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The primary duty for forwards is to score goals for their team. Operating in and around the final third, they are the ones who are largely involved in the creation and conversion of chances. There are various kinds of forwards. There are wingers and number 9s and even among those, there are variants.
There are poachers whose predatory instincts inside the box make them a dangerous presence on the frontline. There are more technical forwards who are as involved in playmaking as they are at converting chances.
It takes a lot of skill to be able to manipulate space in crowded areas and forwards who can dictate play in the final third possess incredible technical ability. Without further ado, let's take a look at five forwards who are also excellent playmakers.
#5 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah is in the form of his life at present. He has been absolutely unstoppable for Liverpool and has been tearing it up in the Premier League for the Merseysiders this season. The Egyptian international is a threat whenever he is in possession and that, in no short part, is thanks to his excellent technical ability.
He has already scored a couple of wonderful solo goals this season, namely against Manchester City and Watford. The 29-year-old has also been sensational with his playmaking in the attacking realms.
Salah has 10 goals and four assists to his name in 10 Premier League appearances so far this term. Salah's outside-of-the-boot pass to set up Sadio Mane for Liverpool's opening goal against Watford is a perfect example of his playmaking abilities.
#4 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Harry Kane finally broke his 2021-22 Premier League duck by scoring Tottenham Hotspur's second goal in their 3-2 win over Aston Villa over the weekend. It took him seven appearances to get on the scoresheet in this season's Premier League but it is no fair reflection of the Englishman's abilities.
Harry Kane was one of the best players in the league last season despite Spurs' struggles which saw them finish seventh in the 2020-21 league table. Kane scored 23 goals and provided a whopping 14 assists in 35 appearances in the English top-flight last term.
He won the Premier League Golden Boot and the Playmaker's Award in the 2020-21 season. Kane is a technically adept customer who drops deep to collect the ball and help Spurs gather momentum as they move forward.
He showcases great awareness and composure inside the final third and is excellent at setting his teammates up to score. Kane's passing range and vision are underrated parts of his game as most of the plaudits he receives are for his goalscoring ability.
#3 Neymar Jr. (Paris Saint-Germain)
Neymar Jr. is one of the best footballers of his generation. The Brazilian international is a joy to watch with the ball at his feet. He epitomizes street smartness and the kind of adroitness in possession that makes us fall in love with the beautiful game.
Not only is Neymar a tricky winger who can run rings around defenders all day but he is also one of the most intelligent and technically proficient players on the planet. The 29-year-old is a prolific goalscorer but his playmaking abilities are extraordinary as well.
In the 2020-21 season, Neymar scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists in 31 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain. His skillset is replete with deft touches, tricks and flicks which enable him to become a terrifying prospect to go up against for defenders.
Neymar also possesses great vision and has always been able to strike up great partnerships with his fellow forwards. He was part of the MSN (Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar Jr.) trio which is arguably the finest attacking triumvirate we've seen in the 21st century.
He has also formed a deadly combination upfront for Paris Saint-Germain alongside the incredibly talented Kylian Mbappe.
#2 Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi hasn't enjoyed an ideal start to life at Paris Saint-Germain. The former Barcelona man has scored just a single goal in six appearances for the Ligue 1 side so far this term. Even though his numbers are underwhelming, he has been pretty good at dictating play for his side.
Messi is inarguably one of the best footballers of all time. There are very few things that he cannot do with the ball. A product of the famed La Masia academy, Messi is as technically accomplished as they come.
His vision and skill on the ball is unmatched and can pick out passes that his peers would even fail to conceive. In his final season for Barcelona, Messi scored 38 goals and provided 14 assists in 47 appearances. He is the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or this term and if he does it will be for a record seventh time.
#1 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Karim Benzema has remained world-class for over a decade now. The Real Madrid striker is now being accepted as one of the greatest strikers to have ever worn their storied whites and for good reason.
The Frenchman's technical qualities are already well-known. He has had no problems playing a supporting role to superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in the last decade. That was solely because Benzema could be as effective at creating chances for his side as he is at putting them away.
Benzema has been on fire in 2021. He earned a call-up to the French national side for Euro 2020 after a gap of six years. Benzema justified his inclusion by scoring four goals in four appearances in the continental competition.
He has been in sublime form in the 2021-22 season as well. The 33-year-old has scored 10 goals and racked up seven assists in just 10 appearances across all competitions for Los Blancos thus far.
