Too often, young players are dismissed prematurely because of superficial numbers. We’ve seen this pattern repeat itself time and time again. Years back, people were quick to call Alexander Isak a flop because he only scored six goals in a particular season. What they missed was the bigger picture — his movement, technical quality, and potential were clear. Fast forward to today, Isak is one of the most complete forwards in the Premier League.
Now that same short-sighted analysis is being applied to Benjamin Šeško. The narrative goes: “he’s not good enough” or “he hasn’t proven anything yet.” But here’s the truth — Šeško has already scored over 120 career goals across club and international football by the age of 21. Just last season (2024/25), he hit 18 goals for RB Leipzig in all competitions, in a side that wasn’t always firing in attack. Despite the circumstances, he showed remarkable progress in his positioning, decision-making, and composure in front of goal.
Performance vs Results
This brings us to a crucial distinction: performance-based analysis vs result-based analysis.
- Result-based analysis only cares about the outcome — goals, assists, wins. It rarely asks how those outcomes were achieved or what limited them.
- Performance-based analysis digs deeper. It looks at a player’s off-the-ball runs, link-up play, pressing, chance creation, and decision-making.
When you’re evaluating a young striker like Šeško, performance-based analysis matters more. Because the question isn’t “what is he today?” The question is: “what could he become at 25 or 26 with the right development path?” That requires nuance and foresight, not just stat-checking.
The Mental Side of the Game
Talent is nothing without the mentality to match it. Not every young player can carry the weight of expectation, adapt to tactical shifts, or stay sharp when the goals aren’t flowing.
Šeško has already shown mental resilience. He’s competed in top leagues, faced pressure at international level, and continued improving despite not always being in the most favorable setups. That kind of character is what separates long-term professionals from short-term hype.
The Gyökeres Comparison Trap
Some critics are already comparing Šeško unfavorably to Viktor Gyökeres. But let’s rewind. At 21, Gyökeres was still finding his feet in the lower tiers of English football. Nobody was calling him elite. Today, he’s thriving because he found the right system and steady development path.
So why deny Šeško that same grace? In fact, you could argue he’s ahead of where Gyökeres was at the same age.
A Cameo Worth Noting
Sunday against Arsenal, Šeško made a short cameo, but even in those few minutes you could see flashes — the movement, the physicality, the hunger to make an impact. It was only a glimpse, but it’s a reminder: growth takes time, and development isn’t linear.
Not every appearance will be a headline. Sometimes, it’s just about planting seeds.
Final Word
Šeško has the physical tools, technical skill, and mental strength to become elite. What matters now is time, patience, and the right environment. He doesn’t need to be the finished article today. What matters is what he can become.
So yes, support Isak. Celebrate Gyökeres. But stop using one player’s rise as an excuse to bury another’s potential. That mindset does nothing but fuel toxic discourse.
Šeško may just be a flower waiting to bloom. Yesterday’s cameo was just a smile at what could be ahead. Give him time, and he might just surprise everyone.
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