There is n doubting tha fact that the Golden Shoe is one of the most prestigious awards in Europe. The award, formerly held by Barcelona’s Luis Suarez, has been held by the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and Henrik Larsson.
However, the race for the Golden Shoe is not as straight forwards as it appears to sound. The goals scored by each player in their respective Leagues are only counted (no cup competitions), and they’re multiplied by a coefficient allotted to each League. Players in Italy, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and England have 2.0 as the coefficient which gets multiplied to each goal they score in the League, and the players who play in countries like France, Greece, Netherlands have a coefficient of 1.5 which gets multiplied to their goal tally at the end of the season.
The person with the highest points at the end of the season walks away with the prize. So here are the the Top 10
#10 Romelu Lukaku (25 goals X 2 = 50 points)
There is a common belief that Romelu Lukaku is not a big game player. To those, I ask a simple question, if you’re a ‘bigger team’ playing against a ‘smaller team’, is it not important to score. Managers of clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United and even to some extent Barcelona has moaned their team didn’t have the cutting edge against opposition which were percieved to be worse than them.
Brilliant on the turn, strong, fast and very reliable finisher. He has been doing this since he was 18-years-old and it is a matter of time he does it at a bigger club than Everton. Despite his brilliance, his best is still yet to come. Also,
#10 (Tied) Anthony Modeste (25 goals X 2 = 50 points)
There is something about Anthony Modeste that makes you instantly like him. Strong on the ball, a willing runner and physical to the point defenders hate him, he has a hand in more than 57% of FC Koln’s goals, leading them to the 5th place in the Bundesliga.
Add to that his goal celebration where he makes those goggles and I have found you a FIFA legend you should buy just to see your opponents throw their controller away. Also, he scored this goal when his pants were falling off, and that is when I truly fell in love.
#10 (Tied) Cristiano Ronaldo (25 goals X 2 = 50 points)
Cristiano Ronaldo. What can I say about the Portuguese superstar that has not already been said? It has been a fascinating watch to see Ronaldo change his game to suit his changing body, the stepovers had already gone, but now even the running from deep has gone. He has become a striker, who can finish from anywhere near the box, and is brilliant with his head.
Another intriguing watch has been the number of assists he has provided to his fellow forwards, 12 to be exact. That is 52 goals in which he has been directly involved. Staggering.
Not a team player, pah.
#10 (Tied) Andrea Belotti (25 goals X 2 = 50 points)
The second highest goal scorer in the Serie A, the Italian has truly taken the world by storm. A proper number 9 in every sense of the word, the international is a goal poacher with his head, right foot, left foot and every part of the body the referee would allow him to score with.
He has had a hand in 30 goals this season, around half of the goals Torino have scored this season. Manchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid are all rumoured to be interested, but somehow he gives me the feeling that he is the archetypical Jose Mourinho center-forward.rumoured to be interested, but somehow he gives me the feeling that he is the archetypical Jose Mourinho center-forward.
#9 Edinson Cavani (35 goals X 1.5 = 51.5 points)
Poor Edinson Cavani, if he played in any of the top 5 Leagues apart from France, he would be at the second position. But, unfortunately, or fortunately he plays in the Ligue 1 for PSG (who will probably not win the League despite his 33 goals).
For the first time since his spell in Italy with Napoli, he has made the number 9 role his own. Add his international goals, and the goals he scored in cup competitions he has 51 goals for the season. Not so overrated now, is he?
#8 Dries Mertens (27 goals X 2 = 54 points)
Find me a person who says that they saw Dries Mertens scoring 27 goals this season from wide positions in the La Liga this season, and I will find you a liar. The Belgian international has not only developed his game this season, but he has taken it to a whole new level and has led Napoli to a very respectable 3rd in the Serie A.
After his brilliant season in Naples, he has been inevitably been linked to Manchester United, Chelsea and West Ham but given he is 30 years old now, clubs would have a rethink before buying him. Also, he is no one-season wonder, he had scored 27 goals for PSV in 2012. So there.
Side note, if Belgium still doesn't play well in international competition, then they should really rethink their strategy of choosing managers.
#7 Edin Dzeko (28 goals X 2 = 56 points)
Manchester City could have really done with his goals this season. After, a poor first season (by his standards), he has established himself as one of the best in Europe again. The highest goal scorer in Italy, he has led an unlikely title challenge from Roma against the mighty Juventus.
Given that he is 31-years-old and has had the best season of his career is a testament to his fitness and hunger. Also, he is the first Roma player to score 27 goals and more in a season since Enrique Guaita in 1934/35.
“I'm not a boy anymore,” Dzeko told English outlet ‘The Independent’, “I can't run maybe like I could ten years ago...you feel different. I'm older, but I'm much [more] clever because I have so many games behind me”. Let’s call it his Italian renaissance.
#5 (Tied) Harry Kane (29 goals X 2 = 58 points)
Harry Kane has had 30 appearances in the Premier League season, and he has scored 29 goals. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi,, Alexandre Lacazette and Harry Kane has scored thirty goals or more in the past three seasons. Add to that this is Tottenham’s best finish in the Premier League, and we have a team man and brilliant individual.
Admittedly his last six goals came in dead rubbers against Leicester City and Hull City, but among all that there is clear message, that Tottenham are here to stay. It will be viatl for the Spurs to keep Harry Kane beyond this season, as if he keeps doing what he has done in the last 3 seasons, the big boys will come knocking. viatl for the Spurs to keep Harry Kane beyond this season, as if he keeps doing what he has done in the last 3 seasons, the big boys will come knocking.
Undoubtedly, one of the best strikers in Europe and he is only 23.
#5 (Tied) Luis Suarez (29 goals X 2 = 58 points)
The last winner of the golden shoe, and has admittedly an underwhelming season. Given he has scored 29 League goals in such as season is a testament to the player and his ability. His contribution to the Barcelona team, however, remains integral to what they achieve at the end of the season.
Selfless running, one-touch finishes, and theatrical dives, you might love him or hate him but you really can’t ignore him. Alongside, Lionel Messi and Neymar they will truly have defenders quaking in their boots. Expect him to be nearer to the top in coming seasons.
#4 Robert Lewandowski (30 goals X 2 = 60 points)
The second highest goal scorer in the Bundesliga, the Bayern Munich hitman has kept his usual standards in terms of goals and what he brings to the eventual champions of the Bundesliga. Undoubtedly, one of three best centre-forwards in Europe the Polish international is the only indispensable in a Bayern team which has a World class alternative for every position.
Apart from his prodigious ability to finish from anywhere in the box, he plays wonderfully well with his back to goal (a sort of a dying art in modern football) and has added a wicked free kick to his already impressive arsenal. Undoubtedly the best player at Bayern Munich, and that is an achievement in itself.
#3 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (31 goals X 2 = 62 points)
It is probably one of the biggest mysteries in Europe that Aubameyang somehow still divides opinion. The Gabon striker is the template for a modern striker, quick, runs in behind, and a great header of the ball.
His importance to the team is evident when Dortmund play without their main man. He has tailored a telepathic importance with Ousmane Dembélé, and the duo was perhaps the main reason for their run into the Champions League quarterfinals.
With Real Madrid sniffing around it remains to be seen how long the 27-year-old would stick around.
#2 Bas Dost (34 goals X2 = 68 points)
“I'm going to give my all to beat Lionel Messi,” said Bas Dost a couple of weeks before the conclusion of the League season. The man tried, and he tried hard, but unfortunately, he came up against the immovable object. The Netherlands international has 34 strikes from a staggering 90 shots in Portuguese League with Sporting.
Now 27, five years hence that record-breaking season as a 22-year-old top scorer of the Eredivisie. It is safe to say that he hasn’t set the world alight. But, this season, he showcased everything that made him one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe.
His ability to find space in the most crowded of areas, and his ability to use all of the 1.96 meters of height which led him to score a staggering 11 goals from his head. He finished with just three goals less than the top-scorer in Europe, and it’s best to say, he did his best to cement his name in the history books.
#1 Lionel Messi (37 goals X 2 = 74 points)
Well, who else could it be but the prodigal son of Barcelona? At the start of the season, there were whispers around the football world that the Number 10 might have been on the wane, but the Argentine has proved his doubters wrong and then some.
There have been points in the season when he has carried Barcelona on his shoulders when the Catalan giants really needed him. Obviously, the El Clasico comes to mind, but the Argentine international doesn't get enough credit for the evolution he has brought to his game. He may not dribble past 5 people every 5 minutes, but he is capable of eliminating five with his passes now.
After all that he contributues in a game, he goes and scores 37 goals in a season. What a man.
Genius personified.
