5 players who have had better seasons than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi so far

#3 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

FC Bayern München v Dinamo Kiev: Group E - UEFA Champions Leagu

Robert Lewandowski is one of the greatest strikers of the 21st century. The Polish international has been an extremely prolific goalscorer for Bayern Munich in recent seasons and he has started the 2021-22 season in the same vein.

The 33-year-old, who is one of the favourites to win the Ballon d'Or this year, has already scored 16 goals and provided an assist in 12 appearances across all competitions this term.

Lewandowski is a brilliant centre-forward whose movement in and around the final third coupled with his incredible technical prowess makes him a threat like no other. He broke Gerd Muller's record of most goals scored in a single Bundesliga season (40) last term by netting 41 in just 29 appearances.

There seems to be no stopping Lewandowski or Bayern Munich at the moment. The Bavarian seems to be focused on making his case for the Ballon d'Or even stronger after missing out on the award last year when it was canceled.

#2 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Atletico Madrid v Liverpool FC: Group B - UEFA Champions League

Mohamed Salah is one of the most in-form footballers on the planet right now. He has been sensational for Liverpool in the new season and has been absolutely tearing it up in the new season.

Salah has already scored a few spectacular goals this term and seems to find the back of the net every single time he is on the pitch. In fact, he has scored in each of his last nine appearances across all competitions for the Merseysiders.

Salah scored a match-winning brace against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano to hand Jurgen Klopp's men an important win in the Champions League this week. The 29-year-old has scored 12 goals and provided four assists in 11 appearances across all competitions so far in the 2021-22 season.

#1 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

RCD Espanyol v Real Madrid CF - La Liga Santander

Karim Benzema has worked his way into the 2021 Ballon d'Or conversation thanks to his exploits in the new season. He scored in the semi-final and the final of the UEFA Nations League as France won the competition.

Benzema has been in terrific form for Real Madrid in the 2021-22 season. He has led by example and has played some of the best football of his career this term. In 11 appearances across all competitions for Los Blancos so far this season, Benzema has scored 11 goals and provided eight assists.

The Frenchman has been performing at an elite level for well over a decade. He has often had to play a supporting role in attack owing to Real Madrid's propensity for housing the biggest stars in the game.

Now that he is the primary goalscorer in the team, he has taken it upon himself to prove that he is one of the most well-rounded strikers the game has ever seen.