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It goes without saying that the primary responsibility of forwards in football is to score and set up goals. This has been used as a metric for measuring the impact of players occupying any of the offensive positions over the years.
While these aspects remain as important as ever, modern football requires more than just goals and assists from players deployed in forward roles. Gone are the days when these players were known for hanging around the opposition goal area, waiting for opportunities to pounce on.
Currently, there are many forwards dropping deep to help in organizing team play, launching attacking moves and helping in defending. As a result, things like vision, passing, dribbling and tactical awareness have become very important for every forward to be considered complete.
On that note, let's quickly take a look at the five most well-rounded forwards in world football currently. They are as follows:
#5 Neymar
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar has been one of the most well-rounded forwards in the football world for the last couple of years. Although he thrives at scoring goals and setting them up, the Brazilian brings a lot more to the game.
Tearing opposition defenses apart single-handedly with his pace and electrifying dribbling skills, Neymar never fails to stage shows during games. The attacker is also a huge threat to opposition teams during set-pieces, stepping up to convert dead balls at vital moments.
However, it hasn't been the best of starts for the PSG forward this season amid a fitness crisis. But he's managed to contribute three goals and three assists for the Parisians in 14 games across all competitions so far.
#4 Thomas Mueller
One of the most underrated players in world football, Bayern Munich superstar Thomas Mueller rarely gets the credit he deserves for his exploits on the pitch. Yet the German has been among the finest forwards we've witnessed over the last couple of years.
Mueller has the ability to drop deep and play with his team while also pushing forward to support attacking moves. This makes him one of the most well-rounded players in the world right now. Besides, his hard working spirit, intelligent movement, space exploitation, creativity and goalscoring instincts are quite exceptional.
The supporting striker is showing no signs of slowing down this season. So far, he's made 29 appearances for Bayern Munich across all competitions, recording nine goals and 20 assists to his name.
#3 Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is one of the finest ball-playing strikers in the world right now. The Real Madrid superstar is also among the most well-rounded forwards in the game.
What Benzema brings to the game is more than just goals and assists. His ability to drop deep and link-up with his teammates, hold on to the ball when necessary and pass it around accurately is quite unreal for a striker. The Frenchman is also a good dribbler on the ball, with decent vision and immense creativity.
Speaking of his numbers in front of goal this season, Benzema has recorded 24 strikes and nine assists to his name in 28 games across all competitions so far. With many games still left to be played, it remains to be seen how many goals and assists he'll end the campaign with.
#2 Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah ranks among the most prolific forwards in world football right now. He has 23 goals and nine assists to his name in 26 games across all competitions so far this season. However, the Egyptian doesn't only thrive in terms of goal contribution. His status as one of the most well-rounded forwards in the game is without a doubt.
Salah has incredible dribbling skills to match his sheer pace, combining them to create opportunities for his team out of nothing. The Egyptian also has great vision, decent passing, intelligent movement and tactical awareness. This allows him to be effective when he drifts into central areas.
#1 Lionel Messi
When it comes to rating the most well-rounded players in world football right now, Paris Saint-Germain maestro Lionel Messi belongs in an exclusive class. The Argentine has had a slow start to life in France following his transfer from Barcelona last summer. He has scored just once in 12 league games and made six assists this season. But that takes nothing away from what he's known for doing on the pitch.
The Argentine has built his career as a team player right from his early days at Barcelona. He has only taken it to a whole new level over the last couple of years. Messi is arguably the most complete footballer in history.
Apart from scoring and setting up goals, the PSG superstar also thrives at dropping deep to control the tempo of games. Whether it is from the right or the center, Messi doesn't fail to storm opposition defenses, tearing them apart with his movement, dribbling and incisive passing.
