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We are already in the middle of the season. Football is getting more intense than ever; both at the domestic levels and in the European tournaments. Football fans can't help but make comments regarding the race for the European Golden Shoe. Barcelona talisman, Lionel Messi snapped up the award for last season and he is back in contention again after overcoming an early injury lay-off this season.
However, it won't be an easy ride for the Argentine playmaker. A number of attackers are also doing very well at the moment. With their incredible performances, these players have shown us that they are ready to beat anyone to go all the way. As such, we decided to look at 5 of these footballers who could possibly usurp Messi to claim the coveted prize, considering their current forms and goalscoring tallies. They are as follows:
#5 Cristiano Ronaldo
There's probably no better candidate to start this list with than Juventus hitman, Cristiano Ronaldo. The man needs no introduction; he lives for special moments. Scoring goals aplenty and claiming individual accolades is his hobby. The Portuguese watched as his eternal rival claimed almost all the top honours for last season. Messi won both the European and the Champions League Golden Shoes. He also snapped up the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA Player Of The Year award amidst a host of other honours.
Everyone knows the type of competition between both these players. As such, we expect to get a response from Ronaldo this season. The attacker is gradually taking off. He's bagged 10 goals from 14 Serie A appearances so far. More will definitely follow as the campaign progresses.
Also check out: La Liga La Liga fixtures La liga table 2019-20
#4 Jamie Vardy
English Premier League (EPL) attackers didn't go very far in the battle for the European Golden Shoe last season. No EPL finisher was able to near the 30-goal mark during the term. However, that is set to change this season with the re-emergence of English superstar, Jamie Vardy.
The striker is in an unbelievable form at present. His exploits in front of goal in the Premier League this season has got everyone admiring his goalscoring. Leicester City are in the battle for a Champions League spot this season and they have their attacker to thank for it.
Vardy has bagged 17 goals from 19 games in the EPL so far. He currently tops the goalscoring chart in the England and firmly in the race for the European Golden Shoe at the moment. It remains to be seen how high his tally would be at the end the campaign.
#3 Ciro Immobile
The last time an attacker from the Serie A put up a strong challenge for the European Golden Shoe was in 2016 when Gonzalo Higuain gave the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Cristiano Ronaldo a run for their money with his 36 Serie A goals for Napoli.
Although Higuain isn't in such form at present, the Serie A has given us another incredible finisher who could replicate his performance. Lazio's Ciro Immobile is firing on all cylinders at the moment and it appears that he has his eyes set on achieving something.
Immobile means business with his exploits in front of goal this season. Despite the number of top attackers who have joined the Italian top-flight within the past few years, he's made a fantastic statement by topping the goalscoring chart. With his 17 goals from 16 Serie A matches so far this season, he is one of the few players who could outpace Lionel Messi in the race for the European Golden Shoe.
#2 Timo Werner
Many football fans are singing praises of Bayern Munich striker, Robert Lewandowski for his goalscoring exploits in the Bundesliga this season. However, it'd be a very big mistake to ignore the unbelievable prolificacy of RB Leipzig superstar, Timo Werner.
The German International is currently setting new standards with his brilliant returns in front of goal in the German top division. He has recorded an amazing 18 goals to his name from 17 Bundesliga appearances so far to put his club at the top of the table.
With his rich vein of form, he is expected to keep finding the target as the season progresses. Timo Werner is one of the few attackers who have a decent chance to end the campaign with a great goal tally. Who knows? He could even end up beating Lionel Messi to the European Golden Shoe come the end of the campaign.
#1 Robert Lewandowski
As said earlier, Bayern Munich's sharpshooter, Robert Lewandowski has dominated the highlights with his unbelievable finishing skills this season. As a matter of fact, if anyone could beat Lionel Messi to the European Golden Shoe this term, this man is a prime candidate. Lewandowski began the campaign in explosive form, bagging a brace in his first game against Hertha Berlin. He followed it up with a hat-trick in the 3-0 demolition of Schalke 04 before adding another effort as Bayern crushed Mainz 05 in their third fixture.
He's gone forward to add many more goals to his name. The Polish striker currently leads the race for the European Golden Shoe with 19 efforts in 17 Bundesliga appearances. He remains a huge threat to Lionel Messi in the race for the accolade and surely has a decent chance to get the job done this term.
