'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#5 Karim Benzema - Real Madrid
Karim Benzema has been Real Madrid's talisman since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure and has spearheaded his side to the top of the La Liga standings. The Frenchman has taken on Los Blancos' goalscoring burden single-handedly and produced the goods consistently for Zinedine Zidane.
Benzema's tally of 22 goals and nine assists across all competitions makes for impressive reading and the 32-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down. Real Madrid have their No. 9 to thank for their impressive league form, as he has been the only consistent member of their star-studded attack.
While the likes of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo have blown hot and cold, Eden Hazard has struggled in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu and Gareth Bale has seemingly fallen out with the manager.
The Frenchman's importance to Real Madrid cannot be overstated and his form will be crucial if Los Blancos are to win their first La Liga title since 2017.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo - Juventus
Unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo features on the list. The Portuguese hitman has been in red hot goalscoring form for Juventus since the turn of the year and has played a pivotal role in their Serie A title charge.
Earlier this year, Ronaldo equalled the Serie A record held by Fabio Quagliarella and Gabriel Batistuta of scoring in 11 successive games with a close-range finish against SPAL.
The 35-year-old has also raced off the blocks since the restart and netted thrice in the Italian top-flight for the Bianconeri, taking his tally up to 24 for the Serie A season. Ronaldo has aged like fine wine and looks set to carry on playing for the foreseeable future, as he continues to set the standard when it comes to goalscoring or fitness.
The former Real Madrid star could equal Lionel Messi's record of six Ballon d'Or awards later this year, provided he finishes the season strongly with Juventus.
#3 Lionel Messi - Barcelona
Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi is the current holder of the Ballon d'Or after he became the first player in the history of the game to win the award for the sixth time in 2019. The Argentine maestro has been the Blaugrana's saving grace this season and leads the La Liga charts for goals as well as assists.
The 32-year-old has notched up 27 goals and 20 assists across all competitions for the Barcelona this season and bailed them out of tricky situations several times in the Spanish top-flight.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players to grace the game, Messi has already cemented his legacy for Barcelona and will look to make it successive Ballon d'Or victories for the first time since 2012.
#2 Kevin de Bruyne - Manchester City
Kevin de Bruyne has been virtually unstoppable for Manchester City this season and his 2019-20 season could go down in the history books as one of the best by a midfielder in the Premier League era.
The Belgian maestro has been the bright spark in the Cityzens' faltering league season, as Pep Guardiola's side surrendered the title to Liverpool with seven games to spare.
With 13 goals and 19 assists across all competitions, De Bruyne's consistency levels this season cannot be overstated and the 29-year-old also has the Premier League assists record in sight.
Currently on 17 Premier League assists for the season, the Belgian needs just four more between now and the end of the season to break Thierry Henry's haul of 20 from the 2003-04 season.
Regardless of how the rest of the year pans out for De Bruyne, he is expected to be amongst the frontrunners for the Ballon d'Or later this year.
#1 Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski's 2019-20 campaign is sure to go down in the history books as one of the most prolific seasons by a Bundesliga player. The Polish international's astounding goalscoring exploits set the ball rolling for Bayern Munich, as they won the Bundesliga title for the eighth year in succession.
The 31-year-old finished the season with 34 goals to his name, as he became the highest non-German goalscorer in a single Bundesliga season. Lewandowski broke former teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's tally of 31 goals from the 2016-17 season, as he etched his name into Bundesliga folklore by breaking yet another record.
Lewandowski also crossed the 50 goal mark for the first time in his career when he slotted home a penalty in Bayern Munich's final Bundesliga game of the season against Wolfsburg.
The former Dortmund man is having the season of his life and could yet add to his tally in the coming weeks. Bayern Munich are chasing a historic treble and Lewandowski's form will be crucial if the Bavarian giants are to get their hands on the DFB Pokal and the Champions League.
