Cristiano Ronaldo edges out Mohamed Salah and Lionel Messi in our top ten forwards in Europe

Aditya Devavrat 07:34 15/05/2018
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  • Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah. It’s been a season of stunning performances from attacking players – not least from Salah, who broke the hegemony that Ronaldo, Messi, and Neymar had over the discussion of the best players in the world.

    It’s those three who are the frontrunners for the Ballon d’Or, with Ronaldo and Salah just in front of Messi. But who are the other players who shined in attack this season?

    Without further ado, here’s a look at our top ten forwards across Europe’s top five leagues.

    1. Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid

    How do you split a top three of Ronaldo, Salah, and Messi? Ronaldo’s performance since the turn of the year has been extraordinary. But what seals the deal is that he’s almost single-handedly taken a Real Madrid side that has visibly dipped to a third straight Champions League final.

    Ronaldo's form since the turn of the year has made him the Ballon d'Or favourite.

    Ronaldo’s form since the turn of the year has made him the Ballon d’Or favourite.

    2. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

    The remarkable thing about Salah is how unfair it seems to not have him at No 1 on this list when only a year ago, he probably wouldn’t even have made the top 20. A joyful, thrilling, stunning player to watch. Bring on Salah vs Ronaldo in the Champions League final.

    Salah has been a revelation at Liverpool this season.

    Salah has been a revelation at Liverpool this season.

    3. Lionel Messi, Barcelona

    Messi’s brilliance is so routine, it’s almost normal. He single-handedly kept Barcelona‘s bid for an unbeaten La Liga season alive (unsurprisingly, it ended in a game where he was rested). But European disappointment, including his own below-par display against Roma, has cost him a top-two spot.

    Barcelona's unbeaten league season has almost solely been down to Messi.

    Barcelona’s unbeaten league season has almost solely been down to Messi.

    4. Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich

    He’ll be disappointed with the way his Champions League campaign ended, but it’s been another stunning season for the striker – not least for the way he led Poland in the World Cup qualifiers.

    Lewandowski led Poland to the World Cup and cruised to the Bundesliga Golden Boot.

    Lewandowski led Poland to the World Cup and cruised to the Bundesliga Golden Boot.

    5. Antoine Griezmann, Atlético Madrid

    It’s been a strange season from Griezmann. In the first half he looked nothing like the player who had cemented his status as one of the best in the world. But he’s found form to lead Atlético to the Europa League final – and likely earned himself a move to Barcelona.

    If this is Griezmann's final season, he's given Atlético a memorable send-off.

    If this is Griezmann’s final season, he’s given Atlético a memorable send-off.

    6. Neymar, PSG

    The only reason Neymar is ranked this low is because his season’s been curtailed by injury. He was having a Ballon d’Or-calibre season before that – though the failure against Madrid in the Champions League, for which he was present for the first leg, goes against him as well.

    Neymar was having a scintillating season until his injury.

    Neymar was having a scintillating season until his injury.

    7. Edinson Cavani, PSG

    Most teams would miss a player like Neymar – just ask Barcelona how they felt at the start of this season. Most teams aren’t PSG playing in Ligue 1 with a striker in the form of his life. It was fitting that Cavani became the club’s all-time leading scorer after Neymar got injured.

    Cavani become PSG's all-time leading scorer this season.

    Cavani become PSG’s all-time leading scorer this season.

    8. Roberto Firmino, Liverpool

    Is there any team so defined by one player? Salah might be the sensation but Firmino is the one who makes Jurgen Klopp’s system work at Liverpool. His selflessness, in the way he leads Klopp’s press, is remarkable. And he scores some outrageous goals.

    Firmino may be the most underrated player in the world at the moment.

    Firmino may be the most underrated player in the world at the moment.

    9. Ciro Immobile

    The last Lazio player to win the Capocannoniere was Hernán Crespo in 2000-01. That Immobile is set to put his name alongside such a legendary figure in club history shows what he’s accomplished. Hopefully he’ll be doing it again in the Champions League next season.

    Who saw Immobile's stunning season coming?

    Who saw Immobile’s stunning season coming?

    10. Harry Kane

    Tottenham may have put the one-man team jibes to rest this season thanks to the form of Heung-min Son, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, and Mousa Dembele, but Kane is still the jewel in their crown.

    Kane hit the 30-goal mark in a league season for the first time. One-season wonder?

    Kane hit the 30-goal mark in a league season for the first time. One-season wonder?

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