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The UEFA Champions League has begun with great intensity this season and the tournament has lived up to its reputation as Europe's elite football competition, producing a lot of entertainment, plenty of surprises as well as a number of high-profile clashes.
While European powerhouses are busy in a hot battle as they chase glory in the coveted tournament, there is also an intense competition for the Champions League Golden Shoe among elite attackers from various divisions across the continent, including the La Liga.
The Spanish top flight produced some of the finest finishers the competition witnessed during the past few years, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Junior, David Villa, Gonzalo Higuain, and Alexis Sanchez all making names for themselves in Europe while representing Spanish clubs during the past decade.
Although these superstars have left the LaLiga in search of green pasture elsewhere, the division still possesses other amazing attackers who are capable of competing for the Champions League Golden Shoe during the term. Below, we take a look at 4 of them.
#4 Gareth Bale
It has not been a very impressive campaign for European champions Real Madrid so far this season following the departure of their talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for Juventus during the summer. However, Los Blancos have been fortunate that some of their superstars have turned up to bail them out in recent weeks including Welsh International, Gareth Bale.
The former Tottenham Hotspur superstar is raising his game to new heights this season, gradually taking on the responsibility as the main man at the Santiago Bernabeu and firing the Spanish giants in front of goal especially in the UEFA Champions League.
Bale is currently one of the most prolific attackers in the European tournament at the moment, bagging an excellent two goals to his name in three appearances as Los Blancos continue to fight for a spot in the knockout phase of the competition.
With such an explosive start, the Welshman has put himself among the few attackers who could put up a fight for the coveted Champions League Golden Shoe during the term.
#3 Antoine Griezmann
The La Liga is blessed with a lot of incredible attackers who have proved over the years that they are capable of competing at the highest level - with one of these amazing superstars being Atletico Madrid maestro, Antoine Griezmann, a very dangerous attacker with incredible finishing skills and an amazing thirst for goals.
The Frenchman has been one of the top performers on the continent for the past few years, making a name for himself with his incredible ability to tear opposition defenses apart using his blistering pace and amazing dribbling skills as well as finding the back of the net consistently with his fantastic goalscoring knack.
There is no better competition for an attacker to prove himself in Europe than the UEFA Champions League and Antoine Griezmann has entered the into the European tournament in a brilliant form, recording 3 goals to his name in 4 appearances and he is also one of the few attackers from the Spanish top flight who could compete for the Champions League Golden Shoe during the campaign.
#2 Karim Benzema
Real Madrid superstar Karim Benzema is also one of the few LaLiga attackers who could put up a fight for the prestigious Champions League Golden Shoe this season - having earned himself a brilliant start to the European tournament and establishing himself among the elite goalscorers in the competition at the moment.
Benzema has been a revived man in front of goal for Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League so far during the term, silencing his doubters with a couple of decent displays in the competition as well as stepping up to fire the Spanish giants in front of goal following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the Bernabeu this summer.
The Frenchman already has 3 decent goals to his name in 4 Champions League appearances so far this season and he will be looking forward to adding more to his tally as the season progresses in order to fight for the Golden Shoe.
#1 Lionel Messi
The Champions League Golden Shoe could witness an intense competition this season especially from the LaLiga attackers who have been really impressive since the tournament began this term. Barcelona maestro, Lionel Messi is another superstar from the Spanish top flight who could also compete for the prestigious prize during the term.
The Argentine has been one of the most dominant superstars in the European Tournament for over a decade, finishing on top of the goalscorers' chart on five different occasions and he has entered into the tournament in an explosive form this season as he aims to continue adding more records to his name.
Messi currently sits on top of the top scorers chart (alongside Roma striker Edin Dzeko) - having found the back of the net a whopping 5 times in just 2 appearances for Barcelona in the competition so far this season and considering his incredible form at the moment, the attacker will surely put up a great fight for the Champions League Golden Shoe during the campaign.
