Goals. They decide matches, and more often than not its the strikers who deliver them. From traditional target men to contemporary false 9s, if you’re serious about having a successful Master League save in PES 21 then having a quality centre forward to lead the line is essential.
With the eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer 2021 Season Update now in full swing, here are the top 10 strikers in the latest instalment of the game.
10. Edison Cavani
Age: 33
Country: Uruguay
Club: Manchester United
Rating: 86
With 319 goals and 56 assists across the top European leagues, the Salto-born forward has had an illustrious career. Rated 88 in this current instalment, Cavani will prove to be an astute piece of business for any team. Capable of playing in a two striker system or as a lone CF, his versatility and predatory instincts will keep opposing defenders on their toes.
9. Roberto Firmino
Age: 29
Country: Brazil
Club: Liverpool
Rating: 87
Bobby, as he is popularly called by his colleagues and fans, is every manager’s dream. Capable of playing as a 10, as a false 9 or as an outright CF, Firmino offers a wide range of tactical options for any gamer. A purebred workaholic, his positional awareness and exquisite finishing are qualities gamers will look to take advantage of. Firmino starts with a current rating of 87, and his 92 potential shows there’s still room to improve. He has 89 ball control, 85 dribbling, 87 offensive awareness amongst other impressive attributes; the Brazilian would be a great addition to any side.
8. Ciro Immobile
Age: 30
Country: Italy
Club: SS Lazio
Rating: 87
After topsy-turvy stints at Dortmund and Sevilla, Immobile has lit up in the Serie A in recent times with Lazio. Scoring 117 goals and creating 32 more in 166 appearances thus far for the Roman outfit, Immobile has got his career back on track in a big way. Last season, he beat the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe to the European Golden Shoe. He was also voted as the best forward in Serie A and won Lazio’s Player of the Season award. His in-game attributes include 91 finishing, 90 offensive awareness, 89 kicking power and 87 heading.
7. Karim Benzema
Age: 33
Country: France
Club: Real Madrid
Rating: 88
Benzema needs no introduction. At 33, he is already a household name and a vital member of the current Real Madrid team. A striker par excellence, Benzema boasts 230 goals and 107 assists in 471 games for Real Madrid, and despite his age, he does not look like slowing down any time soon. His ability to play on the wing, as a supporting striker or as the main man makes him an excellent fit for any set-up. Benzema’s best in-game attributes include 91 ball control, 88 tight possession and 86 finishing.
6. Harry Kane
Age: 27
Country: England
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Rating: 89
Harry Kane is one of the finest strikers of his generation. With pace, power and an eye for goal, Kane is the complete modern centre forward. He starts high and drops deep when needed to win the ball and start attacking moves with the ease and finesse of a midfielder. The England skipper is in imperious form this season already with 5 goals and 8 assists in just 6 top-flight appearances. He boasts an impressive array of in-game attributes including 93 offensive awareness, 93 finishing, 87 kicking power, 87 heading and 88 stamina.
5. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Age: 31
Country: Gabon
Club: Arsenal
Rating: 89
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has managed to increase his rating from 88 to 89, thanks to his consistency in front of goal for the Gunners. A whopping 145 goal contributions in 187 appearances for the North London club is no mean feat and goes to show how vital the Gabonese hitman is for his club. His best in-game attributes include a staggering 97 offensive awareness, 90 finishing, 87 ball control and 86 finishing. Aubameyang would be a welcome addition to any frontline in Master League mode.
4. Luis Suarez
Age: 33
Country: Uruguay
Club: Atletico de Madrid
Rating: 89
‘El Pistolero’ is one of the greatest strikers of his generation. Despite the controversies that have beset his career, Suarez has remained an absolute beauty on the pitch. 172 goals and 86 assists in 251 appearances for Barcelona including a goal in the UCL final in his debut season has him up there as the club’s fifth highest goal scorer of all time. Despite moving on from Camp Nou, the 33-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down. Currently at Atletico de Madrid, it is still business as usual for the talented Uruguayan. Despite a drop from 91 to 89, Suarez is still one of the best strikers in PES 21. His in-game attributes include 90 offensive awareness, 88 finishing, 85 kicking power and 88 balance.
3. Sergio Agüero
Age: 32
Country: Argentina
Club: Manchester City
Rating: 90
The diminutive Argentine is the all-time top scorer for Manchester City with 255 goals and 64 assists. An even more impressive feat when you consider he has been plagued by injuries since arriving in England. He is a nuisance to defenders with his pace and trickery and can easily adapt to different systems. Rated 90 overall, Master League gamers in need of goals could do a lot worse than a player with 93 finishing, 93 offensive awareness and 85 kicking power.
2. Kylian Mbappé
Age: 22
Country: France
Club: PSG
Rating: 91
Blistering pace, trickery and ice-cold calmness in front of goal. These are just some of the key attributes that the young Frenchman possesses and make him one of the hottest properties in football at the moment. A World Cup winner, Ligue 1 winner, UEFA Champions League finalist, Mbappé has quite the CV, and he’s only 22. Add this to the fact that he is currently rated 91 with a potential of 98 and you’ll see that there is still a whole lot to come from him. His best in-game attributes include 94 dribbling, 91 balance, 88 offensive awareness, 89 ball control and 87 finishing.
1. Robert Lewandowski
Age: 32
Country: Poland
Club: Bayern Munich
Rating: 92
Unsurprisingly in the number one spot is Robert Lewandowski. Striker extraordinaire, Lewandowski is the ultimate forward. 360 goals and 80 assists across a highly decorated career is something few players can boast. He had a phenomenal last season, winning every piece of silverware he contested and finishing as top scorer in every tournament he played in. He was arguably the best player in the world, and he has resumed the current season right where he left off. Stepping up from 91 to 92 at his age tells you everything you need to know about his mentality. His best attributes in PES 21 include 94 offensive awareness, 92 finishing and 91 ball control. If you’re looking for a clinical finisher in Master League, look no further.
