'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A striker's job is to score goals and goals are what win games. The last few years have seen a shift in a striker's role. Managers demand more involvement in the build-up, including falling back to hold-up the ball as wingers make runs inside.
The modern-day striker is more than just a goal-scorer and needs to have a creative vision, along with an instinct for goals, in order to create more chances for teammates.
Their main aim, however, remains the same - to score goals. And fortunately for fans watching across the globe, they haven't disappointed this season.
With some incredible goal-scoring exploits across the continent, strikers across Europe will look to lead their teams to glory yet again.
Trending
Here's a look at the five best strikers across Europe so far this season.
#5 - Karim Benzema
Big Benz has led Real Madrid's post-Cristiano Ronaldo era and has done a tremendous job this season so far. He has scored 12 goals and assisted six in 16 games this season. He leads the Pichichi rankings as the top goal scorer in La Liga.
The Frenchman had spent most of his Real career playing second fiddle to Ronaldo, often sacrificing his own goalscoring record to allow the Portuguese to knock in goals for fun.
That has, however, changed since Ronaldo left.
Karim Benzema has reinvented himself since Ronaldo's departure and his tally of 30 goals from last season looks set to be broken. He has linked up really well with new signing Eden Hazard. The Belgian called Benzema "the best striker in the world".
Benzema's form has been crucial to Real's resurgence in the last two months and they will rely on heavily this season if they are to challenge for trophies and it looks like he's up for the challenge.
Also check out:Champions League Schedule Champions League table Champions league top scorers
#4 - Jamie Vardy
Jamie Vardy might have a party again. Leicester City's main man has found top form this season and his goalscoring exploits have propelled the Foxes to an incredible second place in the Premier League.
The Englishman was instrumental in Leicester's fairytale title-winning campaign in 2016 - a feat that is forever etched in Premier League history.
He was heavily linked with a move away from the club after that glorious season but unlike Riyad Mahrez - who was equally influential in leading them to the title - Vardy decided to stay with the Foxes.
His record since then has been brilliant and he currently leads the Premier League charts with 12 goals in 13 games.
His importance to the team is highlighted by the fact that he has participated in 48% of Leicester's goals this season.
Currently on a five-game scoring streak, Vardy will have an eye on his incredible 11-game streak during the title wining campaign of 2015-16.
The Foxes are flying high and will need Vardy to be in top form as they look to challenge for the title and secure a Champions League spot.
#3 - Ciro Immobile
The Italian has been one of the most underrated strikes for quite some time now. His goal scoring record has been nothing short of world-class since his move to Lazio in 2016. He has scored an incredible 102 goals in just 149 games for the club from Rome.
With 15 goals in Serie A this season, Ciro Immobile has exploded to the top of the goal-scoring charts. His five assists mean that he has participated in an incredible 66% of Lazio's league goals so far this campaign.
Immobile's goal-scoring exploits have helped Lazio to third on the table as they look to return to the Champions League for the first time since 2015.
A Capocannoniere twice with Torino and Lazio, Immobile will be looking to bag a third top-scorer award and also add the coveted European Golden boot to his collection.
He is currently third in the Golden Boot rankings.
#2 - Erling Braut Haaland
The young Norwegian first burst on to the scene this summer when he scored an unbelievable nine goals in a U-20 world cup game and he hasn't looked back since.
Erling Braut Halaand has 26 goals in 18 games this season, including seven in the UEFA Champions League which makes him the competition's leading goal-scorer.
He has lit-up the tournament with great goal-scoring displays against Genk, Napoli, and Liverpool.
With RB Salzburg, he is unsurprisingly the top scorer in the Austrian Football Bundesliga with 15 goals.
Still just 19, the tall striker is likely to attract the interest of Europe's top clubs. Manchester United have been linked with him but it seems unlikely they will land him.
Haaland recently proclaimed his love for the Champions League and unless United can provide him a platform to participate in that, which seems highly unlikely given their struggles this season, they will miss out on him.
If he continues his thumping goal-scoring run he'll surely find himself at a big club although it seems like he still needs a bit more experience at the top level before making a big-money move to a European giant.
#1 - Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski has surely ended the doubt surrounding the best striker in the world. With 23 goals across all competitions so far this season, the Pole leads the Golden Boot charts with 16 league goals.
The Polish star had scored in every league and UEFA Champions League game this season until the last matchday.
After scoring in 11 successive league games, the striker failed to find the net against Fortuna Dussseldorf.
They are currently third in the league and their recent performances saw coach Niko Kovac get axed.
The striker will certainly be buoyed by his personal exploits so far this season and will be looking to give Bayern, currently without a permanent coach, the push they need for an unprecedented eighth straight Bundesliga title and the Champions League that has eluded the club since 2013.
