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Only Eight teams remain now. Eight teams who have a chance to be proclaimed the best in Europe. The road has been long and hard, yet it only gets tougher now. Every team in the Quarter Finals of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League can stake a claim for the coveted trophy. However, only a handful of them have the men who lead the goal scoring charts in the tournament.
Hello and welcome back to Sportskeeda's latest assessment of the top scorers of the UEFA Champions League at the start of April 2019. Since our last assessment, there has a significant change in the race, especially at the top. There have been new entries and big names have missed out from the top 5 too.
It is interesting to note that 3 of the 5 footballers here are Argentineans. The five men in this list have scored a total of 30 goals in the Champions League so far, but who comes up on top? Read on to find out
Honorary Mentions: Harry Kane is also on 5 goals but misses out due to inferior minutes per goal ratio. Players who are not a part of the tournament anymore are not considered as contenders.
#5 Paulo Dybala (Argentina, Juventus)
Goals Scored - 5
The Juventus stalwart has the same number of goals as Harry Kane but has better minutes per goal ratio. Whereas Kane has scored a goal every 126 minutes in the UEFA Champions League, Dybala has found a goal every 92 minutes played.
The Argentine had been a little short of form of late but was back among the goal this weekend in the Serie A. Dybala finished the group stages of the Champions League with 5 goals, but failed to score in either leg of the round of 16 against Atletico Madrid.
With Cristiano Ronaldo currently sidelined with an injury and a doubt ahead of the quarter-final tie against Ajax, Juventus will be looking towards Dybala for inspiration next.
#4 Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Manchester City)
Goals Scored - 5
The Argentine enters this list for the first time this season and is ranked ahead of Kane and Dybala out by virtue of better goals per game ratio.
Aguero ended the group stages with 2 goals from 3 appearances. In the round of 16, though, the Argentinean showed his pedigree. He scored a goal in the away leg and topped it up with a brace in the home leg, to secure passage to the Quarter Finals. Tottenham awaits them in the Quarter Finals, but with Aguero in the side, Guardiola will be quietly confident.
Sergio Aguero has scored 5 goals from 5 games in the Champions League, averaging a goal every 70 minutes played.
#3 Dusan Tadic (Serbia, Ajax)
Goals Scored - 6
The Serbian has been one of the players of the tournament. Tadic has been in the fringes of this list, and finally makes his appearance at the start of April. The Serbian is the heart of this young Ajax side and has lit up the left side of his team with his skills and tricks.
Tadic has 6 goals and 3 assists in the UEFA Champions League this season. He finished the group stages with 5 goals from 6 games. After failing to score in the home defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of the round of 16, Tadic had something special up his sleeves for the return leg.
The Serbian shocked the Bernabeu by scoring one goal and setting up 2, eventually inspiring his side to a fantastic comeback win to reach the quarterfinals. Up against the mighty Juventus next, Tadic, who is averaging a goal every 120 minutes played, could be the deciding factor on the night for Ajax.
#2 Moussa Marega (Mali, FC Porto)
Goals Scored - 6
Moussa Marega has been a revelation this season for Porto in the Champions League. He generally plays as a second striker and can be a tricky customer on the field.
Mali International has been one of the most consistent performers of the tournament. He failed to score in the opening game of the group stages, against Schalke, but since then, Marega has been on a roll. He scored in all 5 of the remaining games and finished the group stages with 5 goals from 5 games.
Marega missed the round of 16 away defeat to Roma, due to a thigh strain, but returned to time for the home leg. He was phenomenal on the night, scoring one and setting up another, taking his team through.
Porto will be up against Liverpool in the Quarter Final next and the Portuguese side will be hoping for another masterclass from Marega.
#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona)
Goals Scored - 8
The Barcelona Skipper has been in terrific form this season in every tournament he has set foot in. The UEFA Champions League has seen his wrath too and even though he has missed 2 games due to injury, he is still leading the race to become the tournament top scorer.
Messi finished the group stages with 6 goals, however, he failed to score in the away leg of the round of 16 tie, against Lyon. In the home leg though, Messi churned up magic on the field, scoring a brace and setting up 2 others to secure a memorable 5-1 win.
Barcelona face Manchester United next in the Quarter Finals and with Messi in the team, it could be two long nights for the Red Devils. The Argentinean has already scored 8 goals from 6 games so far and is averaging a goal every 60 minutes played! Unbelievable, but perhaps that's why he is the best in the world.
