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Just two game weeks into the 2017/18 Champions League group stages and the race for the Golden Boot is already gaining steam. Last season’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to emulate his own record as he vies to become the first man ever to win six consecutive Champions League Golden Boot awards.
Lionel Messi will be another favourite to challenge Ronaldo to win the top honour, but the Portuguese forward has got the better of Messi in Europe's elite tournament over the last couple of years.
Messi shared the award back in 2014/15 with the Portuguese talisman and Neymar. Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez, and Neymar are a few others who will be eager to take top spot as well and remain favourites being part of strong squads that can go far in the tournament.
We take a look at five players who might surprise a few and take on the challenge of competing with the aforementioned stars.
1) Alvaro Morata
Chelsea's €70 million acquisition of Spanish striker Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid, to replace out-of-favour compatriot Diego Costa has turned out to be fruitful judging by the start of the campaign. Morata has quickly found his range racking up a good tally of seven goals this season.
He was heavily criticised on his arrival at Stamford Bridge with reports of the club buying a sub-par striker in comparison to Costa. However, Morata’s start to life with Chelsea in England has been nothing short of marvellous and fans will expect more of the same from their Spanish talisman in Europe.
Morata has kicked off his season in Europe scoring a key goal in Chelsea's 1-2 away victory over Athletico Madrid.
The former Juventus talisman has thrived since his move to England working under former manager Antonio Conte, who the Spaniard has a good relationship with. Morata has scored in his last five outings, with last night's goal in his Champions League debut for Chelsea, kicking off his European dream to win the golden boot.
Morata, a former Champions League finalist with Juventus and winner with Real Madrid last season, has the required experience to guide Chelsea all the way and possibly finish the tournament with the most number of goals.
2. Romelu Lukaku
Manchester United and Belgian talisman Romelu Lukaku is another possible contender with an outside chance of finishing his first Champions League season with the most number of goals, provided United make it far in the competition.
Having begun life at Old Trafford very well, Lukaku brings to united pace, power, strength, and goals, notching a goal a game so far in his early United career. A goal on his Champions League debut a fortnight ago was an important moment for the 24-year-old Belgian who is under a lot of pressure to perform.
United thrashed hapless Moscow away in Russia with Lukaku putting in a fantastic shift leading the line, also scoring two key goals taking his tally to three in the competition, two behind current leader Harry Kane.
With United competing in Europe’s elite competition again under Mourinho, boasting a squad rich with talent, United will be a team everyone hopes to avoid, given the form they are in at the moment. Lukaku has led the line well and with Ibrahimovic joining the group in January, the Belgian frontman will still be under enormous pressure to deliver.
The Belgian star is in top form and provided he continues to notch in a goal per game, United have found the perfect striker to cause havoc for defenders across Europe.
3. Harry Kane
England and Spurs’ number nine Harry Kane, after a poor start to the season in August, has found his feet and the goal in September, scoring two hat-tricks in consecutive games laying down a marker for the rest of Europe.
Kane has re-found his goal-scoring touch and with Tottenham’s two wins in the competition so far in the group of death, bodes well for his individual award winning chances in this tournament.
Kane currently sits on top of the standings with five goals to his name, as Spurs' prepare to face Real Madrid in their next two Champions League outings.
Kane a winner of the last two Premier League golden boots, will be competing against the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar and all the rest of the best players in the world. If Tottenham can advance into the later stages of the competition Kane could be in with a very real shot of winning the prestigious champions league golden boot.
A prolific player in great goalscoring form with tremendous footballing ability, the 24-year-old Spurs’ striker could be a menace to deal with in Europe for years to come.
4. Edinson Cavani
Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani has always been in and around the top goal scorers in Europe’s most prestigious footballing competition over the last few seasons that have been dominated by Messi and Ronaldo.
With the arrival of Neymar and Mbappe to PSG, Cavani’s influence in the team will be enhanced as he might get a few more clear-cut opportunities in front of goal with better players provided him better chances.
Cavani finished just four goals off Ronaldo’s tally of 12 last season, despite PSG getting knocked out of the tournament by Barcelona in the quarter-final, after the most remarkable turnaround in football history.
Cavani has begun this campaign well, as he has scored three goals in two games for PSG, sitting just two goals behind the current leader Harry Kane in the standings. With PSG looking dangerous while attacking and solid at the back, Cavani has an outside chance to finish with most goals this season.
5. Gonzalo Higuain
Argentinian and Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain opened his Champions League account this season with a goal in Juventus' victory over Olympiacos but remains a possible outsider to win the prestigious golden boot. Having never won the Champs League, Higuain tasted defeat in the final last year to his former employers, Real Madrid.
A prolific goalscorer with experience at the highest level, the 29-year-old will be spear-heading the Italian giants frontline this year along with fellow compatriot Paolo Dybala. With both eager to avenge last season’s heavy final defeat, Juventus will be a tough side to face and beat this season.
Provided Juventus go far in the competition and Higuain consistently finds his goalscoring touch throughout the competition, the Argentine is a definite dark horse for the golden boot award.
