The competition between the world’s most lethal forwards for supremacy is heating up as the Champions League enters its final stages, as well as the contest to be named top scorer.
We go over the favourites to see who is still in the running.
Erling Haaland (12 goals, one assist)
Erling Haaland failed to hit the target in Manchester City‘s semi-final first leg at Real Madrid but still holds a commanding lead over his rivals.
Records continue to tumble for the Norwegian sensation — no player has ever scored more goals in a single Champions League season for an English club than Haaland’s 12 this term, level with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s efforts for Manchester United in 2002-03.
Mohamed Salah (eight goals, two assists)
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was on fire in Europe this season and scored his eighth goal in just seven matches to hand his side a 2-0 lead over Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 showdown.
Unfortunately for the Egyptian, the Reds went on to lose 5-2 at Anfield and were knocked out after a 1-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Vinicius Junior (seven goals, six assists)
Vinicius Junior broke the deadlock at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night and will hope to add to his tally in the return fixture in Manchester.
Vinicius relishes the European stage, having been involved in 22 goals in his last 22 Champions League appearances (11 goals, 11 assists).
Kylian Mbappe (seven goals, three assists)
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World Cup Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe has enjoyed a prolific campaign but will not land the coveted crown.
The Frenchman failed to inspire his side past Bayern Munich in the last 16 and finished on a respectable seven goals from eight outings.
Joao Mario (six goals, two assists)
Joao Mario struck in both legs as Benfica breezed past Club Brugge in the last 16 — equalling the great Eusebio’s club record of scoring in five consecutive European games.
But he was an anonymous presence as the Eagles crashed out at the hands of Inter Milan in the last eight, 5-3 on aggregate.