Perfect player series: Building a flawless forward

Every footballer on the planet has blemishes, weaknesses in their game they wish didn’t exist. But what if they didn’t? What would the ideal player look like in every position? Plucking specific traits from various superstars, theScore is diving into the lab to build the perfect footballer.

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In the final installment of our seven-part series, we’re assembling the perfect forward: pace, power, silky skills, and ruthlessness in front of goal, this ideal attacker strikes fear into the hearts of defenders and goalkeepers alike.

Pace: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund)

Borussia Dortmund’s 28-year-old scoring machine, coming off a 31-goal campaign, isn’t solely reliant on his pace, but being fast as lightning certainly doesn’t hurt. Aubameyang’s raw speed allows him to outrun defenders and set himself up inside the area to score an inordinate number of simple tap-ins; his speed, combined with Dortmund’s slick attack that relies heavily on cutback passes inside the area, is a match made in heaven.

Strength: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Lukaku is a physical marvel. The 24-year-old Belgian striker, fresh off a massive move to Manchester United, bullies centre-backs on the regular, which, considering they’re supposed to be some of the strongest, most imposing players on the pitch, is quite the feat. At 6-foot-3, and about 220 pounds, Lukaku pairs brute strength with explosiveness that makes him one of the most daunting assignments in the game for any defender.

Shooting ability: Luis Suarez (Barcelona)

In terms of a pure No. 9, there’s nobody better than Barcelona hitman Suarez. The feisty Uruguayan has netted 139 league goals in his last five seasons; 40 of those came in 2015-16. Some of that is the product of playing alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar, sure, but Suarez has carried the Barcelona attack by himself at times since moving to the Camp Nou, his pinpoint shooting accuracy, especially from tight angles, making him a threat to score from everywhere on the pitch.

Heading: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Nobody hangs in midair like Ronaldo. Real Madrid’s photogenic Portuguese has scored more headed goals (33) than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues over the past five seasons. Conventional wisdom suggests footballers in general, and especially forwards, diminish with age, but as Ronaldo continues to transition to a classic No. 9, his ability to find pockets of space inside the penalty area and dominate in the air should see him fill the net for years to come.

Inventiveness: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

The most magical footballer in history. There’s nothing else to say.

Penalty box instincts: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Bayern Munich’s Polish assassin hasn’t scored fewer than 17 times in any of his last six Bundesliga seasons, a run that includes consecutive campaigns where he reached the 30-goal plateau. Of his 60 league markers over the last two years, 56 have come from inside the penalty area, highlighting just how skilled Lewandowski is at exploiting space, and how ruthless he is when chances fall his way.

Work rate: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)

Arsenal’s Chilean terrier – soon to be Manchester City’s, perhaps – is a manager’s dream. Aside from being a prolific attacker who is equal parts creator and finisher, Sanchez acts as the first line of defence, hurrying and harrying opposing defenders to win possession back in dangerous areas. In an era when pressing systems are more prevalent than ever, having forwards who are willing to put in the dirty work without the ball is crucial, and Sanchez, who seems to be powered by a never-ending battery, is a prime example.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images unless otherwise stated)