Sportskeeda Football 2018 awards: 3 Best Forwards

Another year has come and gone and what a year it was! Not only did we love the club football that was played throughout the year but the World Cup was brilliant as well.

It's now time for the Sportskeeda Football 2018 awards and we take a look at the 3 best forwards of the year. Much like every year in the 21st century, forwards have dominated the game and left everyone mesmerized.

Without further ado, here is a look at the 3 best forwards of the year:

Note: Stats accurate as of December 28th. Any changes will be updated on 31st but will be insignificant to change the rankings.

#3 – Cristiano Ronaldo

At number 3, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese international might not have won any individual awards this year but was easily one of the best players in the world, yet again.

Ronaldo was once again the top scorer in the Champions League campaign that ended in June but was unable to replicate his form in the group stages this season. He managed to score just once in the 5 matches and provided just 2 assists.

However, he has scored 47 goals this year and provided 13 assists in the 52 matches he has played. Ronaldo did have a very good start to the World Cup as well but the hat-trick vs Spain was not the starting point, but the peak of his campaign in Russia.

He managed to score vs Morocco in the next game and after that, he could not do much to help his side. They were eventually knocked out by Uruguay and that was his last appearance for his country this year.

His €100 million move from Real Madrid to Juventus did catch everyone by surprise and he has settled in well. With 12 goals and 5 assists in 18 games, Ronaldo has hit the ground running in Serie A.

Despite all that, he is not the best forward in the world this year and thus, he is at #3 in Sportskeeda's Football 2018 Awards.

#2 – Lionel Messi

At number 2, Lionel Messi. The only player to score at least 50 goals this year but unfortunately, still not the best forward in the world. He ended up 5th in the final Ballon d'Or list and nobody will ever know how.

The Argentine was criticised a lot for his performance at the World Cup this year but what can a player do when he has little to no support from the other 10 on the pitch? His performances were not on par with the standards he has set for himself but anyone who watched the matches will know that he did all he could.

Meanwhile, for his club, Barcelona, he was on fire from start to finish. He has played in 3 different positions for the Catalan side – RW, ST & CAM – and has taken his game to another level.

With 51 goals under his belt in 54 appearances, Messi has been sensational this year. Adding to that, he also notched 26 assists – with 10 of them coming in LaLiga 2018/19 season so far.

#1 – Kylian Mbappe

Sportskeeda Football 2018 awards: Best Forward

And the best forward of the year award goes to...Kylian Mbappe! The Frenchman has been the best attacker in world football this year and he has just gotten started.

2018 has been Mbappe's year. He first helped Paris Saint-Germain win a domestic treble and then went to Russia and showcased his talent to the entire world. Taking the pitch by storm, he was the focal point of France's attack and helped them win the World Cup.

He was easily the most consistent player in the world this year and many will argue that he deserved to win the Ballon d'Or too. He was, however, awarded the Kopa Trophy – a new award for the best U21 player of the year- by France Football.

Mbappe has just turned 20 and the right-winger is on course to becoming one of the best players ever.

Edited by Shambhu Ajith