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Hello and welcome back to Sportskeeda's latest assessment of the top scorers of the UEFA Champions League. While February is iconic for various reasons, the month holds a special place in the hearts of every football fan. For it is in this month that the UEFA Champions League returns to action, showcasing some of the best talents in the world right now.
As such, February is eagerly awaited and this time too the month did not disappoint. With the first leg of the round of sixteen ties complete, there have been a few very interesting results so far and as always, the race to finish as the top scorer of this season has warmed up so far.
There has been significant changes in the race since our last assessment in November and without wasting any more time, let us look at the top 5 Contenders for the Champions League Golden Boot for the month of February.
Also See : La Liga Transfer News, EPL Transfer News, Gold Cup Standings.
Honorary Mentions: Moussa Marega (Porto), and Dusan Tadic (Ajax) - Both of them have scored 5 goals so far, but miss out by virtue of an inferior goals per minute ratio. Andrej Kramaric of Hoffenheim is also on 5 goals and has scored a goal per 96 minutes played, but since the Bundesliga side were knocked out in the group stages, he is no longer a contender now.
#5 Neymar (Brazil, PSG)
Goals Scored - 5
The Brazilian is currently sidelined with an injury which has kept him out of action since the end of January. Neymar is not expected to return until the end of March and by then, he would have missed both legs of the round of 16 tie against Manchester United. PSG did not let his absence affect their performance in the away leg, but there's no doubt that he is a vital player for the French Champions.
Neymar ended the group stage with a goal and an assist in the 4-1 demolition of Red Star. As such, he has now scored 5 goals from 6 games in the Champions League this season and if PSG progress further in the tournament, will be an invaluable asset when he returns to action.
He has registered 18 shots so far, with 16 of those on target and has scored a goal every 106 minutes played. At the end of February, the Brazilian is 5th in the race to the Champions League Golden Boot.
#4 Paolo Dybala (Argentina, Juventus)
Goals Scored - 5
Dybala was 5th in our assessment for the month of November but has climbed one place to finish at 4th among the top contenders for the Champions League Golden Boot, at the end of February.
The Argentinean ended the group stages on a good note personally, scoring Juventus' only goal in a 1-2 defeat away to Young Boys. With Cristiano Ronaldo failing to sparkle in the group stages, the onus was on the Juventus No. 10 to show his mettle and Dybala went into the knockouts as his club's top scorer in the tournament.
He was expected to continue that good form when Juventus visited Atletico Madrid for the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie, however, Dybala failed to stamp his authority on the night. He was marked out of the game and had very little impact as Juventus lost 0-2.
Dybala has registered 16 shots so far in the tournament, with 9 shots on target. He is averaging a goal every 87 minutes played and has scored 5 goals from 6 games so far.
#3 Edin Dzeko (Bosnia-Herzegovina, AS Roma)
Goals Scored - 5
The Bosnian started the Champions League season with a bang, scoring 5 goals in his first 3 games. However, Dzeko missed the last two group stage games after picking up a muscle injury. This week, he was back in the starting eleven against Porto, but failed to find the back of the net, as Roma won 2-1 at home.
He was actively involved in the game though, as he set up Zaniolo for the first goal. He then hit the upright with a ferocious volley and the rebound was turned in by Zaniolo again.
Dzeko is averaging a goal every 90 minutes played and has now scored 5 goals from 5 games so far in the Champions League this season. He has registered 18 shots, 13 of which have been on target. The Serbian will have to regain his goal scoring form when his team visit Porto in March, as the Portuguese side have a crucial away goal from the first leg.
At the end of February, Eden Dzeko is 3rd among the top contenders for the Champions League Golden Boot.
#2 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona)
Goals Scored - 6
The Argentinean continues to be firmly in the race, however, he is no longer at the top of the pile. Lionel Messi failed to find the back of the net in the two games since our last assessment in November, and as such, has dropped one place down to 2nd place.
Messi started the last game of the group stages, against Tottenham at home, from the bench. He came off the bench for the final 27 minutes but failed to inspire Barcelona to a home win. Spurs equalized late in the game and the game ended in a draw.
This week, he started against Lyon in the first leg away at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais Stadium, but even though the Barcelona Skipper created quite a few chances, his team could not find a goal and the game ended 0-0.
As such, Messi now has 6 goals from 5 games in the tournament so far. He has registered 26 shots - more than any other player in this list - and 13 of those have been on target. The Argentinean is averaging an unbelievable ratio of a goal every 65 minutes played right now, so this race could get very interesting in the coming days.
#1 Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Bayern Munich)
Goals Scored - 8
The Polish Striker added 2 more goals since our last assessment and with 8 goals from 7 games so far, is the number 1 contender for the Champions League Golden Boot at the end of February. Lewandowski already had 6 goals in the tournament when Bayern visited Ajax for the last tie of the group stages and it turned out to be a cracker of a game.
Lewandowski gave the away side the lead as early as the 13th minute, but the home team equalized in the second half and then went ahead in the 82nd minute. However, the Bayern Striker brought his team level 3 minutes from time, scoring his second of the game from the spot. After a frantic injury time, the game ended 3-3!
This week, Lewandowski could not find the back of the net in the away leg of the round of 16 tie against Liverpool. He has registered 21 shots so far, with 16 of those on target and is averaging a goal every 78 minutes played.
Join us again next month as we assess the contenders once again after the second leg of the Round of 16.
