Can you believe it? We’re already a third of the way through the season. So, as the domestic campaigns enjoy a layoff due to the international break, let's take a look at the players leading the goal-scoring charts in Europe’s top five leagues.
As you would expect, the usual suspects are going about their business. However, there are a few surprise packages this time around.
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) - 11 Goals/12 Appearances
Leicester are flying this season and Jamie Vardy has played a huge role in the Foxes’ resurgence under Brendan Rodgers. The 32-year-old is one of the oldest players in Leicester’s starting line-up, but he is clearly thriving on the youthful creativity provided by the likes of James Maddison and Youri Tielemans.
In 2015/16, Vardy broke Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record as he became the first ever player to score in 11 consecutive Premier League matches. Leicester have actually made a better start this season compared with their title-winning campaign, while Vardy has netted six goals in his last four appearances.
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 16 Goals/11 Appearances
Remarkably, Lewandowski has scored in each of Bayern’s 11 league games this season. The Polish marksman has already registered three braces and one hat-trick in the Bundesliga in 2019/20, and he’s not showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon.
RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner has scored 11 goals in 11 top flight appearances this term. In any other campaign, the German would surely be leading the goal-scoring charts. However, this season, Lewandowski is well on course to break Gerd Muller’s record of 40 goals in a single Bundesliga campaign.
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) - 9 Goals/11 Appearances
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have all been unable to take control of the title race so far, but Benzema’s goals have ensured Los Blancos remain level with Barcelona at the top of the table. The Frenchman arguably enjoying one of his best goal-scoring runs with the club.
However, Lionel Messi’s remarkable return from injury means Benzema may not be at the top of the charts for much longer. The little magician has scored eight goals and registered four assists in just seven La Liga appearances, so it may not be too long before we see the Argentine leapfrog Benzema in the race for the Golden Boot.
Ciro Immobile (Lazio) - 14 Goals/12 Appearances
Immobile is in the form of his life right now. The Lazio striker has always been a threat in front of goal, but he has taken his game to another level this season. With ten goals in his last seven Serie A outings, Immobile is challenging Lewandowski for the title of Europe’s most in-form striker at the moment.
Romelu Lukaku is enjoying a fantastic debut season in Italy’s top flight. The Belgian forward is Immobile’s closest challenger, and despite scoring nine league goals this term, Lukaku still has plenty of catching up to do if he wants to overtake Lazio striker.
Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco) - 9 Goals/11 Appearances & Moussa Dembele (Lyon) - 9 Goals/12 Appearances
Wissam Ben Yedder and Moussa Dembele are tied as Ligue 1’s top scorers at the moment, although the Monaco forward has played one game less than his Lyon rival. Monaco and Lyon are both struggling for consistency this season, but Ben Yedder and Dembele are certainly doing their bit for their respective clubs.
With that being said, PSG forwards Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani have both spent lengthy spells on the sidelines due to injury recently. Mbappe has netted five in seven, and a decent run of games for the 20-year-old would surely see him shoot to the top of the goal-scoring charts in Ligue 1.