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We may have only crossed the halfway point this season but we've already witnessed a lot. From many unbelievable performances by our favourite teams to several magical moments and a lot of odds-defying results, this campaign has given so much.
As always, the quest to battle one another and come out on top is something that motivates every player. In that regard, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the key figures to look up to. They have dominated the footballing world for over a decade and don't seem ready to give it up yet.
Meanwhile, there are other superstars on the rise at the moment who are ready to give the aforementioned icons a run for their money. These players are performing so good that we can't deny the fact that they stand a chance to outshine Messi and Ronaldo this season.
Without further ado, highlighted below are 5 superstars who are putting up extraordinary displays at the moment and could go all the way to get one over the iconic duo this term.
#5 Jamie Vardy
In the past few years, the Premier League gave us a couple of superstars who stepped up to challenge the dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Two seasons ago, it was Mohamed Salah, then Virgil van Dijk followed last term.
It promises to be even more intriguing this campaign. Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy is one of those who could mount a serious challenge this time around, as the Englishman is one of the hottest finishers across Europe's top 5 leagues at the moment.
Vardy has recorded an amazing 17 goals from 19 appearances in the Premier League this season, and he currently ranks high in the battle for the Golden Shoe.
Also check out: Champions league top scorers La liga table 2019-20 Seria A table
#4 Ciro Immobile
When it comes to rating the most prolific finishers in European football at the moment, it's impossible to overlook Lazio striker Ciro Immobile - thanks to his unbelievable exploits in front of goal since this campaign kicked-off.
The attacker is currently outshining Cristiano Ronaldo in the I Serie A this season. He's bagged 17 goals and five assists for Lazio in 16 appearances in the Italian top-flight so far, which puts him at the top of the goalscoring chart. Even Lionel Messi hasn't scored as much for Barcelona in LaLiga.
Immobile's brilliance isn't limited to the domestic level, as he is also enjoying a decent run in the Europa League. The Italian has two goals to his name in four appearances in the European tournament and he's well on course to hit even more as the season progresses.
#3 Sadio Mane
Many football fans weren't happy when Senegalese attacker Sadio Mane ranked outside the final three in the running for the Ballon d'Or award this year. Such was his relevance in Liverpool's success during the previous campaign.
The winger has returned with a big bang this season as he continues to provide answers for The Reds in front of goal. Mane already has 10 goals and 8 assists to his name in 18 Premier League appearances so far - helping Jurgen Klopp's men keep their lead at the top of the table.
The Senegalese international has also recorded 2 goals and 2 assists in the Champions League. With his brilliant performances, he's further strengthening the opinion that he deserves more from the footballing world. If he continues like this, he'd surely be a big threat to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's dominance.
#2 Virgil Van Dijk
We all know what happened just a few months ago. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk pipped both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the UEFA Best Player award. The Dutchman also gave them a run for their money in the Ballon d'Or battle. However, it hasn't ended there.
Van Dijk continues to set standards for defenders in European football. Despite being a centre-back, he remains a big rival to Messi and Ronaldo. The 28-year-old is credited for Liverpool's impressive run in Europe and at the domestic level.
If he could have a repeat of what he achieved last season, he'd surely be taken more seriously. Liverpool remains in fine form, as The Reds have conceded just 14 goals in the Premier League this season. They've also made it into the second phase of the Champions League, and Van Dijk is expected to continue playing a vital role in their progress.
#1 Robert Lewandowski
Bayern Munich sharpshooter Robert Lewandowski tops our list of players who could outshine Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi this season. Well, that could look like an understatement to many, as it appears the Polish striker is already getting the job done.
Lewandowski is currently the top goalscorer across Europe's top-five leagues, with 19 efforts from 17 Bundesliga appearances. That places him at the top of the race for the European Golden Shoe. As if that isn't enough, he also tops the Champions League goalscoring chart after bagging 10 goals in the European tournament.
Combined, he's recorded 30 goals to his name across all competitions this season. Both Messi and Ronaldo are far from those figures. As such, it's easy to see why we decided to put him at the top of this list.
