ASSASSIN'S FEED: 9 BEST GOALSCORERS IN THE WORLD

WHY ONLY 9 YOU ASK?
IF YOU'RE A REAL FOOTBALL FAN YOU'LL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION MUHAHAHAHA

I give you the 9 best finishers and goalscorers in the world RIGHT THIS SECOND.

9

DUVAN ZAPATA  (Atalanta)

Goals: 21 
(16 in Serie A, 3 in Coppa Italia and 2 in Europa League in 24 starts and 32 total apperances)
Shots on Target Per Match: 1.4 (27 on target out of 74 shots total)
Shots off of the post: 2

With an astounding 13 goals in his last 10 matches, including a 4 goal haul against Frosinone, the Columbian striker (playing for Atalanta in Serie A) had to make the list right now on form. He's simply been in unreal form, adding 4 assists to that tally as well. Together with Alejandro Gomez and Josep Ilicic, Atalanta's attacking prowess this season has been one of the biggest jolts this season from Serie A.
       Zapata is an unknown quantity and who knows if his current flaming success will burn out in the long run, or if he will bury goals consistently for the rest of his career, including with the Columbian national side.
   

8


ANTOINE GRIEZMANN  (Atletico)

Goals:18 (12 in La Liga, 4 in the UCL, 2 in the Copa Del Rey)
Shots on Target Per Match: 2.3 shots on target (98 shots attempted, 42 on target)
Shots off of the post: 2
Uncredited Direct Goal Contributions:


       Griezmann has been cold for most of the season following the World Cup, staying consistent and basically dragging a listless and dogged Atletico Madrid to 1-0 victories or 1-1 draws, but now he has turned red hot, even while having to be the focal point, the creator and the finisher on this Atletico team as Saul Niguez, Koke (1 goal and 0 assists from December until now) and Thomas Lemar (4 goals and 5 assists) fade and refuse to take responsiblity.
       Thomas Lemar especially: the devastating French World Cup winner who used to destroy all-comers in the Champions League with Monaco, is shuddering from final third responsiblity under Diego Simeone and in the team with buddy, Antoine Griezmann. Could it be Lemar adjusting to the overwhelming defensive responsibility hoisted upon him by Simeone or what is it? All we know to underline this anonymity: Lemar has 1 assist in his last 11 matches...
      And to respond to this adversity? Griezmann has buried 12 goals in his last 15 matches, ableit quietly, winning Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid 28 points dating back to November 28th. On the other hand, fellow striker Diego Costa has only 3 goals and a solitary assist all campaign, languishing either injured or out of form or surplus to Simeone's  requirements.
      Who knows what can be done against Juventus in the Champions League, but if we know Diego Simeone, he will have a plan to deal with Ronaldo and isolate Dybala, exposing the young Argentine's weaknesses in big matches.

      And if Juventus's aging back-line give up the ball to Griezmann, or give the man one big chance, he will bury it against a goalkeeper like former Arsenal keeper Woijtech Szyczyny (sp?).

7

MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)

Goals: 20 (17 in the Premier League, 3 in the Champions League)
Uncredited Direct Goal Contributions: 4
Shots on Target Per Match: 1.7 in the EPL , 1.3 in the UCL
Shots off of the post: 2

        Some argue Salah isn't the same.
        That he isn't scoring as many goals as he did last year, that he's relying on cheap fouls (or blatant dives) to earn penalties and the overall more pragmatic, conservative possession game of Liverpool to win matches for his team.
        Sometimes there are matches when Salah will complete 20-25 passes....
         Or, that the front three of Mane, The Egyptian himself and Bobby Firmino aren't firing like they used to....
        He has scored less goals, at this point on February 14th of last year (the next match Salah appeared in wasn't until Feb. 24th of that campagin), Salah had already buried 30 goals on the dot and had 8 assists.
       And the front three, as we pointed out in articles past, are scoring right in line with their rampaging pursuits of yesteryear by the numbers, yet it's more of the fact that the front three haven't been as potent in the final ball together as last campaign.

       Salah himself now has 20, has hit the post twice and has dished 7 assists. But we feel there's something missing here....               
      Liverpool have been scoring a lot of unassisted goals this season, with deflections, rebounds and odd, but forced luck situations that give a Liverpool player, any Liverpool player, a chance to bury the ball into the back of the net.
     Salah has created a bevy of these chaotic opportunities through his expert corner kicks and free kick taking, or his shooting ability, forcing the keepers to helplessly palm the ball into the path of an approaching attacker (Firmino, Shaqiri and Mane have all scored goals from Salah's rebounds).
        On the whole of it, Salah has to be included as he has buried 11 goals in his last 13 matches, scoring last against Bournemouth in the 3-0 victory.
     Liverpool have enjoyed longer periods of rest this season, thanks to their early ousting from both domestic cup competitions (a smart idea if those cups were sacrificed), thus there being fewer matches than last campaign for Salah to appear and thererfore, bury goals for the Reds.
        We think Salah has a moment or two against Bayern that will define him.

6

KRZYSZTOF PIATEK  (A.C. Milan)

Goals:25 
Shots on Target Per Match: 1.6 
Shots off of the post: 3
Uncredited Direct Goal Contributions: 3

      Piatek is a machine that cannot stop, hitting another burst of 6 goals in his last 4 matches upon his January transfer from Genoa to AC Milan, the Italian "giants" looking for a comeback to the top of the European futbol club table. With a pairing like Piatek and Calhanoglu, or new Brazilian transplant Lucas Paqueta as well, who has a goal and an assist (since his signing) in only 5 matches, their ambition has promise.
      Perhaps Milan could build something under hard-man manager and former hard-man player Gennaro Gattuso, the former World Cup winner (Italy, 2006) and Champions League winner for AC Milan (2003, 2007) who commands respect and oozes motivation and fight. Maybe Piatek is who they build around as we follow Milan's bargain buy "gamble" for relevancy in the futbol world.
      Well, in this author's opinion, they've got their man.
       Piatek is a freak. Let me elaborate: the Polish forward is just like his forefather, Robert Lewandowksi, but only bigger, stronger and maybe even faster. Piatek also has a grace in spreading the ball wide with his back to goal and a defender riding his ass... a very difficult skill. We've seen him set up teammates for chances and although he is still yet to register an official assist on the season, it isn't for the lack of trying.
      But as for his goalscoring, which is what this is all about, Piatek is second to none in Serie A, even Ronaldo can claim higher numbers marginally or whatever he wants to say, he can take 15 shots a match if he'd like to, but Piatek is charging right up on him as a phenomenal player in Italian futbol and Ronaldo didn't see this coming so soon.
       Simply put, Piatek is obsessed with Cristiano Ronaldo as he said many times in interviews over the last year and he is that  indoctrinated with Ronaldo that he would even want to better him, while playing in the same league as the Portugese phenom.
      We have to feel Piatek is that ambitious already, at only 23 and completely undiscovered until Genoa bought him from the Polish side Cracovia Krakow for a 4.5 million Euro fee, an absolute pittance now that we see his total of 25 goals on the season thus far.
     He began his career at L. Dzierzoniow and in 2013 moved to Lubin's second team for a 12 thousand Euro transfer, advancing to the Lubin 1st team and eventually, in 2016 moving to Cracovia Krakow one of the bigger Polish clubs.
     That is where Genoa spotted him scoring goal after goal in the Polish leagues and took a small, fortunate gamble that paid off for them mightily (for a small club): they bought a player for 4.5 million and 5 months later sold him for 35 million Euros and more if the add-ons and incentives are met by Piatek, which we all believe are nearly met already.
      He can finish anywhere, anyhow, anyway, scoring 2 penalties, 3 with his head, 13 with his right foot and 3 with his left, 3 on set pieces; he can torch clubs on the counter-attack just as much as he can suffocate them with tortrous build-up play leading to an ultimate finish (something he's beginning to demonstrate with Milan, now).
      Euro 2020 may be Poland's time, as Lewandowski, Piatek, Napoli's midfield maestro Piotr Zielinski and Kamil Grosicki line up a plethora of attacking threats from an international side that already scored a record amount of goals in qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.
      We believe Piatek and Lewandowski together up top would not only be great for Poland, it would be fantastic viewing for every futbol fan.
 
5
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI (Bayern)

Goals: 25
Shots on Target Per Match: 2.7 in the UCL, 1.1 in the Bundesliga
Shots off of the post: 2 (1 was a penalty)
Uncredited Direct Goal Contributions: 4

       While critics may claim Robert Lewandowski should have more than his 13 goals in the Bundesliga, we laugh at this outrageous idiocy considering the Pole has a Champions League leading 8 goals in the group stage alone, with a Round of 16 tie against Liverpool on the horizon and a litany of injured or (in the case of Virgil Van Dijk) suspended defenders.
    We know what Lewandowski is capable of and it's bagging in goal after goal, or bringing in his teammates in and around the box with disgusting hold-up play and combinations with Joshua Kimmich, Kingsley Coman or another notable and fruitful partnership with Serge Gnabry which has produced 5 goals itself.
       Criticism may come to Lewandowski for the poor World Cup he had in Russia this summer, He's scored 2 goals from penalties, 4 from set pieces, 2 with his head, 6 with his right foot in the Champions League alone, 2 with his left foot in the Bundesliga and has had an intoxicating on the pitch companionship with right back / center midfielder Joshua Kimmich who's crosses, on the ground cutback passes, or corner kicks have found the body of Robert Lewandowski 8 times, as we said in the last Assist Kings Quarterly we put out (https://uninterruptedsportsodyssey.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-assistkings-quarterly-renegades-of.html). Though we were ready to pounce and update when Lewandowksi hit the post from yet another ball from Joshua Kimmich, nearly setting his #9 up for the 9th goal of the season between the two, an incredible statistic.

       Lewandowski's finishing hasn't been on a dip, he's just been passing more as we've seen with his assists totals and key passes this season. The Pole is expanding his game.
       We feel he may be feeling substantial pressure from the arrival and general insanity of Krzyzstof Piatek in Serie A and also the Polish National team, along with a genuine desperation that Lewandowski must deliver against Liverpool.

4
CRISTIANO RONALDO (Juventus)

Goals: 21
Shots on Target Per Match: 2.7 in Serie A, 1.9 in UCL
Shots off of the post: 3
Uncredited Direct Goal Contributions: 1

Even though it blackens my soul slightly to include Cristiano Ronaldo in this list, I have to, because his performances scream out for inclusion. Not only has he been finishing in his usual goal poaching selfish manner, he's been unselfishly dishing the ball to his Juventus teammates with a fervor not seen in Ronaldo since his days under Sir Alex at Manchester United. 
        He has a good relationship on the pitch with Paulo Dybala, connecting for goals and combining for huge chances at a fantastic clip upon Ronaldo's arrival in Turin.
        Many changes have come to Juventus in the last 12 months: Buffon is gone, Bonucci left to AC Milan like a traitor and then came back hilariously and oh my god did I mention Buffon is GONE?!?! Oh yeah, I guess I did, but he didn't just retire, he left to PSG. I mean what the hell was that?? And now...they find themselves with one of the best players of his generation in Ronaldo, falling right at their feet in the aboslute twilight of his career and with a hellhound trail of barking legal teams and DNA seekers on his trail as they hope to indict and extradicte him to the United States so he can stand trial for rape in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. 
          Ever been there?
          What happens in Vegas...doesn't always stay in Vegas, Ronaldo.
          Let's admit it...Ron-Ron is guilty here and shouldn't even be on the pitch. 
          Yuck.
          And they all thought Ryan Adams was bad, eh??

3

SERGIO AGUERO  (Man City)
Goals: 23 (in only 25 starts and 30 overall appearances)
Shots on Target Per Match: 1,4 in EPL , 2.3 in UCL
Shots off of the post: 5
Uncredited Direct Goal Contributions: 4

          Aguero has lit it up for Manchester City in their 100+ goalscoring antics on the campaign already, with Aguero at the center of it all (when fit).
      Sergio Aguero is responding to the unfair criticism of his World Cup performances and has buried goal after goal in all sorts of ways for the Citizens: 4 from inside the 6 yard box, 11 in the penalty area and 2 from distance, Aguero shows a multitude and range of outrageous finishing. He's scored a crazy 16 goals from open play and only 2 from set pieces, displaying Guardiola's demand of a patient build-up, finished off by a tap in at the far post.
         We wonder whether Aguero would start a Champions League final in Guardiola's eyes, if fully healthy. We think the answer would have to be yes, if Pep were a smart man.
      Aguero makes it in and so much higher than others due to his goals per match ratio. with 0.9 goals per match in the Premier League and an identical 0.9 goals scored per match in the Champions League, an astounding feat only bettered by a certain  someone from within his own country.
        Still....Aguero.....this crazy little man has launched 9 goals in his last 6 matches, including bowel cleansing goals for Chelsea and Arsenal fans to endure as he bagged respective hat tricks against both sides in this 6 match EPL-rival-"killing-spree".
     The best part: once you see the miss from an inch away against Chelsea, after a fantastic Oleksandr Zinchenko ball, you realize Aguero could've had even more, too. He has created such havoc and so many goal scoring situations that made goalkeepers and defenders collectively shit themselves as they ran out of position like aimless thieves.

2
KYLIAN MBAPPE (PSG)
Goals:24
Shots on Target Per Match: 2.2 in Ligue 1, 1.6 in UCL
Shots off of the post: 2
Uncredited Direct Goal Contributions: 5


            The 20 year old French World Cup hero is at it again, scoring against St. Etienne in a 1-0 hangover win after expelling much energy beating Manchester United 0-2 on English soil, with a clean sheet in a first leg and without Neymar, Edinson Cavani (the only reason he doesn't make this list is he's injured sadly) among others. In a slow, methodical, patient and professional performance, not much creation was going on for Thomas Tuchel's side as the legs began to tire under the force of back to back matches in 3 days.
           So it was fine that they only notched a goal and seemingly went through the match without any injuries and Mbappe continued his scoring streak, burying the winner. This is a match where young, bright Frenchman (yet again, another Frenchman) Moussa Diaby was a raw star for PSG . Yes, Alves and Draxler had a beautiful little backheel combination play that set the German up well for a blast at goal, but the shot left a lot to be desired and was destined for Elvis's space-ghost instead of the goal. The German had a few other big chances, seeing them saved or snuffed out.
         But never fear...Mbappe was at it again, flipping the ball over Whabi Khazri near the touch line with a slapped, scallopped touch that spat the ball up and over the on-rushing Etienne defender. Mbappe looked masterful in that moment in his control of the ball, not just pulling off the trick, but maintaining possession in the opponents' half.
      Still, there were moments Mbappe was taken off of the ball by defenders: the already iconic #7 has a knack this season for losing the ball in his quest to take on defenders as much as he beats them off of the dribble, as the numbers clearly state: (35 successsful dribbles, 38 unsuccessful in Ligue 1 alone spells trouble for a player of Mbappe's quality, as we saw at the World Cup in Russia and to further illustrate and prove this point, he has 13 successful dribbles in the Champions League and 17 unsuccessful dribbles).
         Though he can be inconsistent and sloppy on the ball and his passing range is limited and suspect in build-up play, Kylian Mbappe's natural instinct for the finish and for the final pass is too much to be handled. His finish against St. Etienne shows the world what he can continue to do to astonish us: a brilliant scooped ball is played over Mbappe's shoulder and he twists and contorts his body in the air to pull off a scizzoring horizontal finish into the top corner of the net. His foot met the over the shoulder lifted pass like a glove that then became covered in rocket fuel on impact with Kylian's foot and flew, destined for the upper 90 of the St. Etienne goal....with style and swagger of course.
          Watch him.


1
LIONEL MESSI (Barca)

Goals: 30   (22 in 22 appearances in La Liga, 6 in 4 apps. in UCL, 2 in Copa Del Rey)
Uncredited Direct Goal Contributions: 4
Shots on Target per match: 3.6 in UCL, 2.9 in La Liga
Shots off of the post: 9
Messi is averaging 1.1 goals per match in La Liga and 1.8 goals per match in UCL


    With 9 goals in his last 10 matches, Messi is dragging Barcelona through recent results, even whilst nursing a bad calf injury suffered during a 2-2 come from behind result against Valencia, where...of course...Messi scored both goals, while facing a 2-0 deficit. And though he had a penalty saved later in the match vs Valladolid, he scored his earlier, decisive penalty in the 1-0 victory (from a foul on Gerard Pique that Pique decided to dive to sell to the referee boldly...it wasn't a good look for Pique, or for us Barca fans).
     Valverde should've been resting Messi this last match in preparation for the Lyon match in the Champions League, aka the trophy Barcelona and every other club actually want to win.
      Has Messi's calf even healed yet?
      This soon?
       While playing nonstop throughout and barely being rested?
      If fully fit, Barcelona win the Champions League, but with the way Ernesto Valverde handles his squad, the job is all on Messi, Busquets, Dembele, Pique and Alba's bodies and how long they can hold up to the strenuous business end of the season, as well as the hope of Samuel Umtiti's return.
       Messi is the GOAT, period and we want to see him go deep and as far as he can go.