Bukayo Saka can beat Mbappe and Haaland to become world’s best

Robin Bairner

• 27 Mar 2023 08:57 BST
• 3 min read

Many Arsenal fans have long argued that attacker Bukayo Saka has the potential to become the best player in the world, and while rival supporters might once have scoffed, there is an increasing body of evidence that suggests the Gooners were right.

Certainly, Saka’s efforts at the weekend with England have only helped to enhance the reputation of the 21-year-old.

The Three Lions recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over Ukraine at Wembley on Sunday, with Saka grabbing the second. It was a special strike. Cutting in off the right wing, he sent a left-footed shot curling into the top corner of the net.

EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal prioritise Caicedo summer transfer

Saka does not just past the eye test, though. The London-born star is also highly rated by data analytics experts SciSports, who have proven that he can become the best players in the world, surpassing the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland along the way.

SciSports show using their SciSkill measure, which is calculated using hundreds of in-game data points, that Saka’s game has come on leaps and bounds over the course of the last six months. Indeed, he is currently attributed a SciSkill of 121.7 – which already puts him in an elite bracket.

ANALYSIS: Bargain of the season? 'Underwhelming' Trossard getting the best from Saka and Martinelli

Bukayo Saka: best in the world potential

However, what is particularly interesting about the young Arsenal star is that he is capable of reaching heights that no one in world football is presently at, according to SciSports.

Saka has a SciSkill potential of 151.6. Presently, there is not a player above 147, showing that he could become the best player in the game.

Of course, he faces plenty of competition. Indeed, there are players with higher potential than the Arsenal man, including Mbappe and Haaland, but also Barcelona paid Gavi and Pedri, as well as England international team-mates Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham. But there is no guarantee these players will realise their potential.

Saka, meanwhile, is on his way to becoming the best player in the world and has at least given himself a shot of being the world’s greatest.