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Cristiano Ronaldo was the winner of Golden Boot for 2013-14 season.The 2014-15 season has reached a juncture where bold prognosis for the end season can be drawn. Teams have got a clear idea as to where they stand and what they need to do in the closing half of the season and what are their targets.Similarly so, with half the season played, the race for the coveted European Golden Boot is intensifying and is expected to heat up in the coming months as several players are doing their darnedest to grab the prestigious honor.Here's a list of top 10 players whose prolific goalscorings have put them in contention for the Golden Shoe for the 2014-15 season:
#7 Carlos Tevez, Neymar 11 goals
After an underwhelming start to life in Spain, Brazilian ace Neymar has finally found his scoring boots this season and seems to have finally hit the throttle. Barcelona head-honcho Luis Enrique has shunted the 23-year-old to the left wing and his decision turned out to be a masterstroke as the latter is thriving in that position and that is very evident from the fact that Neymar has bagged 11 league goals in the ongoing campaign, 2 more than what he scored in the whole of last season.
In Turin, Juventus striker Carlos Tevez is in the form of his life, scoring goals left, right and centre. The Argentine was pivotal in Bianconeri’s Scudetto success last season and has subsisted his impressive goalscoring prowess this season too, where has netted 11 times for Le Zebre in the league in 16 appearances and also leads the Serie A scoring chart.
#6 Charlie Austin, Andre-Pierre Gignac 12 goals
QPR may be enduring a harrowing time in the league this season, just 2 points above the drop zone but their striker Charlie Austin has been the only shining light for Harry Redknapp’s side, having scored 12 times for the Hoops in the league.
The 25-year-old is also second only to Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero (both 14) in terms of goal count in England’s top tier.
Adjoining Austin, is Olympique Marseille striker Andre Pierri Gignac, who has accrued identical number of strikes for his side. Marseille are making huge strides in Ligue 1 this season and sit comfortably atop the pile, 3 points clear. And much of this can be adduced to the Frenchman’s staunchness in front of goal.
#5 Alexander Meier 13 goals
Age is just a number for this Eintracht Frankfurt striker, who at 32, has still not lost his goalscoring touch as he tops the Bundesliga scoring charts.
The Germany international has represented Der Adler 16 times in the German Bundesliga and amassed 13 goals in the process, helping them remain in the top half of the charts. Moreover, the Frankfurt veteran is the creme de la creme of Germany’s top flight with the highest number of goals thus far.
#4 Diego Costa, Sergio Aguero 14 goals
With 20 rounds of games already played in the Premier League, Chelsea’s Diego Costa and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero come out on top in the scoring charts with 14 strikes each.
After a stellar 2013-14 season with Atletico Madrid, Diego Costa moved to England last summer and has carried his rich vein of form to Stamford Bridge where his ferocious scoring prowess has made him a strong contender for the European shoe, let alone the Premier League Golden Boot. Standing in his way of claiming the Premier League Golden Boot in his debut season is Sergio Aguero, who, despite the niggling injuries, has an identical goal tally.
#3 Lionel Messi 15 goals
3rd in our list is Barcelona starlet Lionel Messi, who has racked up a convincing 15 goals in 17 La Liga fixtures this season.
The 27-year-old was handed a creative role by manager Luis Enrique and while having fulfilled the role with aplomb, has simultaneously made sure that his goal run does not plunge and those 15 strikes in the league testifies the same.
However, with more than half the season to be played, the Argentine hotshot still has plenty of chances to improve his goal-scoring tally and claim his record breaking 4th Golden Boot.
#2 Alexandre Lacazette 17 goals
Had it not been for the Frenchman’s heroics in the attacking third, Lyon would have been relegated down by a position or two.
The 23-year-old Lyon striker has taken the French league by storm this season, having accrued 17 goals in 19 Ligue 1 games and his proficiency has espied the eye of several European powerhouses, who have come knocking for his services.
Lacazette’s blistering form has propelled him to second position in Europe’s goal scoring charts and trails only to our next entrant, Cristiano Ronaldo.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo 26 goals
Introducing the most prolific goal-getter of Europe for the 2014-15 season, Real Madrid's mercurial winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who has bagged 26 league goals so far in 15 league appearances
The Portuguese has been in the form of his life, scoring goals at a staggering rate and has set his sights firmly on the record breaking 4th Golden Boot.
With an eye-popping 1.73 goal/game average, there isn't a force on this earth who can fend Ronaldo off from claiming the prize if he continues to score at such a ferocious rate.
