“Life is not about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”
A quote immortalised in the film Rocky, it rings true in all fields of life. A clichéd quote nowadays, but if ever was it apt in the world of football, it is here.
The current season saw many players change clubs and some were written off as having hit their peak or simply having lost their game. However, there have been a lot of players this season who have proved us wrong with their will to succeed. Here, we look at five strikers who the majority thought were done, but who have proved us wrong this year –
#5 Diego Costa
To be honest, no one thought Costa was “done”. Chelsea had just gone through one of their worst seasons ever and the club was in desperate need of some rebuilding after Guus Hiddink departed and Antonio Conte arrived.
The Spanish international has never been one to care what others think of him, and at the same time, he is not exactly the apple of the public’s eye. Costa, just like his fellow teammates had a rough outing in the previous season but the blunt of the pressure fell on him and Eden Hazard as the Blues faltered. Bashed in the media for his form, he did not have the easiest of jobs when this season started.
Costa, however, has proven each and every doubter of his wrong so far this season. Being involved in 19 goals in the same number of appearances in the league and heading the race for the Golden Boot right now, the forward has been immense and his fighting spirit is second to none in the Premier League.
We’re seeing a different version of the forward so far and it is one that has helped Chelsea to the top of the league. A change in form to be proud of.
#4 Aritz Aduriz
Aduriz just recently created history by being the first person to score five goals in a Europa league game, and he did so at the age of 35.
This striker’s tale is not one where the popular opinion was that he had lost his form - it was just that age had finally caught up with him and his best days were past him. But as seen before with Costa, the Spanish never give up, do they?
Aduriz proved to the footballing world that age is merely a number, and he can play as well as he did when he re-joined Atheltic Bilbao five years ago. The 35-year-old has racked up four Man of the Match Awards in 29 appearances so far and has been involved in 16 goals, which is indeed highly impressive for a player his age playing at such a demanding position. Not only is his work rate immense, Aduriz’s presence on the pitch seems to elevate the quality of play around him and by the looks of it, he has a lot more to offer.
#3 Christian Benteke
The big Belgian’s case last season was perhaps just the wrong player joining the wrong team at the wrong time.
Signed by Brendan Rodgers for some big bucks, the player who had been so influential for Aston Villa arrived at Anfield with fans being sceptical about him. Sure, Benteke posed a mean frame and was as threatening in the air as two fighter jets, but Liverpool just did not play the long ball and crossing game and sure enough, it was tough sailing. The arrival of Jurgen Klopp did not better things much.
No one believed that Benteke was finished at the top level, but a season away from how you’re used to playing and the burden of that big price tag has hampered the career of several players. When he was sold to Crystal Palace in the summer, there was excitement but doubts as well as to how he would adapt and if he would ever find his old form back. Alas! Benteke took to Selhurst Park like a fish to water.
With eight goals in 18 appearances already, the striker looks like the talisman that the fans of Palace had always wanted. It was like last season had never happened for the big man, and surely, he is back to his best.
#2 Edin Dzeko
When he arrived at Roma last season after spending five years with Manchester City, fans at the Italian capital did not expect much. Dzeko was 29 years old at the time, had mostly played the role of second fiddle for the past couple of seasons at Etihad and did not look to be the man to lead their team to glory.
Sure enough, Dzeko had a bang average first season at Roma. This season, however, the 30-year-old has been in the form of his life, so much so joint second in the race for the Serie A Golden Boot with half the season gone and has equalled the start that legend Gabriel Batistuta had when he led Roma to the league title.
The Bosnian international has been involved in an astounding 21 goals in 28 appearances so far this season and has been one of Europe’s top players so far this season. Dzeko was supposed to be an afterthought at Roma, with the world thinking he could never replicate his early Manchester City form again. Who knew, that not only would the striker replicate it, but he would actually better it? An unreal turn of events that sees Roma in second place and with a realistic chance of even winning the league.
#1 Mario Balotelli
In some lists, it is hard to choose a number one. This, however, is not one of those lists.
The second player on this list who left Liverpool and has turned his career around, this season is perhaps going to be the one where the talented misfit Balotelli finally redeems himself.
Not being in Jurgen Klopp’s plans and having a poor spell with AC Milan, the Italian striker was let go for free by the Reds and joined OGC Nice. With 10 goals in 14 appearances, the former Manchester City man is the primary reason why the club is surprisingly at the top of the Ligue 1 table, 5 points above defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.
In a statistic that only Balo could have, the striker has been sent off, yellow carded or scored in every appearance that he has made this season.
If Nice are to do the near impossible and win the league, a lot of it will be down to this man. Perhaps the player has finally found his calling. Edin Dzeko might be the best striker on this list in current form, but Balo is easily the most improved and has proved everyone wrong. Better late than never, eh?
Honourable mentions:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – When the arrogant striker arrived at Manchester United, there were doubts about his ability to keep up with the physicality of the Premier League and whether he would be the impactful forward that the Red Devils needed. 28 appearances and 18 goals later, no one is talking anymore.
Kevin Gameiro – Despite scoring in the Europa League final just last summer, Gameiro’s big money move to Atletico was seen as a huge challenge and not everyone expected the French international to continue his impressive run. That has been not been the case so far, and the 29-year-old is showing little signs of slowing down.
