The group stage of the Champions League has finally ended. And with that, we’ve moved on to the knockout phase, which is arguably the most entertaining stage of this tournament.
But, do you know what makes the knockouts so interesting to watch? It’s the attacking gameplay and fierce strikers who don’t let defenders rest for a second. And, in this article, I will discuss my picks for some popular players who, I believe, can score the most goals in the Champions League this year.
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid
The French superstar and the Galactico have already scored more than ten goals this season. And, since the knockouts are just starting, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Mbappe is well on his way to breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s record in the Champions League.
That being said, Real Madrid will face a pretty tough challenge in the knockout stage. And while the Los Blancos always play as a unit in this tournament, all eyes will be on Kylian Mbappe.
I’ve switched to Xfinity Home Internet, bundled with their cable plans, so that I can stream the Champions League matches on ESPN without interruptions. And, specifically to watch the Los Blancos and Kylian Mbappe.
Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
For a long time, Harry Kane failed to perform in the Champions League at Tottenham. Since moving to Bayern Munich, he has become a different player altogether. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Harry Kane has been carrying Bayern Munich alone in the Champions League.
As a soccer fan, I believe Kane has the potential to become the Champions League’s top scorer. However, Kane is a pure striker and will need the support of his midfield against superior opponents.
Also, Bayern’s chances of lifting the Champions League heavily rely on how Harry Kane performs in the knockout stages of this tournament.
Erling Haaland – Manchester City
Haaland is likely the most natural striker on this list. While most strikers can play as a false 9 or as attacking midfielders, Haaland solely relies on power and precision to put the ball inside the net.
Having said that, Erling Haaland might face a few world-class defenders in the upcoming matches. And while City’s journey to the knockouts hasn’t been an easy one, Haaland’s real test will begin in this phase of the Champions League.
Other than this, Erling Haaland has missed accurate passes by Kevin de Bruyne for sure. Simply because controlling the midfield has become extremely difficult for Haaland and his team without Kevin’s assistance.
Victor Osimhen – Galatasaray F.C
He’s the dark horse in this list. Arguably, Victor Osimhen plays for one of the weakest clubs, Galatasaray, which has qualified for the Round of 16 (RO16).
Victor Osimhen played some exceptional soccer against Juventus in the qualifying round. And, not only did they defeat the Italian goliaths, but they also made some other European giants tremble with their performance.
That being said, the competition hasn’t ended yet, and Victor Osimhen has to fight an uphill battle. Ideally, Osimhen must go for the European glory and at the same time, achieve the top scorer position, which might become the highlight of his career.
Anthony Gordon – Newcastle
He’s been the biggest surprise this season. And honestly, I hadn’t heard about him until this year, when he proved his worth against bigger and better opponents.
I’ve watched Anthony Gordon play several times now, both in the Champions League and the English Premier League (EPL). And, not once do I feel like he is under pressure, even against some solid defense lines in Europe.
However, Anthony Gordon needs all the help he can get from Newcastle’s squad. Simply because becoming the top scorer without his team’s assistance might be too difficult for an inexperienced youngster like Anthony Gordon.
So, these are my predictions for the top scorers in this year’s Champions League. However, before I conclude, I want to include a few more names, which I believe have the potential to surprise everyone. These players are:
- Gabriel Martinelli – Arsenal
- Vitinha – Paris Saint-Germain
- Marcus Rashford – Barcelona
- Julian Alvarez – Atletico Madrid
