The Striker Crisis: Why Football Is Running Out of Elite No.9s

Football has always loved goalscorers.

From Ronaldo Nazário destroying defenders with impossible movement, to Thierry Henry combining elegance with power, to Robert Lewandowski making finishing look effortless, the traditional No.9 was once the most valuable player on the pitch.

A player whose only job was simple:

Score goals.

But modern football has changed.

Today, clubs are searching for something different.

They want forwards who can press.

Create.

Build attacks.

Defend.

Move everywher…