5 players with most touches inside the opposition’s penalty area in 2021

#3 Duvan Zapata - 296 touches

Duvan Zapata has been incredible for Atalanta in Serie A.

In third position is a name not spoken too much in mainstream footballing circles. But Colombian forward Duvan Zapata has been an enormous player for Serie A side Atalanta.

It has taken some years for Zapata to deliver on the potential he has always had, but it's better late than never. The Colombian is a physically powerful centre-forward who is very agile despite his physical build. He is equally adept at shooting with his feet and heading the ball in the air.

But Zapata is not just a finisher as he helps in build-up play as well. He often uses his upper body strength to carry the ball inside the opposition box.

Zapata had 296 touches in the opposition's penalty box in 2021. Additionally, he performed well to notch up 41 goals and assists, which put him in the list of top 10 footballers with the most goal involvements in the calendar year.

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#2 Kylian Mbappe - 318 touches

Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe is a generational talent.

Kylian Mbappe has been the biggest exponent of what happens when talent meets opportunity.

Since arriving on the scene with Monaco, Mbappe has never looked back once. He is one of the most sought-after commodities in the football world, but that hasn't affected Mbappe's performances. However, 2021 was a sad year for him as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and France couldn't quite meet the fans' or their own high expectations.

However, 2021 has been another excellent year for the Frenchman individually. He is adept at playing both on the wings as well as centrally. Mbappe's tendency to get into the opposition box as fast as he can has earned him 318 touches in the opposition box last year.

The 23-year-old forward also managed to record 65 goal involvements across all major competitions in 2021, the highest among all players.

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#1 Mohamed Salah - 383 touches

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been one of the best players in the world this season.

Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah has taken his gameplay to an all-new level since joining Liverpool.

Salah has taken some time to establish himself following a failed spell at Chelsea. But he has transformed himself into a completely different and special footballer, with him currently one of the best offensive talents in the Premier League.

Known for his trickery and guile, Salah uses his ability to carry the ball into the opposition box to get into scoring positions. He is clinical once he gets there, as his Liverpool goal record evidently confirms.

It's not surprising that Salah has the highest touches in the opposition penalty box among any player in Europe's top 5 leagues. He managed to convert those chances into goals and notched up an incredible 48 goal involvement last year.

Salah's performances were crucial to helping Liverpool qualify for Europe in what was a terrible season for the club. Several key players missed large chunks of the season for the Reds with injuries, but Salah guided them to a top four finish in the Premier League.