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Who is Viktor Gyökeres? The Rising Striker Who Destroyed Manchester City
The Swedish striker of Sporting CP has scored 23 goals this season. He netted a hat-trick against Guardiola's City and is currently the talk of the town.
Viktor Gyökeres, the Swedish striker currently terrorizing European defenses, has emerged as the top goal scorer of 2024, surpassing global stars like Haaland, Mbappé, and Harry Kane.
With an astonishing 53 goals in 51 matches, Gyökeres has become one of the most feared forwards in the game. His latest achievement? A stunning hat-trick against Manchester City, adding to his tally of five goals in the Champions League group stage, the most by any player so far.
At 25 years old, Gyökeres is enjoying the best form of his career, but his journey to the top has not been easy. Born in Stockholm in 1998, the powerful 1.87-meter striker began his career in the youth ranks of Brommapojkarna, a club in Sweden's capital. At 20, he caught the attention of Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League, who paid €1 million for his services. However, Gyökeres struggled to find regular playing time, leading to a series of loan spells at clubs like St Pauli in Germany and Swansea City in England.
His breakthrough came when he joined Coventry City in the English Championship. There, Gyökeres truly found his feet, scoring 40 goals and providing 19 assists over two seasons. His impressive performances in the Championship caught the eye of Sporting CP, who made him their most expensive signing in history, paying €20 million plus €4 million in variables.
In Lisbon, Gyökeres has continued to shine. In his first season with Sporting, he scored 43 goals and assisted 15 times, quickly becoming a star in Portugal. This season, he's showing no signs of slowing down. With 16 goals and one assist in just 10 matches in the Primeira Liga, he's leading the league's scoring charts and matching Harry Kane's five goals in the Champions League.
Gyökeres' remarkable rise to prominence, after years of perseverance and setbacks, has positioned him as one of the most exciting strikers in European football. And with his red-hot form, it seems there’s no stopping the Swedish sensation anytime soon.