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Italian football is no longer the peak of European football. Scandals, corruption allegations and the resurrection of Spanish clubs as well as the money power of England has constantly chipped away at the Serie A, effectively making it a one-team league with Juventus the only club from Italy currently a real force in the UEFA Champions League.
However, the factors that made Italian football unique- the tactical nous, the defensive and dogged determination and teams that are notoriously difficult to score against for the average player have remained.
While the quality of players and the league have reduced a little, the prestige of the past has ensured Italy is still third on the UEFA coefficient table - not quite the top, but still, pretty close.
Here we take a look at some strikers who have impressed in the Serie A recently and could go on to scale greater heights:
#5 Diego Falcinelli (Crotone)
Diego Falcinelli isn't a household name yet even in Italy. But, scouts have noticed the role the 26-year old played in Serie A first-timers Crotone FC's survival with 13 goals. The Italian has had a mixed career, generally scoring goals at a low goal-to-game ratio.
But last season could be a sign of him finally maturing as he scored crucial goals through the season for a team not fancied to stay up.
He scored a double against Inter Milan which boosted confidence in the Crotone ranks. He has failed to score so far this season, but it could be argued that Sassuolo have had a miserable start to the season, scoring just three times with barely any chances being created.
Falcinelli might not become a Champions League-winning player, but could become a crucial player for middling and lower clubs - no mean task considering the nature of the Italian game.
#4 Ciro Immobile (Lazio)
He might be 27-years-old but he is simply just hitting is peak as a striker. Immobile has long been in the news coming through the rank at Juventus before really hitting the headlines at Torino where he scored 22 goals in 33 appearances.
Immobile had a poor couple of seasons, first at Borussia Dortmund where failed to settle into the side and then at Sevilla, where injury and loss of confidence hampered him before returning to Italy with Torino on-loan where he regained his touch scoring 5 in 14 before a permanent transfer to Lazio has seen in notch up 32 goals in 43 league appearances.
Perhaps moving out of Italy might not have worked out for him but the Italian international who has 28 caps and 7 goals for his country could still go down as a great striker in the Serie A.
#3 Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan)
The controversial Argentine is still somehow the captain of the Milan-based giants - Inter Milan, despite being actively despised by a large section of the fans. That hasn't stopped him from impressing on the pitch either. The 24-year-old has scored 77 times in 123 games for Inter, while also providing 18 assists.
Icardi has constantly been linked with moves away from the San Siro, but the Inter captain has gone about his business in style without getting too distracted.
On the international level, The Argentine has managed only three caps so far, with many other prolific Argentines, including a diminutive legend in the form of Lionel Messi ahead of him in the pecking order.
Also read: Sampaoli explains why Argentina need Icardi more than Higuain
Icardi has the capacity to fire Inter back to the top or move on and aid another club on their quest for glory.
#2 Andrea Belotti (Torino)
Belotti started his career at AlbinoLeffe, coming through their youth system. He played one and half seasons as a senior player, making 37 appearances and scoring 14 goals for the club.
Belotti earned a move to Palermo where he scored 10 in a promotion-winning campaign before scoring 6 goals in the 2014-15 season, leaving to join Torino the next season. Belotti found his shooting boots firmly attached as he raced away to 41 goals in 75 games for the Turin club.
He was named the captain for Torino and was linked with a move to the English Premier League this summer, with Chelsea and Manchester United among those interested in a deal for him. A move failed to materialise, however, with Belotti staying and scoring 3 in 5 league games so far.
Belotti has been capped by Italy in the U-19, U-20, U-21 and senior level and has time on his side to carve his own legend at only 23 years of age.
#1 Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
Paulo Dybala has been spoken of for so long and so much, that you'd be forgiven for not realising that he is only 23. The Juventus forward began his career in Argentina with Institut before moving to Italy with Palermo for whom he made 89 appearances. He moved to Juventus in a €40 million deal and has grown from strength to strength at 'The Old Lady'.
He has scored 40 goals in 72 appearances for Juventus, scoring 10 in 7 so far this season. He has 10 appearances for Argentina and was named on the Ballon'd Or shortlist for 2017.
Dybala has the potential to blossom into one of the most feared players in Europe. Dybala also has the versatility to play in a deeper role as illustrated by his role last season in Allegri's 4-2-3-1 formation that saw Higuain play at the top.
