Higuain, Ibrahimovic calling the shots
Higuain, Ibrahimovic calling the shots
Posted: 2010-03-15 13:31
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are battling it out at the head of the Castrol Rankings but the duo’s teammates – Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gonzalo Higuain – could be the players who determine the final outcome of the La Liga title race.
Castrol has applied the same expertise they apply to the development of their oils to create the Castrol Rankings - using objective analysis and highly advanced technology to measure every pass, every tackle and every single move of over 2000 players and games from Europe's top 5 leagues over the last 12 months.
Barcelona striker Messi has held onto top spot after overhauling his Real Madrid rival Ronaldo last month. However, it is the performances of strikers Ibrahimovic and Higuain that may prove the difference in the push for honours.
Ibrahimovic has enjoyed an outstanding debut season with Barcelona following his move from Inter Milan, and has jumped 21 places to 11th in the latest Castrol Rankings. The Swede has struck 12 league goals this season, with Barcelona winning 85% of games with the front-man in the side, and just 50% when he has been absent.
Higuain, meanwhile, has broken into the Castrol Rankings top 20, moving up 17 places to 14th after scoring 16 goals in 14 league starts this season. The Argentine has the best shots-to-goal ratio in Europe’s top five leagues, converting 41% of his attempts on goal in La Liga this season, and scoring on average every 74.6 minutes.
Looking at the comparative strength of the two Spanish giants, Barcelona boasts nine players in the Castrol Rankings top 50 compared to Real Madrid’s two, although Kaka’s rise from 118 to 66 suggests that could soon increase to three.
Castrol Ambassador and 1998 FIFA World Cup™ winner Marcel Desailly says: “Ibrahimovic has grown since he moved to Spain and has added a new dimension to their attacking play. When he is on form he gives off the impression he expects to score - and more often than not he does.
“Higuain has provided Real Madrid with the kind of goal threat they had when Ruud van Nistelrooy or Brazilian Ronaldo were at their best. His record speaks for itself and is getting better all the time.
“Messi and Ronaldo will have a big say in the title race, but neither can win it on their own. The run in will be decided by which team can collect the most points when they are not necessarily at their best and that’s when goalscorers like ibrahimovic and Higuain become invaluable.”
Liverpool’s Fernando Torres (3rd), Chelsea’s Didier Drogba (6th) and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney (8th) lead the way for the Premier League, but La Liga continues to dominate the head of the Castrol Rankings, providing 11 of the top 20 players.
To see the full Castrol Rankings, please go to www.castrolfootball.com.
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