FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifiers: Top 10 goalscorers

#1 Robert Lewandowski (Poland) - 16 goals in 10 matches

Robert Lewandowski finishes as the top scorer for second successive international qualifier

Barring the 4-0 evisceration at the hands of Denmark earlier this year, Poland otherwise pranced to the World Cup finals through their group and thanks in no small part to their attacking talisman Robert Lewandowski, who struck as many as 16 times in 10 appearances to finish as the joint-top scorer of the qualifying, but the best on goals-to-game ratio.

Like a ruthless predator on the prowl for its prey, the Bayern Munich ace wreaked havoc in defences, with his fierce attacking precision, and single-handedly dragged his side to the Russian showpiece.

He alone, accounted for a staggering 57% of Poland's total goals scored in the qualifying, a figure that also includes 3 hat-tricks to his name (vs. Denmark, Romania and Armenia).

The thrashing at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen was the only time he missed the mark, but that was certainly more than made up for by a highly overwhelming performance overall.

Although his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo beat him to become the first man to hit 14 goal barrier in the qualifying, the 29-year old currently holds the outright record for most goals scored in the World Cup qualifying phase in the European zone with 16.

What needs to be seen, now, is whether he can bring the same spark to Russia.