SteemSports Presenter: @the23chronicles
SteemSports Editor/Writer: @writingamigo
Over the course of the past decade, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have held a duopoly over football. They have won all the individual prizes, including Ballon d’Or, FIFA Best Player, Golden Boots. It is also fascinating that Ronaldo and Messi have also been the top scorers in the Champions League for the past 10 years. Even when their teams dropped out of the competition early, they have remained of the highest standards.
This is a list that could very much contain just two names, for it is most likely that one of them will claim the award. However, both men are now over 30, and with many younger players making a name for themselves, it might just be the season in which both Messi and Ronaldo lose the grip over this prestigious award.
We take a look at the players who have a chance to win the award this year.
Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku has been on fire for Manchester United in the opening weeks of the season. Four goals in four English Premier League matches makes him a focal point for Jose Mourinho’s plan. And even though he is in fine form, his lack of Champions League experience may be his undoing. That said, United have pretty easy fixtures in the group stage which should give Lukaku plenty of time to adapt, and ultimately shine.
Harry Kane
Kane has finished as the English Premier League’s top scorer for 2 years in a row and will be seeking to transfer his fine form to Europe in this season’s competition. Injury prevented him from playing a major part as Spurs crashed out at the group stage level last season. And for Kane to stand a chance of finishing top scorer, Spurs have to play magical as they are drawn in the same group as defending champions, Real Madrid, and dangerous Borussia Dortmund.
Luis Suarez
Suarez has been a regular on the scoresheet in La Liga, and since signing for Barcelona three years ago, he has 18 goals in the competition. Neymar’s departure might weaken the whole squad but strengthens his chances of finishing as the competition’s top scorer, as he will become the focal point of Barcelona’s attack.
Alvaro Morata
After an uncomfortable start at Chelsea, Morata looks to be finding his feet gradually. Six goals, including a magnificent hat trick, in his opening six PL games, makes the Spaniard one of the favorites to become a top-scorer in this year's Champions League. And he is very much capable of it, as he has shown in the past for Juventus and Madrid.
Neymar
Paris Saint-Germain has made Neymar the world’s most expensive player. Their aim is to launch a successful push for the Champions League, with the Brazilian expected to be at the forefront. He has already started to dominate in the Ligue 1, and he will be looking to bring all his attacking prowess to the Champions League. Neymar already scored in the opening CL match, but his rivalry with Cavani is definitely not good for the team.
Kylian Mbappe
As much as Neymar is expected to lead the PSG attack, one cannot overlook Mbappe. With six goals in the competition last season, the 18-year-old has already shown an incredible eye for goal. And he will be looking forward to bounce back in the competition in which he has already excelled.
Antoine Griezmann
Atletico Madrid might not be Europe’s most spectacular side, but they are one of the most functional and Antoine Griezmann remains their leading man. After staying with the club despite big interest from outside, Griezmann will again be a key figure for Diego Simeone’s side. Even though Atletico Madrid does not usually score many goals, most of those goals come from Antonio Griezmann.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang has gradually been building a reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers in the world. He has pace and has developed his finishing skills, making him a threat for any defense. He is approaching his peak at 28, and if Dortmund is to have a successful run in Europe, it will be because of Aubameyang. He scored seven goals last season and will be hoping to top that.
Robert Lewandowski
Bayern Munich’s most potent threat remains Robert Lewandowski. Since arriving at Bayern in 2014, he has scored 23 times in his three European campaigns. Reaching the knockout stage is easy for Bayern, and they have expectations of winning the competition. If they are to win, however, they need Lewandowski to net regularly.
Lionel Messi
Messi won the European golden boot last season, scoring 37 times in La Liga and 11 times in the Champions League. But with a summer transfer window to forget, Barcelona will need Messi now more than ever. Messi has been the Champions League top scorer on five occasions, but he hasn’t won it outright since 2011/12. He will be looking to topple Ronaldo’s dominance this season.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo starts as a clear favorite to win the top scorer award yet again. His scoring record in the Champions League has been unparalleled for the last five years, as no one has scored more than him since then. He has scored 67 goals in total over the past five years, in which Madrid has won three times. Zidane’s men look stronger than ever heading into the new campaign, so Madrid and Ronaldo are well placed to win the title again. CR already scored twice against APOEL in the opening match, reminding his haters that he is still a top-notch player.
This is a really hard task must be said, I would still nominate 2 others in there: Falcao and Aguero.
with Barca and Real being particularly weaker than in the seasons before, I would put my money on Lukaku, to me, he looks too reliable a striker to overlook these days
Aguero is always a good option. But with the relative inexperience of the City team, they might not go too far in the competition
In the case of Messi and Ronaldo both are twins in achievementss. They all play their role well on the field, but only one achievement that will differentiate Messi and C. Ronaldo which will stop people arguement, ON WHO IS THE BEST MESSI OR C. RONALDO . Anyone who carry the world cup trophy become the best.
Yes, the World Cup is really important. But they really do not have the chance to win it as next year might easily be the last World Cup in which they dominate. But even without the World Cup, they are still GREATS!
CR7 always!!
As long both giants are playing they will win it.
When someone else would win that it's Neymar in my opinion.
Great overview of the top strikers, @steemsports. I enjoyed watching some of these guys in the last World Cup, which is my favorite tourney. I don't get to watch much other European soccer, although I'd love to.
Cheers!
Good
Mbappe my boy :) Nah, I want to bet on Morata, that guy is a football GOD. He has it all: speed, heading, strength, finishing. Too bad he wasn't played that much last season. He'll blow up this season though, I'm sure of it.
Regarding Messi ... Barca have been in a decline the last few years so I don't see him getting it this year even with Dembele in the team, we can all say that Dembele isn't close to Neymar's skill ... yet.
CR7 had a few good years with RM winning CL 2 times in a row so he could be the top scorer this year tough he's getting old.
We'll have to wait and see.
Morata is fitting in perfectly at Chelsea, and with the flurry of attacking minds surrounding him, he will surely get goals. CR7 is getting old, but of recent, he has stopped his skills and running around and focused solely on finding goals, so he just might win it again!
I will pick Cavani over Mbappe in my opinion.
I would pick Neymar and Lukaku.
Kane and Neymar