Sportskeeda Football Awards 2016: Forward of the Year

#10 Alexis Sanchez (Reader’s Rank: 8, Sportskeeda’s Rank: 9)

The true successor to Thierry Henry?

Arsenal failed to stop Leicester City’s fairytale from coming true as the Foxes romped to their maiden Premier League title and a part of the reason for that was the injury that ruled out Alexis Sanchez for close to one and a half months, towards the end of 2015. The Chilean recovered from his hamstring and helped his club side finish 2^nd in the league.

He then inspired Chile to their second successive International triumph – Copa America Centenario – where they again got the better of Argentina in the final. El Nino Maravilla, as he is fondly called back home, has taken to the new role of a striker given to him by Arsene Wenger like a challenge and has carried the Gunners on his back on more occasions than one so far in this season. A testament to that is the fact that he is currently only behind Diego Costa in the Premier League goal-scoring charts.

Ironically, he is the only player from the Premier League to make the cut, considered the best league in the world.

Legendary Italian forward and former team-mate of Alexis, Antonio di Natale had the following to say about the Chilean:

“Alexis is one of the most complete attackers in the world: he could play as a winger, as a striker, as an inside forward. He has always shown a hunger to get better, and he’s always been willing to sacrifice the sweat and tears to do so. I never got the sense that he was satisfied with what he achieved.” ~ Antonio di Natale

2016 Stats (for club and country – Games: 57, Goals: 27, Assists: 20)