4 forwards who have exceeded expectations this season

Forwards are usually the most important players in a team, as they are the ones who score most of the goals, and goals win matches for a team. They are the star performers and match winners, who take all the plaudits and glory.

Star forwards like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann, Mohamed Salah and Luis Suarez have all played reasonably well so far in the ongoing season. Each of them have scored a lot of goals for their respective teams, and won matches for them. However, there have been some other forwards who have surprised everyone with their performances this season.

Some of them have emerged from relative obscurity to hog the limelight this season. They have scored a lot of goals and managed to grab the attention of the football lovers worldwide. We would take a look at 4 such players in this article:

#1 Son Heung-min

The South Korean forward is quite possibly the best Asian footballer in the world at the moment, and has been a stupendous performer for his club Tottenham Hotspur. Son has scored 16 goals in 35 matches this season, and has troubled the opposition defenders with his speed and finishing skills.

Tottenham are currently at the 3rd position in the league table, and are also on the verge of qualifying for the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League. Son has scored goals against teams like Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United. He is also, quite possibly, the only Asian footballer at the moment who is a regular starter for a top European club.

Tottenham have had to deal with an injury to their no. 10 Harry Kane. Son was their mainstay in attack in Kane’s absence. He was able to outperform the likes of Lucas and Fernando Llorente.

Prior to the beginning of the current season, Son had scored 47 goals in 140 matches for Tottenham, but has emerged as one of the finest attacking players in the Premier League this season. His goal against Chelsea through a solo effort was one of the best goals scored so far in the Premier League this season. The Spurs supporters would definitely hope that Son continues his good work in the upcoming matches too.

#2 Fabio Quagliarella

It is unheard of for a striker to make a return to his national team after a 8-year long hiatus. Quagliarella has done that precisely, as he has earned a call-up to the Italian national team. The 36 year old Sampdoria forward is also level with Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest goal-scorer in Serie A.

He has scored 19 goals in 25 Serie A matches this season, and has impressed a great deal with his opportunism and ball-control inside the opposition penalty box. He has scored 197 goals in his club career so far, and has also played for clubs like Juventus and Napoli.

However, should Quagliarella end the ongoing season as the highest goal-scorer in Serie A, he would have done the seemingly impossible. He deserves even more credit considering the fact that Sampdoria are at 9th position in the league table currently. It is really turning out to be a memorable season for the veteran Italian forward.

#3 Cristhian Stuani

Another late bloomer, Stuani is having the best season of his career so far at the age of 32. He has scored 15 goals in 22 LaLiga matches, and has been a revelation while playing for lowly Girona. He has really impressed with his athleticism, finishing abilities and opportunism.

Girona are languishing at the bottom half of the LaLiga table, and therefore, Stuani’s achievements seem to be even more incredible. He is behind only Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in terms of goals in LaLiga this season, and has tormented the defences of most of the LaLiga teams.

It is a pity that Stuani is almost 33 years old; because otherwise, he would have been in great demand at the beginning of the next season. He still can get offers from big clubs, because he should still have a couple of seasons left in him at the top level, and does not have any fitness issues either.

#4 Wissam Ben Yedder

Ben Yedder has played as the lone forward for Spanish club Sevilla, and has been one of the standout attacking players in LaLiga. He has 22 goals and 6 assists from 40 matches this season, and should move to a bigger club in the upcoming seasons.

Ben Yedder has good dribbling and passing skills, and can also finish reasonably well. He provided a brilliant assist to Jesus Navas in the match against league leaders Barcelona. He also played very well against 2nd placed Atletico Madrid. He has also scored 8 goals in the Europa League so far.

He is still only 28 years old, and should have a long career ahead of him. He has already scored 142 goals in his club career so far, and that number should keep increasing in the coming years. He has also displayed a sense of maturity which is only seen in top players. Ben Yedder is an asset to Sevilla, but they will have to fight hard in order to retain him in their squad for the upcoming season.

Edited by Sai Krishna