attaquant

Attaquant is a French noun derived from the verb attaquer, meaning to attack. In sports, it refers to a player whose primary role is to attack and to score. In association football, the attaquant is usually a forward or striker who operates in advanced attacking zones to convert chances and to create scoring opportunities. Common variants include the avant-centre (central striker) and the attaquant de pointe (central forward).

Responsibilities of an attaquant include finishing of chances, positioning in the penalty area, making runs behind the defense, linking play with midfield, and pressing the opposition to win the ball high up the pitch. The exact duties depend on the formation and tactic, with some attackers serving as a sole focal point and others operating as part of a two- or three-man forward line. In modern systems, terms such as faux neuf describe forwards who drop deeper to draw defenders and create space for teammates.

Formation and strategy determine how many attaquants a team fields. For example, a traditional 4-4-2 commonly deploys two forwards, while a 4-3-3 may use a single central striker or an additional interior forward depending on the style of play.

Although most often used in football, the term attaquant can also be found in other sports and contexts to denote a player whose role is primarily to attack or to participate in offense.