If the attackers who dominate Europe the most remain the tireless Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane or even the Cyborg Erling Haaland, certain players who can be described as underrated have continued to shine for several seasons. Holders or supersubs, advanced attackers or false number nines capable of going back a notch, they provide their team with the efficiency essential to perform in their respective championships. Different profiles, but all capable of influencing the game and making a difference when necessary. Here are five players who continue to impress behind the scenes, whether through their statistics or their impact on their team.
Igor Thiago, an impressive rebirth
Unknown to the general public last year after a white season marked by injuries, Igor Thiago is now making a spectacular rebirth at Brentford. After playing just 169 minutes in 2024-25 due to knee problems, the 24-year-old Brazilian has become one of the most feared strikers in the Premier League. Already the scorer of 17 league goals and 18 in all competitions, he established himself as the Bees’ attacking leader, scoring decisive doubles against Burnley and Newcastle, and winning the player of the month title for November. Powerful and formidable in the air, Thiago combines physicality and efficiency, and does not tremble against big teams: Newcastle, Manchester United, Liverpool… he scores when Brentford needs it most. This season, he even ranks second in the PL scorers rankings behind Haaland, and stands out as the most prolific Brazilian in the 5 major championships, ahead of Vinicius, JoĂŁo Pedro and Endrick.
Under contract with Brentford until June 2029, Igor Thiago has become one of the most impressive players in England. Keith Andrews, his coach, is full of praise for his character, his consistency and his leadership, and the Brazilian himself displays total determination: to establish himself sustainably at Brentford and continue to support his team. After going through hell last year, he erased all doubts and proved that he could be an essential part of the English championship. With his exceptional 2025-2026 financial year on the individual aspect, Thiago deserves all the attention and there is no doubt that, between now and the end of the season, his name will remain in people’s minds for the summer transfer window.
Christian Pulisic, the season of confirmation
Far from being at his best at Chelsea as a winger, Christian Pulisic completely revealed himself in Italy by becoming a false number 9, for AC Milan. Transferred for just 20 million euros, the American quickly got everyone in agreement in his first season: 16 goals and 10 assists in 2023-2024, before doing slightly better the following year with 17 goals and as many assists. Even in a complicated collective season, Pulisic was able to maintain his standards and establish himself as a reliable and above all ultra-decisive player. This season again, under the leadership of Massimiliano Allegri, he has already totaled 10 goals in 12 starts, confirming his consistency and his importance in the system, very frequently aligned in 3-5-2.
If Christian Pulisic is behind Rafael LeĂŁo in the hierarchy of attackers and is in competition with Christopher Nkunku, he currently remains the club’s top scorer and a key element in the race for the Scudetto. Second in Serie A, Milan is counting on him to weigh in in decisive moments and the former Dortmund man is aiming for a first personal title in the Italian championship, while Inter remains the sole leader. The 27-year-old American, who had already been a fairly important player in the C1 champion team in 2020-2021 under Tuchel, demonstrates today that he can carry a great European player on his shoulders.
Luis Suárez, already 26 goals in all competitions
From a terrible flop at Marseille, where he only scored 3 goals in 11 games, Luis Suárez revealed himself last year at Almeria with a crazy season on a personal level, culminating in 31 goals in all competitions. Then transferred to Sporting CP to make Viktor Gyökeres forget, the Colombian has become exceptional in all respects: efficiency, sense of goal, reading of the game and consistency. This season, he has scored 26 goals in 30 starts, confirming that he is now one of the most formidable attackers in the Portuguese championship, but also in Europe. He has regained confidence and serenity, and his ability to influence each meeting is undeniable, making him a natural leader within the Leões.
While Sporting is just four points behind FC Porto in the league, Luis Suárez remains a key element in this fight. Able to unblock any situation, he transformed his past experiences, including injuries and disappointments, into impressive mental and physical strength. Thanks to its influence, Sporting even finished in 7th place in its Champions League group stage, ahead of giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City and even PSG. Indeed, he was able to watch the round of 16 go from home with confidence, his club having already qualified for the 8th. In addition, Suárez is already having his best season on an individual and statistical level, he will be keen to confirm during his next C1 shock, he who had also crucified PSG (2-1) with a double on the 7th day.
Serhou Guirassy, ​​Mr. Champions League
If we talk about underrated attackers capable of influencing major events, it is impossible not to mention the former Stade Rennais striker, Serhou Guirassy. For several seasons he has established himself as a real killer in front of goal. Finally named among the 10 finalists for the 2025 African Ballon d’Or, he exploded in Stuttgart in 2023-2024 with 30 goals in 30 matches, before joining Dortmund to take a step forward. Last year, he confirmed his status as a world-class striker with 38 goals, including 13 goals in 12 Champions League matches, finishing joint top scorer with Raphinha. He was noticed with a historic hat-trick against Barça in the quarter-final, sowing doubt among the Catalans, even if Dortmund failed to qualify for the semi-finals.
If the first part of the season was a little more complicated for him, Guirassy still remains a constant threat: he has 16 goals in all competitions and takes Dortmund to (2nd place in the Bundesliga)((https://www.footmercato.net/allemagne/bundesliga/classement)()) behind Bayern, after their new double against Mainz. Last year, he finished 3rd top scorer in the championship behind Kane and Schick, and this season, he closely follows Undav with one less unit: 11 goals. Even when he goes through trickier passages, his goalscoring instinct and consistency make him an essential player. Last year, Raphinha was praised for his remarkable season, but Guirassy has been somewhat forgotten, while his performances speak for him and he remains one of the most dangerous attackers…
Alexander Sørloth, the luxury supersub of Atlético de Madrid
After an exceptional 2023-2024 season at Villarreal, where he scored 26 goals in all competitions, Alexander Sørloth reached a milestone by joining Atlético de Madrid in the summer of 2024 for the sum of 32 million euros. Highly anticipated in the role of luxury replacement behind attackers like Antoine Griezmann and Julián Alvarez, the Norwegian immediately responded, scoring 24 goals in just 22 starts in his first season under Diego Simeone. His 1m96 physique, his headwork and his ability to weigh on defenses make him a formidable asset in the colchonero system, capable of changing the course of a match at any time.
Even if his figures this season are slightly below the previous year, Sørloth remains a key element of the Madrid squad. He has a total of 10 goals in 18 starts and continues to influence matches thanks to his unique profile, quite similar to that of Erling Haaland. Last year, his exploits, such as his quadruple against Real Sociedad and his hat-trick against Girona, confirmed his importance in the AtlĂ©tico de Madrid squad. Diego Simeone insisted on keeping him despite summer requests, he who was notably courted by Fernebahçe and Juventus. Alexander Sørloth thus remains one of AtlĂ©tico’s major assets, capable of turning any match around.
