extension with the French giants this summer, indicating his desire to stay in Paris.
The PSG attacker has also been a star performer for Brazil as well, scoring 68 goals and assisting 48 times for the Selecao in 111 appearances.
