Watching Paul Onuachu this season in the Turkish league has made me clearly understand one thing that this man does not get the hype, praise, or recognition he really deserves.
Source
In a football world where a lot of players are celebrated for just a few good performances, Onuachu has silently been delivering consistent excellence week in and week out without getting the spotlight his performances warrant. Statistics alone should force people to pay attention.
In 30 league matches for Trabzonspor this season, he scored an incredible 22 goals and added 2 assists. Those are elite numbers by any standard even the so called top strikers couldn't match the numbers this season and that really say a lot about him this season.
But beyond the goals, it is the way he plays that impressed me even more. Watching him last night reminded me of how complete and dangerous he is as a striker. His movement, positioning, aerial dominance which is his great threat, composure in front of goal, and ability to carry his team in crucial moments were all on display again.
Big players always show up when it really matters most, and Paul Onuachu did exactly that in the Turkish Cup final. He was the major reason Trabzonspor lifted the trophy after contributing two decisive goals in their 2-1 victory. Performances like that are what define champions. It was no surprise seeing him awarded the Player of the Match afterward because if the way he completely influenced the outcome of the game.
To crown it all, he finished the season as the Turkish Super Lig joint top scorer, which is another achievement that should have football fans and media talking more about him. Yet somehow, he still feels underrated in global football conversations.
Sometimes I feel players from certain countries or leagues do not get the same level of attention others receive, no matter how well they perform. If another striker in a more popular league had these exact numbers and performances, social media would not stop talking about him or called such player a world-class player.
Paul Onuachu has proven himself again this season. Consistency, impact, leadership, goals, and trophies and what more does a striker need to do to earn proper recognition?
For me, he deserves far more respect and appreciation than he currently gets.