Top 10 Strikers on Football Manager 2022 Database Update

Let us look at the top 10 strikers on the latest Football Manager 2022 database update.

The winter, or mid-season, database update in the FM community is sometimes more anticipated than the main game's release. The changes can be major after the transfers, and the performers can be rewarded with a boost in stats, just like how the stragglers can be inversely affected with a decrease in attributes.

Strikers are some of the most sought after players in the world of football. This holds good even in Football Manager, where scoring goals is of utmost importance to every manager. In this article, we will be seeing the top 10 strikers in the game post the database update.

1. Robert Lewandowski

The Polish striker has been amongst the most consistent performers for several years now and was among the favourites for managers' pre-update. In the last 2 years, his performances have been ever more exemplary, with Lewandowski enjoying his best season in league with an astonishing 41 league goals in 2020-2021. In the last few months, his performances for Bayern have gone up another notch, and the striker seems to be getting better with age. Lewandowski, currently, is the best striker in the game and has even overtaken Messi and Ronaldo, who have occupied the top spot for several editions of the game.

2. Lionel Messi

Considered by many as one of the best footballers of all time, Messi needs no introduction. Messi made several heads turn after leaving Barcelona for PSG. However, his time in France has not been the easiest, with Messi not scoring as freely as he usually does, especially in the league. This has even affected his current ability being reduced after the winter update. However, there can still be no doubts about the quality of Messi, and he still continues to be one of the best attackers in the game.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo, another modern-day football GOAT, could be the best goalscorer football has ever seen. Ronaldo's much-hyped return to Man Utd may not have gone as planned, with the striker returning just 9 league goals so far and United struggling to compete in the league. This has affected his current ability in the game, and the developers have reduced his attributes after the winter update making him not be in the top 2 players of the game for the first time in many years. This, however, is just a small blip in a decorated career, and Ronaldo continues to be amongst the best strikers in the game and still the best the Premier League has to offer.

4. Karim Benzema

The 4th name on the list is the Real Madrid frontman, Karim Benzema. Ever since the departure of Ronaldo, Benzema has taken his game up a notch. His recent return to international football with France has also been an added motivation for the striker. With more than 20 league goals in the last 4 seasons and already breaching the 20 goal mark this season, there is no doubt about Benzema's quality. Another attacker who seems to be ageing like fine wine, Benzema, also has the ability to bring others in the game.

5. Kylian Mbappe

One of the youngest players on this list, Mbappe, has already achieved what some of the best footballers could not in their careers. With an impressive 27 league goals in 2020-2021 and 14 league goals already this season, Mbappe is already in his prime and could be one of the best in the business for a good part of the next decade. With Mbappe willing to run down his contract at PSG, his next club (likely to be Real Madrid) could benefit massively from his arrival and look set to dominate Spanish football for the next few years.

6. Erling Haaland

Still a wonderkid by definition, Haaland is already one of the best strikers in world football. He enjoyed his best league season in 2020-2021, having a remarkable goal/game ratio and scoring 41 times for Dortmund. The 2021-2022 has seen Haaland become even more clinical with an impressive 23 goals from just 20 games. Haaland is currently one of the most sought after players in world football, and with Dortmund having a subpar season, we could very well see Haaland moving to a bigger club with higher ambition.

7. Harry Kane

The captain of the English football team is considered by many as one of the best strikers the country has ever produced. Kane is a clinical goalscorer who has been extremely consistent over the last 7 seasons, going past the 20 league goal tally in 5 out of these 10 seasons. Despite rumours of his supposed unhappiness at Spurs, Kane has already touched the 10 league goal mark this season. In his prime, Kane will be an asset to any team he plays for, and fans believe that England could win their first major trophy in a long time under his captaincy.

8. Romelu Lukaku

The 8th name on the list is the Belgian/Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku. A striker who had shown a lot of promise right from his younger days, Lukaku really came to the forefront in the last 2 seasons with Inter Milan, where he scored a whopping 47 league goals in just 2 seasons for the club. Although his record move to Chelsea is not going as planned, Lukaku is still among the elite strikers in world football and amongst the top 10 strikers in the game.

9. Lautaro Martinez

Lautaro Martinez is the 9th name on the list. The young Argentinian striker is currently considered one of the best strikers in Serie A. Having consistently scored and assisted over 20 goals in his last 2 seasons, Martinez has come onto his own since the departure of Lukaku and is currently having his best season yet. Considering he is just 23, Lautaro has room for improvement but is already amongst the best strikers in the game.

10. Luis Suarez

The 34-year-old Uruguayan Suarez is the last player on this list. Despite being on the wrong side of 30 and is said to be on his decline, Suarez is amongst the top 10 strikers in FM22. Just the previous season (2020-2021), Suarez scored an impressive 21 league goals and helped Atletico secure an improbable league title by beating the Spanish giants. Although featuring much less this season, Suarez still has goals to his game, and the wily forward is amongst the game's elite attackers.

That concludes the list of the top 10 strikers in FM 22 after the database update. Which ones are you keen on managing?