THERE’S only one thing forwards dream about other than securing a Champions League medal for their club – and that’s to be the top goalscorer.
Well, Karim Benzema did both last season as the Frenchman’s 15 goals secured the golden boot as well as contributed to Real Madrid’s 14th triumph in club football’s top-tier competition.
However, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner has failed to register a single goal throughout the entire group stage.
And instead, it’s his French compatriot who leads the race after the group stages, alongside one of England’s most prolific forwards in recent years.
Who scored this week in the Champions League?
Kylian Mbappe’s sublime opener against Italian giants Juventus saw him end the group stages in top spot.
However, tied with the French international is Mohamed Salah who grabbed a late goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Napoli.
Erling Haaland was unable to add to his tally as Pep Guardiola decided to rest him.
And Barcelona being eliminated out of the competition means that Robert Lewandowski will not be challenging for the top scorers award this season.
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Champions League top scorers 2022/23
As of Thursday, November 3
Kylian Mbappe (PSG) – 7
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 7
Erling Haaland (Man City) – 5
Mehdi Taremi (Porto) – 5
Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) – 5
Lionel Messi (PSG) – 4
Leroy Sane (Bayern) – 4
Jude Bellingham (Dortmund) – 4
Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli) – 4
Giovanni Simeone (Napoli) – 4
Mohammed Kudus (Ajax) – 4
Noah Okafor (Salzburg) – 3
Mykhaylo Mudryk (Shakhtar) – 3
Sadio Mane (Bayern) – 3
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Who has previously won the Champions League top scorer award?
Cristiano Ronaldo leads the way for the amount of top scorer awards won having clinched it SEVEN times, while Lionel Messi is close behind with six.
- 2021/22: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) – 15
- 2020/21: Erling Haaland (Dortmund) – 10
- 2019/20: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern) – 15
- 2018/19: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – 12
- 2017/18: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – 15
- 2016/17: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – 12
- 2015/16: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – 16
- 2014/15: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Neymar (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – 10
- 2013/14: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – 17
- 2012/13: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – 12
- 2011/12: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – 14
- 2010/11: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – 12
- 2009/10: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – 8
- 2008/09: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – 9
- 2007/08: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) – 8
- 2006/07: Kaká (AC Milan) – 10
- 2005/06: Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan) – 9
- 2004/05: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United) – 8
- 2003/04: Fernando Morientes (Monaco) – 9
- 2002/03: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United) – 12
- 2001/02: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United) – 10
- 2000/01: Raúl González (Real Madrid) – 7
- 1999/2000: Mário Jardel (Porto), Rivaldo (Barcelona), Raúl González (Real Madrid) – 10
- 1998/99: Andriy Shevchenko (Dynamo Kyiv), Dwight Yorke (Manchester United) – 8
- 1997/98: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) – 10
- 1996/97: Milinko Pantić (Atlético Madrid) – 5
- 1995/96: Jari Litmanen (Ajax) – 9
- 1994/95: George Weah (Paris Saint-Germain) – 7
- 1993/94: Hristo Stoichkov (Barcelona) – 5
- 1992/93: Franck Sauzée (Marseille) – 5
What did Karim Benzema win for being Champions League top goalscorer?
French forward Karim Benzema’s 15 goals contributed to Real Madrid winning the Champions League last season.
And it also was a big factor in him being named the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award.
After collecting his award, Benzema said: I’m really happy,
“It’s the first time I’ve won this trophy but for me the most important thing is to win trophies with the team.
“Mr Ancelotti is the best coach in the world; he gets it right with every player, he gives us confidence and he tells you what to do before every match.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
