
Key strength: Finishing
Clinical finisher
Nestled in third place with Atlético de Madrid's title aspirations hanging by a thread, Alexander Sørloth embodies the quiet reliability Diego Simeone demands from his squad players. The 30-year-old Norwegian striker, valued at €20 million, has carved out a vital niche despite operating in Julián Alvarez's considerable shadow—his 10 goals and 1 assist across 31 appearances tell only part of the story. With a clinical strike rate of one goal every 162 minutes, Sørloth has become Simeone's go-to solution when stubborn defenses require aerial bombardment rather than intricate build-up. While Álex Baena and Ademola Lookman weave magic around him, Sørloth operates with brutal simplicity: find space, head or strike, repeat. His 75-rated finishing and old-school centre-forward instincts make him the perfect foil to Atleti's more creative talents. As Real Madrid and Barcelona pull away at the summit, Sørloth's unsung contributions—those crucial late goals when legs tire—could yet prove decisive in Atleti's pursuit of silverware. The Norwegian may never be the headline act, but in football's margins, predators like him often write the final chapter.