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The No. 9 in soccer, traditionally the number reserved for the team's starting striker, has been the subject of various discussion points over the last few years. From arguments revolving around the importance of the position in modern tactics to the belief that the No. 9 is being phased out of the game, doubts have been cast upon the future of the role.
However, players like Gonzalo Higuain, Robert Lewandowski, Luis Suarez and Karim Benzema show the importance of a dominant striker in soccer. They are four of the most talked about players throughout the course of the 2015/16 season, but which striker is the world's best No. 9?
First of all, what exactly is the criteria for selecting the world's best No. 9? Traditionally, forwards and strikers are primarily judged on goals. Put simply, they need to convert a high percentage of the chances that come their way. Alan Shearer, Alfredo Di Stefano and the Brazilian Ronaldo made the No. 9 shirt famous by scoring with a regularity that would make Wilt Chamberlain blush.
The four players we've selected are currently placed first, third, fifth and seventh in the race for the European Golden Shoe, given to the leading scorer in European league play.
Gonzalo Higuain, the current top scorer in all of Europe, is the prime example of a forward whose sense of positioning and hunger for goals mark the traditional attributes of a successful No. 9.
Recent times have seen a change in the way that forwards operate. The goal poacher and massive target man, while still playing a role in today's game, have been replaced by a quicker, more adaptable and versatile forward who contributes heavily in creating chances, linking play and pressing defensively.
Luis Suarez is seen as the connecting link between the play of Lionel Messi and Neymar while still spearheading the Barcelona attack and contributing defensively.
The change in emphasis and tactics around the world had many predicting the death of the old No. 9 position. Rather than dying out, the position seems to have adapted itself to fit to the new demands. Players like Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema possess varied skill sets that encompass both the old and the new.
So, which of these four No. 9s, each experiencing the best form of their respective careers, is the best No. 9 in the world?
Who Is The World's Best No. 9?
Gonzalo Higuain
Napoli and Argentina | 28-years-old | Salary: $6.2 Million Per Year
Whoscored.com 2015/16 Statistics:
24 Serie A appearances: 24 goals | 2 assists | 6 Man of the Match awards
5.5 shots per game | 76.8% pass success rate
3 Europa League appearances: 2 goals
The case for Gonzalo Higuain: Napoli currently sit atop the Serie A standings, a stunning achievement 24 matches into the season. No forward is more important to their team's success than Gonzalo Higuain. The Argentinean has accounted for 45% of Napoli’s league goals, a much higher percentage than any of the other No. 9s being discussed here.
He’s collected six Man of the Match awards and is reminding Neapolitans of a former Argentinean legend who lead them to Serie A glory, Maradona. Higuain also leads the race for the European Golden Shoe. If No 9s are judged solely on the goals they score, there’s no one better than Higuain at the moment.
The case against Gonzalo Higuain: Higuain isn’t considered as complete a forward as Robert Lewandowski, nor is he noted for creating chances for others like Luis Suarez. He’s a classic No. 9 in his positioning and goal scoring record.
Higuain is also infamous for some of his misses. His miss against Germany in the World Cup final, against Chile in the Copa America final and in the final's penalty shootout will forever be held against him. Real Madrid eventually let Higuain go due to his supposed inability to perform in key matches.
Robert Lewandowski
Bayern Munich and Poland | 27-years-old | Salary: $13.5 Million Per Year
Whoscored.com 2015/16 Statistics:
19 Bundesliga appearances: 19 goals | 1 assist | 5 Man of the Match awards
5.8 shots per game | 80.2% pass success rate
6 Champions League appearances: 7 goals | 4 DFB Pokal appearances: 3 goals
The case for Robert Lewandowski: Injuries to Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery have seen Bayern Munich adapt their playing style to get the most out of Robert Lewandowski. The focal point of the Bayern attack, Lewandowski has accounted for 38% of Bayern's Bundesliga goals. He's become increasingly important to manager Pep Guardiola, the man whose tactics were once signalling the death of the No. 9 position.
His performances in the Champions League have also elevated his stock to another level. Lewandowski has certainly become more than just your prototypical striker under the guidance of both Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp. Perhaps the most lethal European striker in the world right now, his performances for Poland essentially guaranteed the country a spot at EURO 2016.
The case against Robert Lewandowski: Playing in the Bundesliga, Lewandowski benefits from Bayern Munich's ability to demolish the opposition. The critique of being a passenger for Bayern Munich rather than a key player has certainly lost steam this year, but it is still a viable argument when compared to the league achievements of forwards in England or Spain.
Luis Suarez
Barcelona and Uruguay | 29-years-old | Salary: $12 Million Per Year
Whoscored.com 2015/16 Statistics:
21 La Liga appearances: 20 goals | 6 assists | 2 Man of the Match awards
3.7 shots per game | 71.5% pass success rate
5 Champions League appearances: 5 goals | 2 assists | 3 Copa del Rey appearances: 5 goals
The case for Luis Suarez: Suarez makes everyone around him better. Need proof? During his 2013/14 Liverpool season, Suarez scored 31 goals in 33 appearances for Liverpool while also contributing 12 assists. Suarez has 6 La Liga assists and 2 Champions League assists this season, totals that no other No. 9s come close to replicating.
His mixture of goal creation and conversion is simply amazing. He’s also scored for Barcelona when it’s mattered: a possible title clincher against Real Madrid, the goal which sent Barcelona ahead of Juventus in the Champions League final and five goals at the Club World Cup this term.
The case against Luis Suarez: Luis Suarez’s main fault is only the company that he keeps. Playing alongside two of the world’s best players in Lionel Messi and Neymar, Suarez is expected to do great things. If he doesn’t convert chances with Messi and Neymar pulling defenders out of place, he won’t last long at the Nou Camp. Look no further than Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s “paltry” return of 16 goals in 29 La Liga appearances for proof of what’s expected of Suarez.
Karim Benzema
Real Madrid and France | 28-years-old | Salary: $9 Million Per Year
Whoscored.com 2015/16 statistics:
18 La Liga appearances: 19 goals | 1 assist | 3 Man of the Match awards
3.8 shots per game | 82.1 pass success rate
4 Champions League appearances: 4 goals
The case for Karim Benzema: Benzema has improved every year as a striker. His 19 goals in 18 La Liga appearances represent his best ever return for Madrid. During the 2011/12 season, he scored 21 goals in 34 appearances. He’s on pace to smash that total this campaign. Benzema may be the most complete striker on this list apart from Luis Suarez.
His vision and touch have always made him one of the most dangerous forwards in the game, while his new found ability to find the back of the net with regular frequency has elevated him into the conversation of the world's best No. 9, without question.
The case against Karim Benzema: Karim Benzema’s role in the scandal that has rocked the French national team, putting his selection for France at EURO 2016 in jeopardy, doesn’t do the Real Madrid hitman any favors. Also, he hasn't been able to fully convince all of Madrid in his selection as first-choice striker. Jose Mourinho was extremely vocal in his critique of Benzema during his time at Real.
The latest forward rumored to be taking Benzema's place? Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski.
