Sharpshooters: Super Eagles star better than Osimhen, Mbappe, Haaland in 2023

The Nigerian winger has had a flying start to the new year outshining some of the game’s most respected finishers over the past few weeks

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman is the fourth most prolific attacker across Europe’s top five leagues in 2023.

Since the turn of the new year, Lookman has found the back of the net four times, more than many of the sport’s most notorious goal poachers.

Continuing his fine start to the 2022/2023 season, Lookman netted a pair of braces over the past few days to race to the top of the scorers’ chart.

Lookman smashed home his first brace of the year in Atalanta’s historic 8-2 thrashing of Salernitana on January 15. The Nigeria international also added an assist in the encounter as he delivered a man-of-the-match performance as the Goddess scored eight goals in a match for the first time since 1993.

The goals took Lookman’s tally in the Italian Serie A to nine, bettered only by compatriot and Napoli ace Victor Osimhen.

Four days later, Lookman was at it again as he grabbed another double to inspire Atalanta to a convincing 5-2 triumph over Spezia in the Coppa Italia.

It was the first time since Lookman turned professional that he would score twice in consecutive matches, reinforcing the idea that the 25-year-old is experiencing the best moment of his career.

Who are Europe’s big guns?
 
Interestingly, only Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, and AS Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder (with five goals each) have scored more than Lookman across Europe’s top five leagues in 2023.

Levelled on the same number of goals as Lookman are the quartet of Atalanta teammate Rasmus Højlund, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, Lille’s Jonathan David, and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martínez.

Lookman’s numbers, however, stand out above those of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Barcelona’s Ansu Fati, AS Roma’s Paulo Dybala, Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, and Tottenham’s Harry Kane, all with three goals.

The usually terrific duo of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and PSG’s Kylian Mbappe have only managed one goal between them this year.

Top five scoring Nigerians (across all competitions) in Europe’s top five leagues in 2023.

1. Ademola Lookman 4 goals, 3 games
2. Victor Osimhen 3 goals, 4 games
3. Samuel Chukwueze Villarreal CF 2 goals, 4 games
4. Terem Moffi 2 goals, 3 games
5. Taiwo Awoniyi 1 goal, 1 game