How To Become a Goalmachine I Striker Evolution I Lewandowski, Werner, Haaland & More

701 goals after just 24 matchdays is the best haul in 34 years. More than half of those have come from Strikers, a unique species who have constantly evolved. Football has gotten quicker in recent decades. It's more dynamic, more athletic. And the role of attackers has also developed. The modern striker has to be versatile and able to adjust his game. Looking for the perfect striker in 2020 leads you to just one person, Robert Lewandowski. Lewandowski goes for it again! Oh, he just can't do it! You just cannot be that good! That is an amazing goal! Lewandowski is the prototype of a super striker. But what came before him? And who will follow him? The evolution of Strikers can be split into categories. Category 1, the Fox in the Box. Frankfurt's Bad Starst is one such striker. All of his goals so far have come inside the penalty area. Bad Starst! That's why he's here! Turning back the clock, we come to Germany's greatest ever goalscorer. Gerd Müller scored 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga games, which is still the record to this day. But what made him so good? Müller was deadly in tight spaces and was exactly what you call a Fox in the Box. Gerd Müller was incredibly good in the box. He was very powerful in the box and was incredibly good at scoring goals. He was able to shield the balls very well. The seven-time Bundesliga top scorer had an imitable trademark move. The touch, the turn and the high-speed execution. Müller's heyday was the 60s and 70s. That was many moons ago, so time for the next step in the evolution, the deep-lying striker. The Bundesliga's current example of this type is Alassane Playa. The gladback forward creates space, holds up the ball, distributes it and of course scores himself. It's Alassane Playa! Cool, calm, clinical Alassane Playa! One of the first to characterise this development was Miroslav Kloser. The World Cup winner was the exact opposite of a selfish striker. Great goal, great header and Miroslav Kloser is back at the right time. As well as a turn of pace, a great leap and outstanding technique, his style of play was all about serving the team. Kloser could run with the ball and set up his teammates. Another in this category is… Claudio Pizarro! Absolutely extraordinary! Claudio Pizarro is clever in how he plays. Dropping into midfield to shake off the defender and analyse what's going on, it's worked out pretty well. With a view of goal, he can burst into life at the key moments. Claudio Pizarro! It had to be! Kloser and Pizarro took strikers to the next stage of their evolution, with their intelligence on the pitch and ability as team players. This leads us back to Robert Lewandowski. The Bundesliga super striker combines all the qualities of a perfect forward. Lewandowski's strength at set pieces is remarkable. His body control is peerless, he is the complete striker. Yet in the shadow of the top dog, there are challenges emerging. With players like Timo Werner and Erling Haaland, the next generation is waiting in the wings. Although just 23, the rapid Werner is already vastly experienced and that has helped him develop as a team player. Then there's Dortmund's Erling Haaland in the first lane with nine goals from just seven appearances. Speed, technique and an incredible drive forward. When the 1.94m tall Norwegian comes up against the opposition defence, it usually only means one winner. And at just 19, his goalscoring ability is frightening. He's making quite a name for himself. The evolution of strikers continues and will produce more great players scoring goals for fun in the Bundesliga in the future. Which striker do you think could follow in Lewandowski's footsteps? Let us know in the comments.