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Just like that, the UEFA Champions League group stage games have come to an end. From Bayern Munich thrashing last year's UCL finalists Tottenham Hotspur 7-2 to Napoli beating Liverpool 2-0 at San Paulo, the group stage games this season had it all.
The most surprising team of the UCL this season has been RB Salzburg. Led by Erling Braut Haaland and Hwang Hee-Chan up-front, the Austrian side have caused mayhem to every club they have faced.
Whilst Group H was undoubtedly the most competitive out of all as Ajax, Valencia and Chelsea fought tooth and nail to secure a Round of 16 birth, Bayern Munich eased past the group stage games with 6 wins out of 6 played.
Against that background, let's look at the top five forwards of the Champions League group stage games:
5. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
Kylian Mbappe is by far the best under-21 player across the globe, let alone Europe. The Frenchman has everything a modern-day forward needs: pace, finishing, dribbling and consistency.
With 5 goals and 4 assists to his name this term, Mbappe makes it into the top five forwards' list at the 5th position.
Mbappe is miles ahead of his other 20-year-old compatriots. At such a tender age, he has already developed his game to a level even the most experienced players cannot replicate.
The PSG superstar is on-course to outscore the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo if he can consistently perform for the next decade or so. He is already the youngest ever player to reach 100 goals in top-flight football, overtaking some of Europe's elites.
Thomas Tuchel would rely on Mbappe, Neymar and Mauro Icardi to lead his side to a Champions League trophy, something the PSG hierarchy have sought for a long time.
4. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Harry Kane has continued his incredible goal-scoring form in the UEFA Champions League. He has already outscored his last year's tally of 5 goals, by scoring 6 this season in 4 fewer games.
The 26-year-old's goal-scoring ability is second to none, and Jose Mourinho would want him to consistently perform in the games to come.
The third-highest scorer in the competition has 8 goal contributions to his name, as he has led Tottenham to a second-place finish in the group - 8 points behind group winners Bayern Munich. Kane had not been at his best under Mauricio Pochettino this season, but ever since Mourinho has taken over the reins the Englishman has begun getting his confidence back.
Kane would be aiming to hit top gear as Tottenham look to avenge last year's defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League final. They certainly have the quality, but their captain will have to be at his best to even stand a chance this season.
3. Hakim Ziyech (Ajax)
Unluckily for Hakim Ziyech and Co, Ajax have crashed out of the Champions League after they failed to beat Valencia at the Johan Cruyff Arena. The fact that plenty of their first XI players were injured did not help their cause either, which now takes them into the Europa League.
However, Hakim Ziyech has shone yet again.
The 26-year-old is the player with the most assists in the group stage with 5, followed by Corentin Tolisso and Riyad Mahrez at 4 each. Ziyech is mostly deployed as a right-winger despite his best position being CAM because Donny Van de Beek is too good a player to be warming the bench, but that has not stopped him from performing.
Now that Ajax have to pick themselves up from the defeat to Valencia and prepare for the Europa League, Ziyech will play a key part in their new challenge. And Erik Ten Hag would certainly want his best player to lead his team to Europa League glory this year.
2. Erling Braut Haaland (RB Salzburg)
RB Salzburg has unearthed a gem of a player in Erling Braut Haaland; the Norwegian striker is only behind Robert Lewandowski in the Champions League goal tally this season. The 19-year-old has 8 goals in just 6 games, and he has unarguably been the best youngster in the tournament so far.
Haaland has been linked to the biggest clubs in Europe, right from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona to Manchester United and Liverpool. Though the young striker would be wary of making a big-money move just yet, super-agent Mino Raiola might have different plans for his client.
At just the age of 19, Haaland has been able to get the interest of the best clubs in Europe. And with nearly 25+ goals across all competitions already, he might be on the road to becoming the next big thing after Kylian Mbappe.
1. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
"I am addicted to scoring goals" is what Robert Lewandowski's tweet read a couple of weeks ago when Bayern Munich thrashed Crvana Zvezda 6-0 on Matchday 6 of the Champions League group stage fixtures. Bagging 10 goals in just 5 games, Lewandowski is the top scorer of the Champions League and undoubtedly the best forward in the competition right now.
It is not even Christmas and Lewandowski has 27 goals to his name across all competitions; the Polish striker seems to be getting better with age. The 31-year-old was heavily linked to the Premier League last year, but he has stayed put and is arguably his team's most lethal striker ever.
Bayern Munich would obviously rely on Lewandowski's goals as the German side look to avenge last year's beating to Liverpool and lift the European trophy this term.
