Harry Kane’s continued success outside the month of August has sparked a worldwide debate.
Just how do you define ‘world class’ and which current players deserve such a label?
One criteria that pretty much everyone agrees on is that you have to be among the very best in your position to be described as world class.
We’ve a long, hard and frustrating debate in the office and come up with who we believe to be the top ten forwards (all forwards, not just centre-forwards) in the world right now based on current form AND overall quality.
Naturally you will disagree the list but just how wrong have we got it…
10 Dries Mertens
Napoli’s Belgian delight has only been a centre-forward for the last 18 months or so.
Poor Arek Milik’s first ACL injury forced Maurizio Sarri into playing Mertens as a No9 and it couldn’t have worked out better.
He’s the only player other than Lionel Messi with over 25 goals and ten assists in 2017.
9 Radamel Falcao
We’re now in October and only one of the Colombian forward’s shots on target in Ligue 1 hasn’t resulted in a goal.
He’s the top scorer in Europe’s top five leagues with 12 goals from just eight games (and 13 shots on target).
El Tigre roars.
8 Edinson Cavani
Neymar’s best buddy scored 49 goals in 50 games last season and has started at an even better rate this campaign.
Not the most clinical finisher of the bunch but his movement can only be matched by an in-form Luis Suarez.
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7 Sergio Aguero
The Argentine forward was born celebrating.
Injuries have disrupted his rhythm for years but he’s scored bucket-loads of goals regardless.
Despite serious competition for Gabriel Jesus, he racked up his best ever goal tally last season (33) and this term, with the Brazilian by his side, he looks as brilliant as ever.
6 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
So much more than just a speed merchant.
Borussia Dortmund’s shining star has scored 92 goals in the last two and a bit seasons — undeniable numbers.
5 Robert Lewandowski
If you were to build a perfect No9 from scratch it would come out looking like Lewa.
He’s tall and broad but also incredibly skillful with his feet meaning he has a variety of finishes in his locker.
He’s got a spotless penalty record and let’s not forget he scored five goals in nine minutes for goodness sake.
4 Harry Kane
The man of the moment.
Fans, pundits and players everywhere are trying to figure just how good Spurs’ main man really is.
Back-to-back Golden Boots in the most competitive top league in the world speak for themselves but it’s his relentless progression and drive that are most impressive.
He studies his own game and works tirelessly in training in a manner similar to Man United era Cristiano Ronaldo — and that’s not a bad model to follow.
3 Neymar
Many would have let out a sigh when he decided to trade La Liga for Ligue 1 but that’s simply because most consider him to be too good not to play in one of the top two leagues in the world.
He’s the only man who even comes close to Messi in terms of dribbling and when you combine that with his close control, finishing and free-kick prowess you get a special talent, even by Brazilian standards.
2 Cristiano Ronaldo
If we were to consider current form alone then Real Madrid’s iconic No7 would have to give way to many of the others on this list.
But his overall quality means he’ll always have to be considered in a separate bracket.
One he shares with only one other celestial being…
1 Lionel Messi
There truly are no words.
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The key figures we’ve sadly had to omit are Romelu Lukaku, Paulo Dybala, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Gonzalo Higuain, Alexis Sanchez, Alvaro Morata and Karim Benzema.
All could present a strong case to be included but for one reason or another we have cruelly cast them aside.
We’d love to hear your feedback on Facebook though we’d appreciate if you’d try to refrain from insults alone — tell us HOW and WHY you think we’re wrong before calling us morons.
