5 most overrated strikers in football currently

Far too often, players at bigger teams are automatically overrated, and their talent deemed greater than imagined. When new forwards burst onto the scene, supporters and media alike overhype their potential, giving them an even bigger pedestal to fall from.

However, quite often a player is overhyped for a variety of other reasons. The list below was picked from players who are regularly overrated because of the country of their birth, a moment of genius, or a particular coach has taken quite a likening to their skills set. Moods, lack of consistency and their general ability make them all overrated. This may hit a nerve, but the fact remains that supporters too regularly overhype players that play for their club.

Are any of these players wrongly placed on this list? Could you want any of these leading the lines? Here's five of the world's most overrated forwards.

#1 Carlos Bacca – AC Milan

It was only a few short years ago Carlos Bacca burst onto the scene on the European stage when the Colombian international scored some crucial goals for Sevilla during their Europa League successes under Unai Emery. Since then, the 30-year-old has become one of the most sought-after strikers in European football before dwindling out to become a player Milan will be required to move on if they are to stake their claim amongst the elites of European football once again.

Bacca has scored 31 goals in just 64 appearances for the Rossoneri but he continues to attract interest from mid-table Premier League sides.

The Colombian forward remains a good squad player for the club to consider, nonetheless, if the new owners have ambitions to dominate the European football stage once again, then they need to look elsewhere and soon.

#2 Hulk – Shanghai SIPG

Brazil international is now plying his trade for CSL side Shanghai SIPG

When you look back at the career of Hulk - the 47 time capped Brazilian international - a career consisting of stints in Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Chinese clubs, fans will forever think “what if?”

Hulk first burst onto the scene when Porto took a chance on the 22-year-old Brazilian in 2008. After four successful years in Portugal, he opted for a mega-money-move to Russian Premier League giants Zenit St. Petersburg. During his time in Portugal, Hulk was reportedly close to signing for both Chelsea and Tottenham if reports are to be believed. Nonetheless, the forward disappointed regularly in the Champions League and Europa League against quality opposition.

At Zenit, the 30-year-old was a massive success story, but once again he was playing in a competitive but weaker league. For a once-Brazilian starter, why did he never move to one of European football's major league's?

Now at Shanghai, Hulk is unlikely to return to Europe.

#3 Daniel Sturridge – Liverpool

Sturridge watching on from the bench at Anfield

England international Daniel Sturridge has a tag of being one of the more challenging and frustrating footballers in the Premier League. Since joining Liverpool in January 2013, Giroud has scored 59 goals in 114 games for the Reds. However, as the Merseysiders again aspiring for the Premier League title, Sturridge doesn’t seem to be the man that will help them get to the promised land.

Unlike the best goalscorers in European football, Sturridge has had little impact in big games in recent times due to recurring injury problems that continue to haunt his progression.

The 27-year-old represented his country at Euro 2016 and finished as the tournaments with just one goal – a late winner against bitter rivals Wales.

This England international is a clear example of how statistics can be deceiving, and the reality is, the 28-year-old is mid-table level or a squad player at most.

#4 Christian Benteke – Crystal Palace

Belgian Benteke is in a rich vein of form

Belgian forward Benteke has been in truly devastating form for Crystal Palace this season with Sam Allardyce, with the former England and Sunderland manager obtaining the best from his star forward. But the facts must be told on this fairytale story at Selhurst Park career. Despite scoring 12 Premier League goals this season, Benteke has failed to make any impact against any of the so-considered top sides in England - with the exception of Chelsea.

In fact, barring his goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal at home, the Belgian hitman has failed to score against any other top-six side this season. For 26-year-old to be considered a £30million striker, he must return more goals against bigger opposition.

If Benteke is to be considered for a mega-money move to one of European football's elite clubs, he desperately needs to improve not only his performances but his goalscoring record against Premier League's biggest teams and for the time being, ensure Palace’s survival.

#5 Javier Hernandez – Bayer Leverkusen

Mexican forward Hernandez struggling for form in Germany

When Manchester United signed striker Javier Hernandez in 2010, everybody wondered why Sir Alex Ferguson signed this relatively unknown forward. Months later it didn't take long for people to witness Hernandez' talent, and he helped guide United to title success in 2011.

Nonetheless, ‘Chicharitio’ dwindled off the scene in the years to come at Old Trafford and became nothing more than a sporadic squad player. In 2015, he moved to Bayer Leverkusen after a poor loan spell at Real Madrid. After a fantastic first season at the BeyArena, the Mexican is yet again struggling.

This season, with Hakan Çalhanolu missing, Hernandez went sixteen games without scoring a goal for his side – but has been continuously linked with a move to the Premier League.

Sadly, the 28-year-old continues to live off a predatory reputation he built up almost five years previously. Going six months without a goal should have been enough to convince people to realise he's nothing more than average and needs someone to create opportunities for him.

Ask yourself this, if the Mexican international was still considered a great striker, then why at 28-years of age were his club searching for an MLS club to sell him to in January?