'%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)
The 2021-22 season has seen most of the usual suspects take center stage for their teams yet again.
The likes of Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema and Erling Haaland have seemingly continued from where they left off last season. Cristiano Ronaldo has hit the ground running on his return to Manchester United. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has had a slower-than-expected start to life at his new club PSG.
About a third of the way into the domestic season in Europe's top five leagues, title races are beginning to take shape. Most of the aforementioned players and a few others have scored goals and made assists galore.
On that note, here's a look at the five players with the most goal contributions in Europe's top five leagues this season:
#5 Ciro Immobile (Lazio) - 12
Ciro Immobile is one of the most prolific strikers in the Italian top flight at the moment, having netted over 150 times in the competition.
The 31-year-old leads this season's Serie A scoring charts, with ten goals in 12 games. He has also registered two assists during this period, helping Lazio to fifth place in the league table. Immobile has become the first player in the process to score at least ten league goals in six successive seasons for the Rome-based club.
Immobile etched his name into the history books in 2019-20 when he netted 36 times to win the Capocannoniere award. That made him only the second player, first after Gonzalo Higuain, to score 36 times in a Serie A campaign.
#4 Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) - 12
Erling Haaland is one of the best young strikers in the game at the moment. Still only 21, the Norwegian has been on a tear since joining Borussia Dortmund last January.
After a 27-goal season in his first full Bundesliga campaign, Haaland has struck nine times in just six games this season. The 21-year-old is now up to 49 goals in as many Bundesliga games in his young career. Haaland has also recorded three assists this campaign.
Currently out injured, Haaland will look to continue from where he left off as BvB attempt to end Bayern Munich's decade-long Bundesliga dominance.
#3 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 14
Robert Lewandowski is arguably the hottest striker on the planet at the moment. The Bayern Munich marksman scores goals for fun.
After a record-breaking 41-goal Bundesliga campaign last season, the 33-year-old is already up to 13 strikes this campaign. He has also registered an assist, as Bayern Munich find themselves in the familiar position of table toppers in yet another Bundesliga season.
The 2021 Ballon d'Or contender is now only ten away from becoming the second player in history to score 300 Bundesliga goals. Going by his current form, Lewandowski could achieve that milestone before the turn of the year.
#2 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) - 17
Karim Benzema has aged like a fine wine despite being on the wrong side of 30. The Frenchman has continued to deliver the goods for Real Madrid despite playing in his 13th La Liga campaign.
Benzema has been in blazing form this season, amassing ten league goals and seven assists to power Los Blancos' title campaign. He recently scored his 200th La Liga goal, all for Real Madrid, who are a point adrift of leaders Real Sociedad, albeit with a game in hand.
Like Lewandowski, Benzema is another contender for the 2021 Ballon d'Or award. He has provided a goal contribution in almost every league game this season.
#1 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 17
Mohamed Salah is the best player in the game at the moment, going by current form.
The Liverpool ace started his 2021-22 campaign by becoming the first player to score in five consecutive Premier League opening-day games. He hasn't looked back since then. He has scored ten times and provided seven assists to power Liverpool's bid for a second league title in three years.
Recently, the 29-year-old became the most prolific African goalscorer in Premier League history, surpassing Didier Drogba.
Another contender for this year's Ballon d'Or award, the Liverpool winger will look to continue his blistering exploits after the international break.
A goal-rich campaign from Salah could go a long way in Jurgen Klopp's men winning their second Premier League title this season.
