In the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s departure from the European football stage, fans now find themselves immersed in debates over whether Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe holds the title of the best striker. Harry Kane’s name also belongs to that conversation, especially since moving to Munich where the Englishman is finally provided with a platform to shine. Rather than offering a decisive answer, SuperBettingSites‘s latest report tactfully sidesteps the question. The aim is to illustrate the concept of the ultimate striker for the 2023/24 season by hypothetically cloning the top goalscorers from Europe’s top 5 leagues, picking only their best-performing body parts.
To construct this hypothetical superstar, we delved into the goal-scoring prowess of players in the Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, and LaLiga. We meticulously categorized their goals based on the methods they were scored: right or left-footed and headed. For the upper body of our clone, we selected the player with the highest number of headed goals. As for the left foot, we chose the player with the most goals scored using their left foot. For the build-up we consider only real metrics, and avoid to instill for example ‘composure’ or ‘determination’ of someone just because we cannot measure it and it will be based on personal preference.
Upper body: Harry Kane 4 Headed goals
For the head and mind of our clone striker, we select none other than Harry Kane. The Englishman, currently plying his trade in Munich, has not only excelled in goal-scoring but also boasts the highest number of assists of all five on the list. Kane’s unique combination of heading ability and vision makes him an ideal candidate for the upper part of the Ultimate Striker. Kane’s right foot is not to be underestimated, as it has been a source of 13 Bundesliga goals already, but out there is someone who just nips the right foot’s slot in our build.
Left part: Erling Haaland 10 Left-footed goals
Moving down to the left foot, we feature Erling Haaland, the towering Norwegian making waves in his second season with Manchester City in the Premier League. Haaland’s record-breaking feats underscore his uniqueness, particularly as the sole left-footed player among the top goalscorers in Europe’s top 5 leagues. While concerns arise about his right-footed finishing, our report focuses solely on showcasing the best attributes.
Right part: Kylian Mbappe 14 Right-footed goals
Completing the full body, the right foot is attributed to Kylian Mbappe, currently dominating as the leading scorer in France. Mbappe’s electrifying pace and precise right foot make him a formidable force, especially when navigating past defenders. However, we wisely sidestep incorporating his heading skills, as he has yet to score with that part of his body.
Crafting the perfect striker demands precision, as even a slight misstep in combining parts might lead to a very different than the desired outcome. For instance, a hybrid version featuring Mbappe’s upper body, Kane’s left, and Haaland’s right feet would yield just one goal, considering the players’ performances throughout the 2023/24 season.
Europe’s Leading Goalscorers
League | Leading Goalscorer | Number of Goals | Left Footed | Right Footed | Headed |
Bundesliga | Harry Kane | 18 | 1 | 13 | 4 |
Ligue 1 | Kylian Mbappe | 15 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
Premier League | Erling Haaland | 13 | 10 | 0 | 3 |
Serie A | Lautaro Martinez | 13 | 1 | 11 | 1 |
La Liga | Jude Bellingham | 11 | 3 | 6 | 2 |