Consecutive hat-tricks have put Karim Benzema one goal behind Robert Lewandowski in the Champions League top scorer race
The first legs of all four Champions League quarter-finals are now complete which means the race to be the competition’s top scorer is well and truly on.

Manchester City, Liverpool, Villarreal, and Real Madrid all secured victories, with Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea now facing an uphill task to book their spot in the semi-final stage.

While lifting the iconic trophy will be the priority for players and their teams, finishing with the most goals is an accolade any forward would be proud of.

Read on as we identify the current leaders and assess who is best placed to take the crown.

Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich (12 goals, three assists)
Robert Lewandowski failed to net in Bayern’s away leg at Villarreal but has enjoyed another stunning campaign in Europe’s premier club competition.

The Pole was the architect of the Bavarian’s last-16 second-leg victory against FC Salzburg, firing a first-half hat-trick to set Julian Nagelsmann’s men on course to a 7-1 victory on the night, 8-2 on aggregate.

That remarkable performance has installed the 33-year-old as the frontrunner to pick up a second Champions League top scorer gong.

Injury prevented the Bundesliga marksman from facing Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s quarter-finals, which the German champions lost on away goals, so both he and his teammates will be eager to reclaim the title they last won in 2020.

If Nagelsmann’s side can continue to bring their domestic dominance into the knockout stages, expect their No9 to be firmly among the goals.

Sebastien Haller, Ajax (11 goals, one assist)

Sebastien Haller enjoyed a record-breaking Champions League campaign

Sebastien Haller’s maiden Champions League campaign was one to remember but came to end when Ajax suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Benfica in their last-16 second leg.

After netting 10 goals in six games in the group stage, Haller notched his 11th of the campaign in the 2-2 first-leg draw in Lisbon.

The Ivory Coast international became the quickest player in the competition’s history to score 10 or more goals.

The 27-year-old also became only the second man — after Cristiano Ronaldo — to score in all six matches of a single group stage.

The ex-West Ham frontman will take many special memories from a record-breaking personal performance, but will, unfortunately, have to wait until next season to increase his goal tally.

Karim Benzema (11 goals)

Real forward Karim Benzema has been in scintillating form in the Champions League knockout phase, netting consecutive hat-tricks against both PSG and Chelsea.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side was in serious danger of exiting this year’s competition at the hands of the French giants before Benzema took center stage.

Down 2-0 on aggregate with less than half an hour to play, the Los Blancos No9 burst into life, netting a brilliant hat-trick in just 17 minutes to seal a remarkable comeback win.

The 34-year-old then followed up that amazing display with another treble, this time at Stamford Bridge, to give the LaLiga table-toppers a 3-1 lead after the first leg.

Benzema has never ended a Champions League season as top scorer, despite lifting the trophy on four occasions.

Were Ancelotti’s men to go all the way this time, however, their star striker would have a great chance to clinch the prestigious accolade.

Mohamed Salah, Liverpool (eight goals)

Mohamed Salah failed to find the target in Liverpool’s 3-1 win at Benfica

Mohamed Salah was left frustrated after drawing a blank in Liverpool’s quarter-final first-leg win at Benfica, but will hope to have more chances to improve his tally in the second leg.

The Reds emerged victorious with a 3-1 triumph in Lisbon and will now back themselves to seal a place in the last four.

Their Egyptian ace did get himself on to the scoresheet in the last-16 first-leg win at Inter Milan having also bagged a match-winning double in a 3-2 success over Atletico in the group stage.

Jurgen Klopp’s men will have eyes on once again lifting the trophy they last claimed in 2019 and will need Salah to be as instrumental now as he was during that victorious season if they are to do so.

The 29-year-old will be aiming to better his best-ever tally of 10 in the competition to take the individual prize but with the form he is in this season, you would not bet against him doing just that.

Christopher Nkunku, RB Leipzig (seven goals)

Christopher Nkunku bowed out of the running following RB Leipzig’s group-stage elimination but his goalscoring exploits mean he is well worthy of a mention.

The French attacker managed seven goals in six games — made more impressive by the fact that he rarely operates as an out-and-out striker for the Bundesliga outfit.

Playing on the left, right, or in attacking midfield, the 24-year-old is developing into one of Europe’s most exciting talents.

Source: Livescore.