5 best long-range midfield shooters in football
Midfielders are generally tasked with two things - controlling the tempo of the game and creating goalscoring opportunities. But some midfield stars go the extra mile and get on the scoresheet themselves.
Today’s list focuses on a special category of goalscoring midfielders who not only love to score, but also manage to do it in style.
Here are five world-class midfielders who love to score long-range piledrivers out of the blue:
Special mention: Ivan Rakitic and Nabil Fekir.
#5 Paul Pogba - France/Manchester United
Manchester United star Paul Pogba has the unique quality to mix finesse with explosiveness. The Frenchman loves to get on the ball and find his teammates with cute passes and can also score world-class goals with ease.
After enjoying a blistering spell at Juventus, Pogba returned to Old Trafford for an astronomical €105 million fee in 2016. Whether he’s been able to justify the sky-high price tag is a discussion for another day, but the quality he possesses is undeniable.
Paul Pogba's goal against Switzerland has been nominated for UEFA Goal of the Season ☄️ https://t.co/TTbKJeexTo
The 2018 World Cup winner does not score regularly for his club or country, but when he does, he surely makes it memorable. At the Euros last year, Pogba scored a screamer for France in their Round of 16 clash against Switzerland.
From a long way out, he dispatched an impeccable curler, which nestled into the top-right corner of Switzerland’s goal.
The Swiss mounted a comeback and eventually beat France on penalties, but Pogba’s special strike was chosen as the goal of the round.
#4 Bruno Fernandes - Portugal/Manchester United
Arguably the best attacking midfielder in the world, Bruno Fernandes has been massive for Manchester United since his winter switch from Sporting Lisbon in 2020.
The Portuguese star scored a whopping 18 goals and provided 11 assists in his first full season in England, emerging as the Red Devils’ leading goalscorer.
Yes, he has struggled to put such outrageous numbers on the board this term, but that doesn’t mean he’s been any less influential for United.
He has registered nine goals and 14 assists for the Red Devils across competitions in the 2021-22 campaign so far.
@ManUtdHappy 27th Birthday to Bruno Fernandes! 🎊
He loves a moan but you can't deny just how good he's been since he joined United. 💎
This goal against Everton was a beauty. ✨
📹 @ManUtd https://t.co/G2VUcYDgZo
As the numbers suggest, Fernandes is not only an expert playmaker but also loves to put his foot through when he gets the chance. Out of his 49 strikes, if we had to pick one that showcases his long-range prowess, we’d go with his effort against Everton in September 2021.
Picking the ball outside the area, Fernandes took a couple of touches to set himself up and dispatched a looping strike. The ball sailed over Everton keeper Robin Olsen's head and rippled the netting.