Ranking the 5 greatest forwards to play under Pep Guardiola

With the ongoing season his sixth at the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola has officially spent more time in Manchester City's dugout than any other club. During the stint, the Catalan coach has managed to stack up his trophy cabinet with 10 titles, even coming close to the third Champions League of his managerial career. Pep Guardiola has also had the privilege to work with some of the best players of this generation, making his job a lot easier.

Pep Guardiola and his favorite players over the years

As stated earlier, his spell with the Cityzens is by far the longest of his coaching career. Subsequently, Manchester City players dominate the top half of the list with the most appearances under Pep Guardiola. Raheem Sterling is the Spaniard's most used player to date, having played 257 games with Guardiola as his coach.

Midfield maestros Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho closely follow their team-mate, having made 231 and 220 appearances respectively, with the Catalan tactician at the helm. Lionel Messi, Dani Alves and Xavi are the first Barcelona entries while Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller marginally sneak into the top 25.

With a hoard of legendary players to choose from, Pep Guardiola has had the pick of the bunch when it comes to squad-building. Having mentored dozens of superstars in every position on the field, the former Barcelona midfielder has been instrumental in their eventual success. Tackling one post at a time, let's take a look at the 5 best forwards to have played under Pep Guardiola:

Honorable mention - Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

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#5 Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona)

Eto'o was sensational in Barcelona's run to the 2009 Champions League final

Samuel Eto'o arrived in Barcelona in 2004, having shaken up La Liga during his time at RCD Mallorca. The Real Madrid reject had garnered widespread acclaim through his performances and was expected to take his game to the next level with a move to Camp Nou.

The Cameroonian forward did just that, elevating his goalscoring abilities due to much better service from the Blaugrana creators. Although Eto'o played for a solitary season under Pep Guardiola, his 2008-09 campaign was one for the legends.

In the 52 games he played under the Catalan tactician, Eto'o produced an impressive 36 goals and nine assists. He was pivotal to Barcelona's treble-winning season, flourishing under Pep Guardiola's tactics. His spat with Guardiola towards the end of the Spaniard's debut campaign resulted in Eto'o being ousted from the club, explaining his low finish on the list.

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#4 Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)

Robben left Bayern in 2019, after a decade

Arjen Robben was already a Bayern Munich legend by the time Pep Guardiola arrived at the Allianz Arena. The 'flying Dutchman' was widely popular and feared by opposition defenses due to his ability to cut in from the right and slot in a banging curler.

Under Guardiola, Robben continued his progress in exponential form, even at the age of 29. In 97 games under the Spaniard, the Dutch winger netted 47 times, laying a further 30 assists for his team-mates. Pep Guardiola's pass-dominated game perfectly suited Robben's style of play, resulting in the aforementioned high numbers.

Even though Pep Guardiola failed to win a single Champions League title during his three-year stay in Bavaria, Robben's invaluable contributions enabled him to secure three Bundesliga titles. Robben is undoubtedly one of the finest forwards to play under Guardiola.

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#3 Thierry Henry (Barcelona)

Henry was purchased by Barcelona for €24 million

In Thierry Henry, Pep Guardiola inherited one of the best players of the 2000s, substantially easing his recruitment process. With the aforementioned Eto'o and Lionel Messi as his attacking partners, Henry greatly improved upon his debut campaign.

In Barcelona's treble-winning 2008-09 season, Henry contributed with 26 goals and 11 assists from the left-flank, establishing his place in Pep Guardiola's first team. The Frenchman would go on to play one more season under the Catalan mastermind, registering a total of 30 goals and 15 assists in 74 appearances.

The emergence of Pedro and Pep Guardiola's tendency to prefer budding talent over superstars in decline resulted in Henry's departure from the club in 2010. Regardless, the French legend remains one of the best attacking players that Guardiola has ever coached.

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#2 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Lewandowski should've won the Ballon d'Or in 2020

Having consistently maintained his goalscoring rate, Robert Lewandowski has upgraded his game extensively in the past few years. The Polish talisman has surpassed every other player on the planet in terms of creating an impact and racking up unbelievable stats with Bayern Munich.

Lewandowski arrived at the Allianz Arena a year after Pep Guardiola. However, the seasoned veteran wasted no time in adjusting to life in Bavaria, scoring prolifically from the get-go. In 100 games under Pep Guardiola, the clinical forward was able to produce 67 goals and 19 assists.

Regarded as one of the best free transfers in the history of football, Lewandowski's addition instantly improved Bayern Munich's overall gameplay. The foundations laid by Pep Guardiola are now visible to the whole world as the 33-year-old striker has blossomed into one of the best forwards of his generation.

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#1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Messi was unplayable under Guardiola

Who else but Lionel Messi to dominate a list concerning top forwards. The Argentine owes his debut to Frank Rijkaard. But it was Pep Guardiola who truly unleashed the goalscoring beast we love and adore today.

The Spanish manager made La Pulga the focal point of his offensive line, allowing him full freedom to create as well as finish attacks. Messi thrived under Pep Guardiola, scoring a mind-boggling 211 goals in just 219 appearances. He was also able to hone his innovative skills under the Catalan, laying out 92 assists in Guardiola's tenure.

In an instance where both the player and manager benefited from each other's greatness, Pep Guardiola remains the coach under whom Messi has scored the most goals. The 50-year-old mastermind has never shied away from praising his creation, crediting him at every possible opportunity.

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