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Goals win matches. There is no denying that goals decide games, and attackers are the most valuable assets for any club in world football.
While this year may have been surreal in many ways, the perception about goals has not changed. Scoring goals continues to be seen as the optimum way to win matches, and attacking impetus has resulted in teams like Julian Nagelsmann's RB Leipzig and Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta taste success.
Players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continue to be at the top of their games, but other attacking players have also enjoyed a fine year. Many of them are from the Serie A, which is gradually shedding its image of a dull and boring league.
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On that note, we look at the:
10 players who have scored the most goals in the top European leagues this year (2020)
#10 LIONEL MESSI - BARCELONA, 15 goals
While Lionel Messi and Barcelona may have been in the news for all the wrong reasons in the transfer window gone by, on the field the superstar continues to dazzle.
His performances for Barcelona may have dipped this season, but the Argentina international continues to be the club's most important player. Despite admitting that he would have liked to leave the club in the summer, Messi continues to captain Barcelona.
The 33-year old has only one year left in his contract, and can talk to other clubs from January next year. With Manchester City touted as the most likely destination, it remains to be seen whether he can be enticed into signing a new deal with his beloved club.
#9 DANNY INGS - SOUTHAMPTON, 15 goals
Ralph Hasenhuttl's Southampton have been one of the best teams in the Premier League so far this season, and a main reason for that is striker Danny Ings.
After an injury-riddled spell at Liverpool, the Saints decided to buy him for £18 million in 2019 after a season-long loan spell. The England international has been exceptional under the management of Hasenhuttl, scoring at a consistent rate and forming a good partnership with Che Adams.
The former Burnley striker scored 22 goals in the league last season, and has continued where he left off, scoring four in five league appearances so far.
#8 ROMELU LUKAKU - INTER MILAN, 16 goals
His Manchester United stint might have split opinion, but there is no denying Romelu Lukaku's influence at Inter Milan.
After two seasons with Manchester United where he was not always at his very best, Inter Milan paid a club-record £67 million to bring Lukaku to Italy. Under Antonio Conte, the Belgium international has flourished, forming an exciting attacking partnership with Lautaro Martinez.
The 27-year old scored 23 goals in the league last season, as Inter Milan finished second. He also played a key role in their run to the Europa League finals.
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#7 MOHAMED SALAH - LIVERPOOL, 18 goals
Regarded as one of the best players in the world, Mohamed Salah's career has been on an upward trajectory since moving to Liverpool.
After an unsuccessful stint with Chelsea in the Premier League, Salah made his name in Serie A, first with Fiorentina and then with Roma. His performances for Roma resulted in Liverpool splurging £38 million to get him to Anfield. The Egyptian international has become Liverpool's superstar since then.
Salah has made 116 league appearances for Liverpool since his debut in 2017, scoring 81 goals. The 28-year old has started the season in fine form, scoring eight goals in eight appearances.
#6 FRANCESCO CAPUTO - SASSUOLO, 18 goals
Roberto De Zerbi's Sassuolo have been a team to be reckoned with, and the team's attack has been a vital reason for that.
Striker Francesco Caputo has been key to their impressive performances. Alongside winger Domenico Berardi, Caputo has formed a potent attack, scoring goals and leading the line with aplomb. The 33-year old's performances for Sassuolo resulted in him being called up for the Italian national team this year.
Having scored 21 goals in 36 league appearances for Sassuolo last season, the former Empoli man has scored five goals in five appearances so far.
#5 ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC - AC MILAN, 18 goals
Another Serie A star, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's legend continues as he has put in some incredible performances for AC Milan.
The 39-year old's European dream was considered to be over after a serious injury at Manchester United, and Ibrahimovic's subsequent move to LA Galaxy in the MLS. However, the Sweden international decided to join AC Milan this year, and he has been a vital component in the side's recent good performances.
After scoring 10 goals in 18 league appearances for AC Milan in the second half of the 2019/20 season, the former Paris Saint-Germain star has been in sensational form this season. He has scored eight goals in just five league appearances, and has acted as a mentor for the young AC Milan side.
#4 ERLING HAALAND - BORUSSIA DORTMUND, 19 goals
Already one of the best strikers in the world, Erling Braut Haaland has the world at his feet if he continues with his goalscoring feats.
The Norway international made his name with Red Bull Salzburg in Austria before joining Borussia Dortmund this year for £18 million. He took little time to settle, scoring 13 goals in 15 league appearances, and has started this season with a bang; scoring six goals in six games.
The 20-year old has been persistently linked with Manchester United and Real Madrid, despite joining Borussia Dortmund in January. Bayern Munich are tracking him as well, and there could hardly be a better long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski than the former Molde man.
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#3 CIRO IMMOBILE - LAZIO, 22 goals
While Ciro Immobile may have not succeeded outside of Italy, his impact in his homeland has been considerable.
After failed stints with Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla, the 30-year old has found his feet at Lazio. One of the most prolific strikers in Europe right now, Immobile won the European Golden Shoe as well as the Capocannoniere last season, after scoring an astounding 36 goals in 37 league games.
The Italy international has scored 106 goals in 147 league games for Lazio since his debut in 2016, and has signed a new five-year contract this year.
#2 ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI - BAYERN MUNICH, 26 goals
One of the best strikers of the modern generation and one of the best players in world football right now, Robert Lewandowski is Bayern Munich's talisman and superstar.
The Poland international, often regarded by many as the best free transfer in the history of football, joined Bayern Munich from Borussia Dortmund in 2014. Since then, he has been a pivotal figure, making 196 league appearances and scoring 173 goals.
Bayern Munich won the treble last season, and Lewandowski was arguably the best player in the world. In 47 appearances across all competitions, the 32-year old scored 55 goals, and in an ideal world should have been awarded the Ballon d'Or for his performances.
#1 CRISTIANO RONALDO - JUVENTUS, 27 goals
Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo takes the first place in this list as the player to have scored the most goals in the top European leagues this calendar year.
Having joined Juventus from Real Madrid for a club-record fee of £105 million in 2018, Ronaldo immediately took over the role of Juventus' talisman. The 35-year old has been in fine form since making his debut for the club, scoring consistently and forming a good understanding with Paulo Dybala.
Last season, the former Manchester United man scored 31 goals in 33 league appearances. He has been in fine form this season as well, despite missing three weeks of football due to the coronavirus; he has scored six goals in four games.
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