Haaland maintains lead in race to be crowned Champions League top scorer

With the Champions League finalists now confirmed, the race to be crowned top scorer is reaching its conclusion.

As the world's most lethal forwards compete for supremacy, we run through the favourites to see who is in the mix.

Erling Haaland failed to hit the target in Manchester City's semi-final second-leg demolition of Real Madrid but still holds a commanding lead over his rivals.

Records continue to tumble for the Norwegian sensation — no player has ever scored more goals in a single Champions League season for an English club than Haaland's 12 this term, level with Ruud van Nistelrooy's efforts for Manchester United in 2002-03. 

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was on fire in Europe this season and scored his eighth goal in just seven matches to hand his side a 2-0 lead over Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 showdown.

Unfortunately for the Egyptian, the Reds went on to lose 5-2 at Anfield and were knocked out after a 1-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Vinicius Junior broke the deadlock in the 1-1 first-leg draw at the Bernabeu yet could not add to his tally in the return fixture in Manchester.

Vinicius relishes the European stage, netting the winner in last year's final but will be forced to sit out the showpiece in Istanbul this season.

World Cup Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe has enjoyed a prolific campaign but will not land the coveted crown.

The Frenchman failed to inspire his side past Bayern Munich in the last 16 and finished on a respectable seven goals from eight outings.

Joao Mario struck in both legs as Benfica breezed past Club Brugge in the last 16 — equalling the great Eusebio's club record of scoring in five consecutive European games.

But he was an anonymous presence as the Eagles crashed out at the hands of Inter Milan in the last eight, 5-3 on aggregate.