Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema both staked their claims to be regarded as the best striker in the world in midweek by hitting Champions League hat-tricks.
Lewandowski set a new record for the competition by netting his brace within 23 minutes of kickoff, while the time between all three of his goals was just over 10 minutes.
Benzema was not far off that himself with a 16-minute hat-trick to complete a remarkable comeback for Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain the following night, making sure that the Pole did not pull away from him in the all-time Champions League scoring list.
Harry Kane has also been in sparking form for Tottenham Hotspur recently, while Erling Braut Haaland's record of 80 goals from just 79 games since joining Borussia Dortmund also demands huge respect.
With so many great strikers laying their claim to the crown, here the Sports Mole team discuss who they believe is the best centre-forward in the world right now.
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Barney Corkhill, Editor
Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski really put their names forward as the top two in this category right now with their hat-trick heroics in midweek, but for me this is still a fairly straightforward answer: Robert Lewandowski.
That says a lot given we're living in something of a golden age of great centre-forwards; Erling Braut Haaland will finish his career as one of the greatest goalscorers of all time if he carries on like he is going, Harry Kane arguably offers more than the other contenders beyond 'just' goals, while Kylian Mbappe is the one player in the world I would choose if I was asked a) who I would most want my club to sign and b) who I would be most concerned about coming up against my team.
I wouldn't quite class Mbappe as an out-and-out centre-forward, though - certainly not in the mould of the others - so while I do believe he is maybe the best player in the world right now, alongside Lewandowski, it is the Pole who edges it as the best centre-forward.
Plenty of players have suffered from living in the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era in terms of individual awards, and without those two I think Lewandowski would be more widely recognised as one of the greatest strikers to have ever lived, yet alone in this generation.
The relentlessness of his goalscoring is preposterous; he has already made it seven consecutive seasons of 40 or more goals, and is well on course for a third successive season averaging more than a goal per game, which is quite frankly ridiculous in his 30s. Many players are proving their prolonged greatness after their 30th birthdays in the current era, but none more so than Lewandowski.
To put his achievements into context next to some of the other greatest strikers of all time, the Brazilian Ronaldo and Denis Law only scored 40 or more goals in one season, Jimmy Greaves managed it in two seasons, Romario in three, Ferenc Puskas in five and even Gerd Muller has to play second fiddle to Lewandowski with 'just' the six 40-goal seasons.
The range of goals Lewandowski scores is also incredible - he is by no means just a poacher or fox in the box. Benzema is great, but Lewandowski for me deserves to be regarded among the very best of all time.
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Matt Law, Football Editor
Harry Kane has been back to his best in recent weeks, and there is absolutely no question that he is one of the top three or four leading strikers in the world, but I would place Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski just ahead of him. It really is a flip of a coin between Benzema and Lewandowski, with both players showing their excellence in the Champions League over the last few days.
Lewandowski's record of 336 goals in 364 appearances for Bayern is ridiculous, while Benzema has 309 in 592 appearances for Real Madrid, becoming the club's third-highest goalscorer of all time with his treble against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night, which is some achievement.
Lewandowski has 42 goals in 35 outings at club level this term, while Benzema has 30 in 33 appearances for Real Madrid, so the statistics favour the Bayern centre-forward this season and indeed overall at their respective clubs. I would go just Benzema, though, by the narrowest of margins. Not too many expected Real Madrid to be so clear at the top of La Liga at this stage, and he has been such an inspiration for the Spanish club this term, pulling them out of difficult situations time and time again, including in Europe against PSG.
Kane is up there, Erling Braut Haaland could soon be as well, but Lewandowski and Benzema are the leading strikers in world football, and I would place the Real Madrid man at the top, just.
Olly Allen, Reporter
Robert Lewandowski has been the answer to this question for quite some time now and it's remarkable that that there are no signs of his goalscoring rate slowing down despite the Pole turning 34 in less than six months.
He has found the net more than anyone else in both the Bundesliga and Champions League this season, which says it all. His finishing is unparalleled and there is no-one you would trust more in the box to stick the ball away.
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Oliver Thomas, Reporter
There are a number of elite marksmen who are in fine form at present, but if I were to choose one above the rest right now, it would be Robert Lewandowski. Strikers are there to score goals and the Poland international has never had problems finding the net throughout his career.
At 33 years of age, he is showing no signs of winding down having already bagged 42 goals in just 35 games across all competitions this season, and it is not even the middle of March yet. Lewandowski has now scored at least 40 goals in each of the last seven seasons, an incredible landmark that should not go unnoticed.
Bayern Munich's number nine is the complete centre-forward who could play for any team in any system right now. While Harry Kane, Karim Benzema, Erling Braut Haaland and Kylian Mbappe also deserve a mention in the debate, Lewandowski stands out as the top dog in world football.
Sam Varley, Reporter
The way Karim Benzema has stepped up to lead Real Madrid, after an already glistening career, following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure cannot be understated, and his heroics against Paris Saint-Germain only further established his standing as one of the best of his generation.
With eight goals in the Champions League and 20 in La Liga this season, the Frenchman is showing no signs of letting up, and I do not see a stronger or more well-rounded forward currently operating across the world.
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Joel Lefevre, Reporter
If you were to ask me at this very moment who is the best centre forward in the world I would say Karim Benzema.
The Frenchman is having another fantastic campaign, leading La Liga in goals and assists, he is everything to Real Madrid.
He can score, his link-up play is tremendous, he comes through in the clutch and he can play in any system, for any coach, plus he does it for club and country.
Benzema for me is the epitome of a team player, who is not after the glory or needing the service to come to him all the time - unlike Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim the dream can make his own opportunities.
He's lethal in front of goal, counted upon in every situation and can still make the difference, and that is why at present he is the best of the bunch.
Barney Corkhill
