5 strikers who can score 50 goals in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season

Strikers attract a lot of attention in football because they are the ones who score a lot of goals. The minimum value of a top quality striker in the current transfer market is close to €100 million.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated the goalscoring charts for over a decade. But the 2017/18 season is different in that regard.

Players like Mauro Icardi, Mohammad Salah, Robert Lewandowski, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Dries Mertens, Jonas, Sergio Aguero, Paulo Dybala, Kylian Mbappe, Raheem Sterling and Radamel Falcao are dominating their respective leagues in terms of goal scoring.

But the ones who we are going to see in this article are the best in front of goal this season. On that note, let’s take a look at the list of strikers who can possibly score at least 50 goals this season.

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#5 Lionel Messi (22 goals, FC Barcelona)

He will never stop scoring goals

50 goals a season would be nothing new for the Argentine. In fact, Messi has achieved that on five occasions in the past. He also holds the record for most goals in a calendar year with 79 goals for Barcelona and 91 in total in 2012. 2017/18 is no different for the little magician from Argentina.

Barcelona is cruising in La Liga and in the Champions League, while Messi is performing at his usual best. Though his pace has dropped down a bit, his close control and finishing remain exceptional.

Currently, he has scored 22 goals for Barcelona this campaign. 17 of them in La Liga, three in the Champions League, and a further two in the Copa del Rey.

Although he doesn't play as a "Number 9" for Barcelona, he keeps scoring goals on a consistent basis and with little less than half a season remaining, Messi could definitely achieve the milestone for the sixth time in his career.

#4 Neymar Jr. (24 goals, Paris Saint-Germain)

The world's most expensive footballer is proving his worth in Paris

Being the most expensive player on the planet, Neymar is expected to reach the milestone with ease. The Brazilian is known for his goal-scoring prowess and is beginning to stamp his authority on the French league.

It was only on Wednesday that he blasted four goals past a helpless Dijon side and playing with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani, and Angel Di María will only help the Brazilian.

At this point, Neymar has scored 15 goals in Ligue 1, six goals in the Champions League, two goals in the Coupe de France, and another solitary goal in the Coupe de la Ligue, totaling 24.

PSG is sitting on top of the Ligue 1 table, while being one of the clear favorites to win the Champions League this season. Therefore the former Barcelona striker is expected to add a lot more goals to his tally.

#3 Ciro Immobile (26 goals, S. S. Lazio)

Ciro Immobile is a revelation in Serie A this season

A surprise inclusion in this list, the Italian striker is playing the best football of his career. At 27 years of age, the former Borussia Dortmund attacker is currently tied with Edinson Cavani and Harry Kane at first place in the race for European Golden Shoe Award 2017/18, having scored 20 goals in just 18 league matches.

His ability to finish with both feet and his aerial prowess are what make him such a lethal goal scorer. Playing for Lazio in Serie A, Immobile has scored 26 goals so far this season, adding two each from the Europa League, the Coppa Italia, the Supercoppa Italiana to his impressive league tally.

Lazio finished on top of Group K in the Europa League and are expected to go far in the competition. They are also still alive in the Coppa Italia and fighting for a top four finish in the Serie A. The stage is set for the Italian to break the 50 goals barrier for the first time in his career.

#2 Edinson Cavani (26 goals, Paris Saint-Germain)

The Uruguayan is one of the most lethal finishers in world football

Ever since the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani has been playing the role of the primary striker for PSG. He fell just one short of 50 goals in his last campaign and even after the arrival of Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe, Cavani still plays as PSG's "Number 9".

The French powerhouse possesses a plethora of attacking talents and is one of the highest scoring teams in Europe this season. With five months of the season still remaining, the Uruguayan is already more than halfway to the prestigious landmark.

Cavani has scored 20 times in Ligue 1 and six times in the Champions League this season. PSG is tipped to go all the way in Europe's elite club competition and in the domestic cup competitions. With Neymar and Mbappe on either side, expect Cavani to score a lot more goals before the season ends.

#1 Harry Kane (28 goals, Tottenham Hotspur)

There is no stopping Harry Kane at the moment

Tottenham's main man is one of the most prolific strikers in world football right now. His ability to finish from anywhere in- and outside of the box makes him a world-class goal scorer. With 56 goals in 52 games, Harry Kane was Europe’s top goal scorer in the calendar year 2017, ahead of the usual suspects: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

He has certainly proven to be the best striker in the Premier League in recent years. Having finished as the Premier League’s top goal scorer in the last two seasons, the England international is looking to complete the different kind of hat-trick, currently leading the race again with 20 goals to his name.

In total, Kane has already scored 28 goals this campaign, adding six goals in the Champions League and two goals in FA Cup to his league tally. As Tottenham’s lone striker, he is expected to play a key role for Mauricio Pochettino once again.

The Spurs' hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League rest very much on Harry Kane shoulders.