Champions League top scorers 2022/23: Who is leading the race?

THERE’S only one thing forwards dream about other than securing a Champions League medal for their club – and that’s to be top goal scorer.

Well, Karim Benzema did both last season as the Frenchman’s 15 goals secured the golden boot as well as contributing to Real Madrid’s 14th triumph in club football’s top-tier competition.

However, Benzema is already facing stiff competition from some familiar faces this time round.

And it’s no surprise to see Manchester City goal scoring machine Erling Haaland high up in the charts as he is breaking all types of records this season.

Who are the favourites to become the 2022/23 Champions League top scorer?

Karim Benzema is surprisingly yet to register a goal in this season’s competition, but the Real Madrid sharp shooter will no doubt be a favourite.

It’s also hard not to include Robert Lewandowski as a top candidate due his fantastic start to life at Barcelona.

But there will be a lot of chips placed on Erling Haaland who is in phenomenal form for Manchester City – scoring THREE hattricks in his last three home games.

Dark horses for the top scorer awards are the likes of Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane, sought-after Shakhtar Donetsk attacker, Mykhaylo Mudryk and a certain Argentinian magician, Lionel Messi.

Champions League top scorers 2022/23

As of Tuesday, October 4

1. Erling Haaland – Man City – 3
2. Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona – 3
3. Kylian Mbappe – PSG – 3
4. Mykhaylo Mudryk – Shakhtar Donetsk – 3
5. Piotr Zielinski – Napoli – 2
6. Leroy Sane – Bayern Munich – 2
7. Mohammed Kudus – Ajax – 2
8. Marian Shved – Shakhtar Donetsk – 2
9. Alexis Saelemaekers – AC Milan – 2
10. Mislav Orsic – Dinamo Zagbreb – 2
11. Noah Okafor – RB Salzburg – 2
12. Jude Bellingham – Borussia Dortmund – 2
13. Richarlison – Tottenham – 2

Who scored in the Champions League last time out?

Bayern Munich vs Barcelona was the standout fixture on matchday two where the Bavarians comfortably won 2-0.

Leroy Sane’s goal sealed the points for Bayern Munich and temporarily closed the gap on Haaland.

However, Haaland’s sensational winner against his former team Borussia Dortmund, saw the Manchester City goal machine stretch his lead at the top of the charts.

Meanwhile, the tremendous Paris Saint-German trio of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar all netted against Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa.

Liverpool’s Mo Salah and Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling also got in on the action.

Upcoming fixtures

Tuesday, October 4

Group A

Group B

• Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
• FC Porto vs Bayer Leverkusen

Group C

Group D

• Marseille vs Sporting CP
• Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham Hotspur

Wednesday, October 5

Group E

• FC Salzburg vs Dinamo Zagreb
• Chelsea vs AC Milan

Group F

• RB Leipzig vs Celtic
• Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Group G

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) – 152018/19: 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) – 71993/94: Hristo Stoichkov (Barcelona) – 5
• 1992/93: Franck Sauzée (Marseille) – 5

What did Karim Benzema win for being Champions League top goal scorer?

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