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Though the forwards or the strikers are the ones who are primarily tasked with putting the ball in the back of the net, we know that goals can come from anywhere. Having players who can add goals from midfield is a big bonus.
Some of the best teams in history have had midfielders who add to the goal tally on a regular basis. These players are versatile and are adept at both pulling the strings from midfield as well as popping up in scoring areas to deliver a decisive blow to the opposition with their eye for goal.
There had been a sort of a decline in goalscoring midfielders in the second decade of the 21st century but it looks like they are back in relevance and how. Let's take a look at the top five goalscoring midfielders in the world right now.
#5 Luis 'Pizzi' Miguel (Benfica)
Portuguese midfielders have often proved to be some of the finest technicians on a football pitch. Their versatility and vision on the football ground is a thing to behold. Benfica's Pizzi is an excellent example of a goalscoring midfielder who can do it all.
The left-footed Pizzi is a versatile campaigner and is mostly deployed as a no.10. In the 2019/20 season, he scored 18 goals and provided 14 assists for Benfica in the Liga Nos. Pizzi scored five more across the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League while racking up three assists as well.
He is an excellent example of a midfielder who can both dictate the play and also chip in with valuable goals regularly.
#4 Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain)
Angel Di Maria is one of the finest midfielders of his generation and he has consistently performed at a high standard for almost a decade now. Di Maria might have endured a horrid season at Old Trafford in between but even then his output did not suffer as much as some would have you believe.
Di Maria has been sensational for Paris Saint-Germain and has been one of the main reasons why their attackers have been stacking up ridiculous numbers in front of goal. Di Maria sets his teammates up with juicy through balls and sells opposition defenders down the drain with his excellent close control.
He has also stepped up and delivered goals for his teams whenever the need has arisen. Di Maria scored 11 goals and provided 20 assists across the Ligue 1 and the Champions League last season.
He has scored more than 10 goals from midfield in all of the past five seasons and that's in addition to the numerous ones he sets his teammates up to score.
#3 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Kevin De Bruyne is one of the finest playmakers in the world and is perhaps the most vital cog in Pep Guardiola's system at Manchester City. Not only does the Belgian control games from midfield but he also steps into the final third on occasion to smash the ball goalwards when the opportunity pops up.
Kevin De Bruyne had a sensational 2019/20 season though Manchester City's campaign ended up being a rather underwhelming one. KDB contributed 13 goals and provided 20 assists in the Premier League alone last season. That's direct involvement in 33 goals across 35 appearances. He only started 32 games.
The Belgian often fancies himself from range and can smash the ball past the goalkeeper with his left foot just as well as he can with his right. De Bruyne was the Premier League player of the year for the 2019/20 season and he looks poised to kick on in the same vein this season.
#2 Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
There's no telling just how good a player Marco Reus could have become had it not been for his frequent bouts with injury. As a result, we only know of the absolutely incredible player that the German already is despite his constant injury problems.
Reus has been Borussia Dortmund's main man since their top players decided to leave for greener pastures. Marco Reus stuck to the task and has been delivering the goods for Dortmund from midfield. Not only does he lead from the front and provide great opportunities for his teammates but he is also a prolific goalscorer.
In the Bundesliga last season, Reus scored 11 goals and provided five assists from 19 appearances. In the season prior to that, he scored a whopping 17 goals and provided eight assists from 28 appearances. It's a pity that he has never played more than 30 games in a domestic season since the 2012/13 campaign.
We'll never know just how many he would have banged in over the course of an entire season owing to how prone he is to injuries. But even without that, Reus is one of the best goalscoring midfielders in the game right now.
#1 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Even Manchester United fans wouldn't have expected Bruno Fernandes to have the sort of impact he did immediately since joining the club in January 2020. Bruno Fernandes has added creativity and a lot of goals and transformed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side from an average one to a team that could go toe-to-toe with the very best on their day.
Bruno Fernandes had been racking up ridiculous numbers at Sporting Lisbon and he started garnering attention after scoring 20 goals and providing 13 assists in the 2018/19 season for the Portuguese outfit. He kept his prolific streak going through the 2019/20 season and changing clubs halfway through the season did not hamper his productivity.
Bruno Fernandes played 14 games for Manchester United in the Premier League in the 2019/20 season since joining in the winter transfer window and scored eight goals and provided seven assists. He also scored five goals and provided three assists across three appearances in the Europa League for the Red Devils as well.
He has started the new season on a high as well and has already scored five goals in the Premier League from seven games so far and has racked up three assists. Fernandes is easily the best goalscoring midfielder in the game right now.
