'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Attackers
Trending
Choosing attackers is a less arduous task, due to the truly prolific showings of some of them. Let's dive in.
Strikers -
Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez has gained goalscoring prowess at the level of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, winning the Pichichi for the 2015/16 season. Although he could not replicate that same tally last season, he scored 29 goals and provided a league high of 13 assists.
Considering he is a centre-forward, the number of assists he has provided shows how he has transformed from a goal scorer to an all-round striker. He is an expert at using his body strength to hold on to the ball and make quick turns around the penalty area.
Suarez still needs to hit the same heights this season, with him struggling for form so far. But he makes this squad due to the consistency he has shown over the past two seasons.
Robert Lewandowski
The second striker in my team would be a tussle between Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski. Harry Kane has started the current season in blistering form, while Lewa has been brilliant as usual. Kane has been improving every year, which is reflected in much better hold-up play and vision. Lewandowski is a master of finishing and he has impressive ability to hold on to the ball.
Lewandowski has been the main outlet of goals for Bayern and Poland, scoring 30 goals in the league last season and 13 goals in 12 games this season, and 16 goals in the World Cup qualifiers. Lewandowski edges Kane to make this squad, due to his role in taking Poland to the World Cup.
Wingers -
Lionel Messi
Messi has been improving with every passing match, now playing creator as well as finisher. He has been amazing in the last two seasons, even though Barca did not have a good season.
Messi scored an incredible 54 goals in all competitions last season and already has 16 goals in 16 games this season. His dribbles have gone up from 3.7 per game to 6.2 per game since Neymar's departure! His hattrick for Argentina to help them qualify for the World Cup cemented his position as the world's best player.
Messi is still at the peak of his powers, and it does not look like it will wane anytime soon.
Pep Guardiola: "Don't write about him. Don't describe him. Just watch him."
Roy Keane: "I was a big fan of Maradona growing up and of the current crop Ronaldo is good but Messi is the best I’ve ever seen. I don’t dish out praise lightly but Messi deserves it. I look for weaknesses in his game and I can’t find them."
Gary Lineker: "Messi is the best passer, dribbler and finisher I have ever seen."
Watch Messi's incredible hat-trick against Ecuador to send Argentina to the World Cup:
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo has not been in the best of form since the start of the 2016/17 season, but he has delivered in the matches that mattered. Slowly transforming from a winger to a finisher, his adaptation to his waning pace and dribbling ability has been great to watch.
He scored 25 goals in the league and an amazing 10 goals in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Although his dribbling ability has waned along with his role being limited to being inside the box, his effectiveness cannot be questioned whatsoever.
Ronaldo's knockout stage goals in the Champions League were crucial to their title defence. He's been so consistent that it's impossible to leave him out of this squad.
Neymar
Neymar's stats reflect the player he has turned out to be. A skinny kid from Santos has now become the favourite to break the Ronaldo-Messi duopoly of the Ballon Dór. And rightly so!
Neymar is incredible with his feet and has the most number of successful take-ons (7.7 per game) rivalled only by Messi. He was a little short on goals with only 13 in the league, but Barcelona was dull in attack without him. He already has 7 goals in the league for PSG this season and boy is he on fire!
His playmaking ability has improved beyond measure, orchestrating attacks for Barcelona and now for PSG. The incredible comeback in the Champions League to beat PSG 6-1 was an announcement to the world saying "My time has come". He makes this squad because, in my opinion, he is definitely one of the top three players in the world.
Alexis Sanchez
The fourth winger in this squad is a difficult pick. Alexis Sanchez edges Eden Hazard, as he is much more prolific in front of goal. Sanchez scored an emphatic 24 goals in what was a disappointing season for Arsenal, missing out on a Champions League spot for the first time under Arsene Wenger.
Eden Hazard was pivotal for Chelsea, but Sanchez shone in a very difficult season for the Gunners. Also, he has done well in international tournaments for his nation. He is one of the star players who will definitely be missed in next year's World Cup due to Chile's unfortunate exit after the qualifiers.
Honorable mentions:
Antoine Griezmann, Edinson Cavani, Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane, Aubameyang, Romelu Lukaku, Gareth Bale, Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Paulo Dybala, Eden Hazard and Arjen Robben
