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It's the forwards and strikers who are primarily tasked with finding goals for their side. But goals can come from anywhere and from anyone. All the top European sides that are looking to mount title challenges will have a top striker on their payroll.
In addition to strikers, having midfielders who can bang in goals on a regular basis is a huge bonus for teams. They are usually technically proficient campaigners who are just as good at orchestrating play as they are at finding the back of the net.
We've seen plenty of goalscoring midfielders in Europe but for a brief period, it looked like they were out of vogue. But in recent times, there has been a renewed focus on midfielders with an eye for goal.
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Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best goal-scoring midfielders in the world right now.
#5 Kevin De Bruyne - Belgium/Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne is one of the best technicians in world football right now. He is arguably the finest midfielder of his generation, with his passing range and shooting ability on par with that of the legends of the game.
De Bruyne has been the driving force behind Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. His ability to pick out passes that other players wouldn't even think of makes him a dangerous player with the ball at his feet.
The 2020-21 season was not exactly De Bruyne's best season in terms of goalscoring. He still managed to score 10 goals and provide 18 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions in the 2020-21 season.
De Bruyne can go hell for leather from anywhere in the final third and is quite accurate with his shooting. He can also shoot with either foot which makes him quite unpredictable once he receives the ball in and around the area.
#4 Marcos Llorente - Spain/Atletico Madrid
Marcos Llorente is one of the most versatile players in Europe's top 5 leagues. Not only can he play anywhere across midfield, he can also play as a winger or a full-back. Llorente underwent a transformation of sorts under Diego Simeone after joining Atletico Madrid from Real Madrid in 2019.
In the 2020-21 season, Llorente scored 13 goals and provided 12 assists in 45 matches across all competitions for Il Rojiblancos. He is an all-action midfielder whose tireless presence can be a pain to deal with for the opposition.
Having started out as a defensive midfielder, Llorente's ball-winning abilities are quite commendable. He is also pretty good at trapping the ball and getting a shot away and this makes him a player to always keep an eye on in and around the final third.
#3 Pedro Goncalves - Portugal/Sporting Lisbon
When Sporting Lisbon lost Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United, it looked like the club would struggle without his contributions. Fernandes is a splendid playmaker and also a prolific goalscorer. But Sporting just went and signed Pedro Goncalves, who is cut from the same cloth.
Goncalves is one of the best goalscoring midfielders in the game right now. He scored a whopping 23 goals from 37 appearances across all competitions for Sporting in the 2020-21 season.
The 23-year-old has also started the new season on a high and has scored three goals in two games already. He is also great at picking out passes and is an excellent finisher. It's only a matter of time before one of the top European clubs comes knocking for him.
#2 Thomas Muller - Germany/Bayern Munich
Thomas Muller is a bit of a roamer at Bayern Munich. He plays as a second striker or as an attacking midfielder most of the time. The 31-year-old's primary responsibility is to make sure Robert Lewandowski has enough time and space to get his thunderous shots away.
Muller is a nuisance to deal with in the final third. He is one of the most intelligent footballers on the planet and is constantly making runs to distract defenders or to attack the space in behind them. The German international is also a slick passer and a wonderful creator.
Muller scored 15 goals and provided 24 assists from 46 appearances across all competitions for Bayern Munich in the 2020-21 season. However, he had a disappointing outing at Euro 2020.
After being called back into the team after a two-year hiatus, Muller was unable to score or provide an assist in four appearances for Die Mannschaft. Germany crashed out of the continental competition in the Round of 16.
#1 Bruno Fernandes - Portugal/Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes is one of the best Premier League signings in recent years in terms of sheer impact. His arrival helped transform Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's lackluster side into one of the most entertaining ones in the Premier League.
The Red Devils were in desperate need of a player who could add some creative spark to their midfield. Fernandes did that and more. Not only is he excellent at providing brilliant passes to his forwards, he is also great with his shooting.
The Portuguese international is also wonderful at penalties. He is not only a great goalscorer but he is also a scorer of great goals. Fernandes has already scored quite a few stunners for Manchester United in the one-and-a-half seasons he has spent at Old Trafford.
He is miles above all goalscoring midfielders in Europe's top 5 leagues. In 58 appearances across all competitions in the 2020-21 season, the 26-year-old scored 28 goals and provided 17 assists.
