'%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)
Another stoppage for club football and the players are headed back home to fulfill their national duties. It has been an action-packed few months. Ever since the 2021-22 campaign kicked off, football fans have been treated to a roller coaster experience throughout.
The beautiful game of football has helped some minnows make their marks while the giants toppled. The best part is that we have barely begun with the 2021-22 season. As we discuss clubs and what they offer, let's now look into the contributions of certain individuals who have fired up the pitch.
The same brings us to the topic of the day:
Ranking the top 5 players in Europe's major leagues with the most goals so far this season
Note: Goals across all major competitions are taken into account.
#5 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) — 9
The Egyptian King, as dubbed by his fanatics, was labeled a 'one season wonder' by his critics and rival fans. However, Mo Salah has shushed the doubters by putting up stellar performances on a regular basis.
Salah recently became the fastest player in the history of Liverpool and 5th fastest in the history of the Premier League to reach 100 goals. The 2021-22 campaign seems to have revived the former AS Roma striker's career having taken a dip (only by his standards) the previous season.
As of now, Mohamed Salah is the joint top scorer in the Premier League with six goals. He has found the net three (2 vs Porto, 1 vs AC Milan) times in Liverpool's Champions League outings so far.
#4 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) — 10
Karim Benzema has the whole world's attention on him right now. The Frenchman has hit the purple patch of his career and strangely, it coincides with Cristiano Ronaldo's departure.
Despite being bestowed with goal scoring and leadership responsibilities, Karim Benzema seems only to be getting better. The Frenchman's consistency even urged France to lift the ban on him and include Benzema in France's 2020 EURO campaign, where he ended up as the team's top goal scorer.
Karim Benzema leads the 2021-22 La Liga scoresheet by a distant margin. He has scored nine goals off just eight games. With seven assists to his name, the former Lyon striker has been directly involved in 16 goals for the Blancos.
Somehow, Real Madrid's poor Champions League outings (so far) have affected Karim Benzema's performance at the UCL. Or, it could also be the other way around.
#3 Sébastien Haller (Ajax) — 10
Ajax never fails to surprise! The Dutch club has constantly been one of the teams to put up a show amidst Europe's giants. The same makes Ajax one of the most beloved underdogs within continental tournaments.
Ajax are leading the Eredivise table by a decent margin and their man Sébastien Haller has been arguably their best player so far. Haller has netted ten goals across all competitions so far this season. He has scored five in the Dutch league and five in the Champions League.
The 27-year-old is the top scorer in the Champions League as of now. He scored one goal against Besiktas and fired four against Sporting CP on his debut in the competition. It is expected of Haller to keep scoring on a constant basis. His current form certainly makes him a threat to many defenders out there.
#2 Erling Haaland (Dortmund) — 11
Erling Haaland hasn't been around much, but the youngster, who turned pro just a few years back, has already made headlines. Dubbed 'The Terminator' for his ruthless poaching skills, scoring goals is what Haaland does on a regular basis.
He has already broken several records. Even though it's too soon to say, Haaland is tipped to end up as one of the highest-scoring strikers in the history of the sport.
The Norwegian is known for often maintaining a goal-to-game ratio above one. He has been doing the same this season too. Erling Braut Haaland has bagged 11 goals so far from just seven games. Here are Haaland's stats so far in all competitions: 7 x Bundesliga (5 games), 1 x Champions League (1 game), 3 x DFB Pokal (1 game).
#1 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) — 13
Without much of a surprise, Bayern Munich's sharpest shooter Robert Lewandowski tops the list with 13 goals. Considered an absolute poacher, the Polish striker has led the goal scoring chart on a regular basis.
That said, if it wasn't for the world to be dominated by the Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi rivalry, Lewandowski would have won multiple Ballon d'Or already. The former Borussia Dortmund man has seven goals off seven matches in the Bundesliga.
He managed to bag two braces during Bayern Munich's matches versus Barcelona and Dynamo Kyiv. He added a further two to his list in the form of German Super Cup goals.
Robert Lewandowski is tipped to secure his first Ballon d'Or this season.
