Robert Lewandowski

A complete centre-forward with ruthless finishing, elite movement and almost surgical control inside the penalty area, Robert Lewandowski belongs among the defining strikers of his era. He was never just a box predator, though the box was obviously where he conducted most of his crimes. His first touch, body orientation and ability to shield the ball allowed him to link play cleanly, while his timing between defenders made even ordinary crosses look like premeditated assassinations. At Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Poland, he combined consistency with technical precision and frightening professionalism. Not the most romantic striker, perhaps, but one of the most reliable machines football has produced. A goalscorer so efficient he sometimes made greatness look like office work.