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After an interesting group stage contest, the fight for the UEFA Champions League trophy is heating up at the moment, so also is the race for the prestigious Golden Shoe award as top attackers continue to raise their efforts in their bid to finish on top of the goalscoring chart come the end of the term.
Barcelona maestro Lionel Messi and his Juventus counterpart Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the accolade for the past few years, sharing the last 10 editions between them and their presence in the tournament once again this term means that they are also in contention to claim the award once again.
However, just as the duo lost their grip on both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA Awards recently, the same could be repeated in the race for the Champions League Golden Shoe this term, with a number of incredible attackers rising up in the European tournament and challenging them seriously with their incredible exploits in front of goal.
Therefore, we highlight 5 amazing attackers who could beat the duo to the prestigious accolade during the term:
#5. Moussa Marega
The UEFA Champions League kicked off this season with high expectations for many attackers. While some of these superstars failed to reach the levels expected of them, there are a number of them who exceeded their expectations and a perfect example of such is Porto striker, Moussa Marega.
The Malian International has taken everyone by surprise with his incredible exploits in the European tournament this season, putting up a couple of scintillating performances and proving that he is capable of performing at the highest level.
Marega has recorded an amazing 5 goals to his name in 6 UEFA Champions League appearances so far this season and by virtue of his incredible efforts in front of goal in the competition up till this moment, he deserves to be ranked among the few attackers who could get a shot at the Golden Shoe during the campaign.
#4. Paulo Dybala
Another attacker who has the chance of beating both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the Champions League Golden Shoe this season is Juventus superstar Paulo Dybala - a man who shares the dressing room with both superstars at club and national levels respectively.
Paulo Dybala has been one of the top performers in the UEFA Champions League so far during the term, having established himself among the elite goalscorers in the European tournament at the moment, with his amazing 5 efforts in 5 appearances.
He is expected to record more goals to his name as the competition progresses and he will be keen to go head-to-head with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the prestigious Champions League Golden Shoe during the campaign.
#3. Neymar Junior
Following a disappointing FIFA World Cup outing with his nation in Russia recently, Brazilian winger Neymar Junior has returned to club football in an electrifying form - especially in the UEFA Champions League where has been at his incredible best so far.
The Paris Saint Germain winger has been at an unstoppable level in the European tournament, tearing opposition defenses apart with his sheer pace and amazing trickery with the ball while also finding the back of the net consistently as he fired the Ligue 1 champions into the knockout phase of the competition.
With his 5 goals in 6 Champions League appearances so far this season, the former Barcelona superstar ranks among the top goalscorers in Europe's elite tournament at the moment and given his incredible exploits in front of goal so far, he also stands a chance to beat both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Champions League Golden Shoe come the end of the campaign.
#2. Edin Dzeko
It has been another prolific campaign for Roma striker Edin Dzeko in the UEFA Champions League so far this season, with the Serie A attacker putting in series of extraordinary performances as he continues to make name for himself with his incredible goalscoring exploits in the European tournament.
The Bosnian International put in a great challenge for the Champions League Golden Shoe during the previous campaign, bagging an amazing 8 goals and 5 assists on his way to leading the Serie A giants to the semifinals of the competition.
This season, it seems he has something bigger to achieve in his mind, having entered into the European tournament in an explosive form, finding the back of the net consistently and helping the Romans to qualify for the next stage of the competition.
Dzeko has bagged an amazing 5 goals in just 4 Champions League appearances so far this season and with such a brilliant start, he has put himself among the few superstars who could defeat both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Champions League Golden Shoe.
#1. Robert Lewandowski
There is no attacker in Europe who has a better chance of beating iconic duo, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Champions League Golden Shoe this season than Bayern Munich sharpshooter, Robert Lewandowski - a highly talented striker with amazing efficiency and unparalleled finishing skills.
The Polish International has been the most prolific goalscorer in the European tournament so far, recording a brilliant 8 goals to his name in just 6 appearances - that is 2 goals ahead of Messi and a whopping 7 ahead of Ronaldo - and he is well on track to add even more to his tally, having guided the Bundesliga giants into the knockout phase of the competition.
In his current form, Lewandowski is proving to be quite unmatchable in the Champions League at the moment. If he manages to maintain such a high level of performance throughout the competition, nothing would stop him from going home with the Golden Shoe at the end of the term.
