There have been many good duos in world football over the years that have graced the green grass. These duos like Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp for Arsenal had a partnership that was almost telepathic, with the two deftly linking on the pitch easily.
For these players, their connection to and adept understanding of each other didn’t happen overnight. It takes days of training, playing together and other off the pitch activities encouraged by the coach.
Till date, telepathic understanding between players is encouraged. Hence the many outstanding attacking duos flaunting symbiotic relationships on the pitch that have resulted in countless goals. Here is our list of the top 5 attacking duos currently in football.
5. Rafael Leão & Olivier Giroud – AC Milan
Wherever he plays, Olivier Giroud will have to be patient with the regular first-team game and it was no different in the early stages of his AC Milan career. But thanks to his good form – and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s injury – the striker now has a starting position in attack that he won’t give up.
However, much of his success can be attributed to his teammate Rafael Leão, who has delivered numerous inch perfect crosses for the grateful striker. The pair have developed a good relationship for the Italian giants in recent seasons.
Recently, the Portuguese attacker set up two of Giroud’s three goals, which he scored in AC Milan’s dramatic 3-2 win over Inter Milan this month. Giroud returned the favour by assisting Leão’s goal.
Their telepathic relationship is largely centred on the winger supplying the forward with goal scoring chances.
4. Sergej Milinković-Savić & Ciro Immobile – Lazio
Lazio duo Sergei Milinkovic-Savich and Ciro Immobile have one of the most telepathic connections ever seen in world football.
Their understanding of each other is so outstanding that the crafty striker hardly waits for his midfield colleague to pass the ball. He makes the run and the pass always comes.
Since the 2013/14 season, the Italian international has won the Serie A top scorer award an incredible four times, three times with Lazio. In the three times he won with Lazio, Immobile scored 36, 29 and 27 goals respectively and Milinkovic-Savic played a central role in creating the goal scoring chances. The midfielder had eight, nine and 12 assists in all competitions over the same period.
The trend has continued into the new season, with the midfielder providing all of Immobile’s three goals so far. The pair appear to be the perfect match in the iconic Olympic Stadium pitch.
3. Son Heung-min & Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur
The dynamic duo of Son Heung-min and Harry Kane have been at their best on the pitch for years, scoring their 37th Premier League goal over the weekend to surpass Chelsea icons Lampard and Didier Drogba, who have scored 36 goals for the Blues in total.
Kane has scored five goals in six games this season and has been as deadly as ever in the final third. He scored a variety of goals as Spurs continued their strong start. There is no doubt that it is only a matter of time before he catches Son’s beautiful direct pass.
Also, like Messi with Neymar and Mbappe, Dejan Kulusevski has been a huge hit in Kane’s partnership with Son. The winger immediately turned his attention to English football, scoring six goals and 10 assists in just 26 appearances for the club.
Son Heung-min hasn’t been at his best in the early stages of the new Premier League season, but it would be foolish to push aside the striker’s recovering ball and excellent dribbling skills. No player has taken more shots (17) this season than the striker.
2. Neymar & Kylian Mbappe – PSG
Another remarkable duo to debut in the first round of the new Champions League are Paris Saint-Germain stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, who scored twice in their 2-1 win over Juventus.
The skilled Brazilian is currently on 10 goals and seven assists in the new season while Mbappe, who has been quiet in terms of assists, has scored nine goals so far.
In their partnership, Neymar does most of the creative work with 3 of his 7 assists coming to Mbappe.
The legendary Lionel Messi clearly deserves a special mention when it comes to the beautiful football of the PSG attacking side.
He may not reach the heights he once attained at Barcelona, but the Argentinian has always been crucial to Neymar and Mbappe outstanding performances, recording 7 assists this season.
1. Kevin De Bruyne & Erling Haaland – Man City
Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has been English football’s top assist for some time,
with his sublime passes finding the likes of Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and of course new boy Erling Haaland.
Both Aguero and Sterling have left Man City, but new boy Erling Haaland has filled the void. With the young Norwegian already an unstoppable force in English football after just a few games.
The striker is already one of the deadliest players in world football, but thanks to De Bruyne, his game has somehow entered a new level.
De Bruyne has assisted three of Haaland’s 12 goals in all competitions this season, the last of which was City’s Champions League first-day win over Sevilla. With that assist, he tied David Silva’s record for the club with 122 assists.
