Posted by In 2014, legendary French manager Arséne Wenger highlighted the dearth of elite European strikers, saying that “80 percent” of the first-class strikers in Europe’s top leagues come from South America. In the intervening years, South America has continued to produce world class attacking talent. With that in mind, here is a look at four South American attackers who are enjoying breakthrough years in 2019/20.
Ezequiel “Chimy” Ávila
A late bloomer (he turns 26 on February 6), Avila’s rise is a story of perseverance in the face of extreme hardship. “Chimy” was one of 9 children raised by a single mother in the poor Rosario neighborhood of Empalme Graneros in Argentina. Although he managed to debut in the Argentine Second Division at 16, Ávila’s career was stalled after the birth of his first child, who was hospitalized with respiratory issues while still an infant. To pay the medical bills, Ávila left football for two years to work in construction, but reignited his professional career at San Lorenzo in 2015. Now, a superb half-season at Osasuna in Spain has generated links to La Liga giants Atlético Madrid and Sevilla.
After Atlético’s 2-0 win over Osasuna on December 14, Diego Simeone said that Ávila is a player that he “likes”, and it is not hard to see why. “Chimy” is an extremely hard-working player, evidenced by the fact that he’s picked up 6 yellow cards so far this season despite playing at center-forward. He also has a knack for the spectacular. Ávila seemed to be holding a personal goal of the season competition while on loan at Huesca last year, and many of his 9 league goals in 2019/20 have been breathtaking.
Ávila’s form is the main reason why recently promoted Osasuna sit in a comfortable 12th place, 9 points clear of relegation at the midway point of the season. After investing 2.7 million euros in the Argentinean this summer, the Pamplona based club seem certain to make an enormous profit either this January or in the summer. Ávila’s value has more than tripled this season from 5 million euros to 15 million euros according to Transfermarkt. With an accessible release clause of only 25 million euros, “Chimy” is an inexpensive option for any European giant looking to improve their attacking options.
Gabriel Martinelli
One of the only bright spots in Arsenal’s season before the recent 2-0 win over Manchester United, Martinelli has confounded expectations so far in North London. Signed for 6.7 million euros from Brazilian minnows Ituano, the 18-year old Martinelli was bought with an eye to the future. Yet, Martinelli has 7 goals in 10 starts for the Gunners, underlining his huge potential and earning comparisons with Luis Suárez.
Martinelli’s all-action style and willingness to harry opposing defenders when out of possession are the main reasons for the comparisons with Suárez. Yet, Martinelli offers much more than just work rate. The Brazilian is deadly in the air despite his slight stature, with all but one of his 8 strikes for the Gunners emanating from wide deliveries. He has proven adept at getting across the front post, with his opener in the Europa League group game against Standard Liege a memorable example. The young forward has a knack for finding space in the box when there doesn’t seem to be any there.
Before joining Arsenal, Martinelli spent two seasons playing in the fourth tier of Brazilian football. This experience on hard, bobbly pitches against uncompromising defenders has accelerated his adaptation to the rough and tumble nature of British football. Martinelli’s versatility has also helped him to settle quickly in England. He was mostly deployed from the left at Ituano, but is also capable of playing from the right wing.
The experience Martinelli has gained out wide, coupled with his killer instinct inside the box, is reminiscent of famous Wenger-era forwards such as Thierry Henry and Robin Van Persie. Like Martinelli, these famous center-forwards started out as wingers before moving inside, but still maintained an ability to drift wide and create space for their fellow attackers. While comparisons with such famous names may be premature, Martinelli has demonstrated a goalscoring knack at the top level that neither Henry nor Van Persie showed at the same age.
Lautaro Martínez
Touted as a future star following his 23 million euro move from Racing to Inter Milan in the Spring of 2018, Martínez is beginning to realize his seemingly limitless potential in his second season in Italy. While 9 goals in 35 matches across all competitions was a respectable return for “El Toro” in his debut season in Europe last campaign, he has already surpassed those figures this year, with 14 goals in 23 matches. Martínez’s improvement has been particularly noticeable in the Champions League, where 5 goals in 6 matches, including goals in both matches against Barcelona, helped him into the Breakthrough XI. Last year, Martínez failed to find the net in his 3 Champions League appearances.
Martínez’s red-hot form with Inter is a continuation of his strong performances for Argentina. After making his debut in March 2018 at just 19, Martínez really announced himself at last summer’s Copa América. Following a tactical shift from manager Lionel Scaloni in La Albiceleste’s second group stage match against Paraguay, Martínez was deployed in a front three alongside Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero. The young forward flourished, scoring the opener in the final group stage game against Qatar and the quarterfinal against Venezuela before turning in an accomplished performance in a 2-0 semifinal defeat to eventual champions Brazil.
The end of the Copa América saw the first rumors linking Martínez to Barcelona as a replacement for Luis Suárez. Those rumors have only intensified since Martínez’s remarkable performances with Inter this season. Following Inter’s 1-2 loss to Barcelona in the final match of the Champions League group stage, Suárez embraced Martínez at full time, with the two players swapping shirts. It may not be long before this exchange is repeated at Camp Nou, with Martínez inheriting Barcelona’s number 9 shirt from the Uruguayan marksman.
Federico Viñas
The emergence of Viñas has been one of the most unexpected developments in Mexican football in recent years. A complete unknown when plucked from modest Uruguayan side Juventud de Las Piedras at the end of August 2019, little was expected of the “Tank” in his first season with Mexico City giants América. Yet, Viñas scored against fierce local rivals Pumas within seconds of coming on for his debut, and popped-up with important goals in the back half of the Apertura 2019.
Despite his quality performances during the regular season, Viñas was expected to play a bit-part roll during the Liguilla. However, an injury to star striker Nico Castillo gave Vinas an opportunity which the young Uruguayan did not pass up. Vinas struck three times in five Liguilla matches, including the all-important second goal against Morelia that sent América through to the final. Throughout the Liguilla, Viñas demonstrated the combination of precise hold-up play and killer instinct in the box that makes him such a promising prospect.
Viñas’ story is inspirational. Less than three years ago, the lanky center-forward was working as a delivery boy in his native Uruguay after leaving Liverpool of Montevideo. Now, he seems set to become a crucial player for one of Mexico’s biggest sides, while also receiving international recognition. Viñas was one of 25 players selected this past December for Uruguay’s pre-Olympic squad, which will play the qualifying tournament for Tokyo 2020 in Colombia in January and February. With Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani both 32, Viñas will surely have a chance to stake his claim as the Uruguayan striker of the future if he keeps his form up.
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