Behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski, Edinson Cavani is the top goalscorer of the decade. He has scored a total of 300 goals in 428 matches, with Lewandowski netting 324, Ronaldo 457 and Messi 491.
Now that his Atlético Madrid move is all but completed, it is a good time to look at the reasons he could arrive at the Spanish capital. He hasn't had many opportunities lately, but the stats don't lie.
He has scored 300 goals this decade for Palermo, Napoli and PSG, scoring the majority of his goals during his spell in France. Not long ago, Icardi moved ahead of him in the pecking order, but he has a new opportunity.
His Atlético Madrid move is all but a done deal. It would be key in refinding his goalscoring form so that Atlético get a boost in the league and get back to fighting for the title.
2 seasons ago, the Uruguayan scored 40 goals and got 9 assists; last season he got 23 and 7 in 33 games; this season he has scored 3 and assisted none. His injury helped Icardi to replace him and everything seems to indicate that he will leave.
These numbers only corroborate why the board headed by Enrique Cerezo have chosen to sign him. Although he is not top, he is only behind Lewandowski, Messi and Cristiano in the total number of goals scored in the last ten years.
He is also a long way ahead of the next man on the list, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The charismatic Swede has scored 377 goals in 295 games, 51 fewer than Cavani. We will have to wait for the winter market to see if he can repeat these feats at Atlético.