Bayer Leverkusen striker breaks legendary Ballon d'Or winner's record while emerging as one of Europe's most undervalued forwards
Patrik Schick has quietly become Czech football's most prolific scorer in European club history, surpassing Pavel Nedved with over 100 goals across Europe's top leagues. The achievement transforms a player once written off at Roma into arguably the best value striker in European football.
The Bayer Leverkusen forward's milestone arrives as his club battles for Champions League qualification, with Schick's goals potentially worth millions in both prize money and his own transfer value.
Schick's journey to this historic milestone reads like a footballing redemption story. After arriving at Roma in 2017 for €42 million, the Czech striker managed just five goals in 58 appearances across all competitions.
His move to Leverkusen initially on loan in 2019, then permanently for €26.5 million in 2020, marked the turning point. At the BayArena, Schick has discovered the consistency that eluded him in Italy.
The numbers tell the story of his transformation:
Schick's 100th goal in Europe's top leagues came with characteristic efficiency. The milestone puts clear water between him and Nedved, previously Czech football's benchmark for attacking success abroad.
Hopefully even more goals
Schick's understated reaction to breaking the record reflects his focus on collective success over individual milestones.
Comparing Schick to a Ballon d'Or winner might seem presumptuous, but the numbers demand this conversation. Nedved's brilliance came primarily through creativity and leadership at Juventus, where he won five Serie A titles.
Schick operates in an era of tactical sophistication that makes consistent goal-scoring increasingly difficult. Modern pressing systems and defensive organisation create fewer clear chances than in Nedved's playing days.
The context makes Schick's achievement more impressive:
In today's inflated transfer market, Schick represents extraordinary value. While strikers with similar output command fees exceeding €80 million, Leverkusen secured their record-breaker for a third of that price.
His current market value of approximately €40 million makes him one of Europe's most undervalued forwards, particularly given his age (28) and injury-free recent seasons.
Schick's record arrives at a crucial juncture for Leverkusen. The club sits in a tight battle for Champions League qualification, where every goal carries financial implications worth millions.
Despite Schick acknowledging some "painful dropped points" recently, his belief in securing Champions League football remains strong. His goals could prove the difference between Europa League consolation and elite European competition.
The financial stakes are substantial:
Schick's form inevitably attracts attention from Europe's elite clubs. Champions League qualification would strengthen Leverkusen's negotiating position, potentially pushing any summer valuation beyond €60 million.
For a player who cost €26.5 million, that represents remarkable return on investment while giving Leverkusen leverage to either cash in or build around their Czech talisman.
Schick's immediate focus remains on securing Champions League football for Leverkusen, with crucial fixtures ahead determining their European fate. His record-breaking form suggests more milestones await, potentially including becoming the first Czech player to score 150 goals in Europe's top leagues.
For Czech football, Schick represents the new standard for attacking excellence abroad. His achievement proves that surpassing legends like Nedved requires not just talent, but the resilience to overcome early career setbacks.
Whether Schick remains at Leverkusen or moves to a European giant, his place in Czech football history is secure. The question now becomes how much higher he can push the bar for future generations.
Patrik Schick has scored over 100 goals in Europe's top leagues, surpassing Pavel Nedved to become Czech football's most prolific European scorer. Over 70 of these goals came during his time at Bayer Leverkusen.
Schick managed only 5 goals in 58 appearances at Roma after his €42 million transfer in 2017. His move to Leverkusen in 2019 marked a transformation, where he found consistency and averaged a goal every 2.3 Bundesliga games.
While Nedved was a Ballon d'Or winner known for creativity and leadership at Juventus, Schick has surpassed him in pure goal-scoring output in European leagues. Schick's achievement is notable given the increased tactical sophistication of modern football.
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Schick represents exceptional value in today's market, costing Leverkusen €26.5 million permanently in 2020. His consistent goal-scoring output would typically command fees exceeding €80 million for strikers with similar records.
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