Midfielders are often referred to as the engine room in which a team is built around, and often get the team working perfectly on the pitch in terms of controlling proceedings.
While goal-scoring is the prerequisites of a striker and marshaling the midfield is the primary assignment of a midfielder. Yet when a midfielder contributes with goals every now and then it’s like having an additional striker on the team.
Some midfielders are adaptable and proficient at both pulling the strings from the midfield, and as well putting the ball at the back of the net to deliver a decisive blow to the opposition. Midfielders can in no way be expected to yield definitive results, but seeing them score goals does bring out some interesting shades within the beautiful game.
Let’s Take A Look At 5 Of Europe’s Goalscoring Midfielders In 2020-21
- Pedro Gonçalves – (Sporting Lisbon, 23)
To say Goncalves is the rave of the moment at Sporting it’s an understatement, the 22-year-old was so instrumental for the ‘Verde e brancos‘ in winning the Portuguese Liga NOS title for the first time since 2002.
The Selecao international did have a standout performance for Sporting despite been his first breakout season having joined from Famalicao for €6m.
Interestingly Goncalves scored 23 goals and made four assists in 32 Primeira Liga matches for the ‘Verde e brancos’, to become the most prolific goalscoring midfielder. With such stunning performances for Ruben Amorim’s side, you would agree that the youngster has done impressively well to fill the void left by Bruno Fernandes who joined United in 2020.
His performances have no doubt attracts a lot of prospective clubs, having shown what he’s capable of with Sporting in the just-concluded campaign. Interestingly with the Euro 2020 Championship just 24 hours away, the former F.C. Famalicão player would also have another platform to showcase himself to the world following his inclusion into the senior squad for the tournament.
- Bruno Fernandes – (Manchester United, 18)
When Manchester United board splash £47m on Fernandes no one would say he’s coming into the Premier League to blow The Red Devil’s fans and football neutral off their foot with instant performances, with his first time in unfamiliar terrain with a different culture compared to where he was coming from.
Like Goncalves, like Bruno Fernandes. The former Sporting midfielder has obviously been United’s best player of the season for his standout performances this season and perhaps the best player overall for United.
Fernandes performances have seen him shoulder United’s goalscoring responsibility by chipping in a total of 18 goals. Without mincing word, Bruno Fernandes is arguably one of the most prolific goalscoring midfielders this season across Europe’s top-flight leagues.
In that sense it would be interesting to see him continue in the same vein and pace he set for himself as the catalyst behind United’s surge next season both in the league and Europe.
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- Teun Koopmeiners – (AZ Alkmaar, 15)
The 23-year-old is gradually making a name for himself as one of the finest talents in Europe’s top-flight leagues, having accumulated a lot of appreciators across Europe to his corner.
The AZ Alkmaar captain shone out brilliant performances that stand him out amongst his colleagues in the Eredivisie this season with 15 goals and 5 assists.
To think that Koopmeiners is primarily a defensive midfielder whose job is to shield his defenders. For a player whose job is to protect the defenders and somehow find himself scoring a lot of goals, scoring a whopping 15 goals as a defensive midfielder certainly says a lot about his multifaceted skill.
With Koopmeiners been linked to Jose Mourinho’s new club AS Roma means a lot, perhaps the Portuguese gaffer sees him as the catalyst that could lead the Giallorossi’s midfield perfectly with his traits and the composing style of play.
It would be interesting to see him feature for the Oranje at the Euro Championship, especially for those who don’t see him play for the ‘Cheeseheads’ to have a view of what he’s capable of.
- Lars Stindl – (Borussia Monchegladbach, 14)
Stindl’s outstanding ability in operating between midfield and attack for Die Fohlen this season in the Bundesliga has been second to none.
The former Hannover man played a pivotal role for Gladbach in a season that didn’t look satisfying based on their failure to qualify for any of Europe’s competition next season.
The Rhineland native is so great at finding openings for his team to do the damage. With 14 goals this season, it gives credence to his ability to combine creative assignments to getting goals despite being a midfielder.
Stindl missing out of Die Mannschaft’s Euro 2020 squad still baffles some set of Die Fohlen fans, because they believe he had a phenomenal campaign for Gladbach. However not included in the team doesn’t necessarily mean he isn’t a brilliant player.
- İlkay Gündoğan – (Manchester City, 13)
Gundogan’s eyes for goals back in his Dortmund days have always been one of his selling points as a center midfielder.
The German dictates proceed in the middle of the park for the Citizen in terms of possession, and his dominant style explains it all why he remains the eyes and engine that connect City’s midfield and forward together consistently.
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His 13 goals for City this season show the German is still the same player that had a brilliant Dortmund career under Jurgen Klopp before joining Manchester City in 2016.
Clearly, with his more improved goal ratio and shooting accuracy, it’s obvious the German has gone through a fine-tuning under Pep Guardiola.
Joachim Low would certainly be delighted to have an in-form Gundogan in the Die Mannschaft team ahead of their outing at the Euro 2020 Championship.
Conclusion
This is a statistical ranking based on the number of goals that these midfielders have scored. It is often said that statistics are not everything in football, however, they’re useful when talking about players who prove to be potent in front of goals.
Players who did not make the top 5 don’t necessarily mean they ain’t prolific, however, they would make the top 10.
- Henrikh Mkhitaryan
- Marco Llorente
- Dusan Tadic
- Thomas Muller
- Thomas Soucek
