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The European Golden Boot is an award that is presented each season to the leading goalscorer in league matches from the top division of every European national league. The trophy is a sculpture of a football boot.
Leo Messi is the only player to win the award five times, all with Barcelona. Messi holds the all-time record for goals in a single season with 50 in 2011–12; it also accumulated to a record 100 points.
However, the competition for the Golden Boot is never reducing, as we witness incredible numbers by numerous players every year. The last term, it was Messi again leading the chart, with the likes of Salah, Kane and Immobile finishing behind the Argentine.
Well, let's analyse the chances of the probable players who are going to lift the Golden Shoe this season.
#5 Cristiano Ronaldo
The former Real Madrid talisman has not had the best of starts at Juventus, though none will be willing to bet against him to end the season as the top scorer of Serie A. Although it's his first year in Italy, and as he is new to Italian football, it's obvious that he'd require some time.
His starting league form has been a bit of concern for a few seasons now, though the Portuguese always ends up in the top 3 highest goalscorers by the end of the season.
Last season, Ronaldo went goalless for the first 5 games, and still, he managed to finish the season with one more goal than Suarez, despite playing 5 games less than the Urugyuan. This tells us that Ronaldo is never to be written off.
He has had 23 shots in just 3 games but hasn't scored a goal yet. He is not lacking anything, maybe it's just bad luck. Juve fans certainly have trust in him, and history is proof that the 33-year-old is arguably the best at making comebacks.
#4 Karim Benzema
The Frenchman has not been in his best form for a few seasons now. However, Benzema has started off his new 2018-19 season with 4 goals to his name already, one less than the total number of goals he scored last season in La Liga.
Madridistas have lacked respect for the Frenchman though, as he is pretty famous for missing sitters and bottling easy chances. He has not been up to the mark as a striker, but his ability to create plays and set up his teammates is still as good as ever.
Yes, he has lacked efficiency while playing as a sole striker, but what people fail to notice is he is the reason why others get good scoring chances. The Frenchman creates more than he scores, though one can claim it's not his job to create.
Well, this season, he looks set to play as an out and out striker who is going to score a ton of goals by the end of the season, and this makes him a top contender for the Golden Boot 2018-19.
#3 Harry Kane
The so-called "one season wonder" is performing more consistently than the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi now. Harry Kane was the best striker last season, and there is no denying it.
Harry Kane bagged 30 goals and two assists last term, being the top scorer of the FIFA World Cup 2018 as well. The Englishman has been a consistent performer for the Lilywhites, as they have finished in the top 4 for quite a few seasons now.
Harry Kane is a clear-cut contender for the Golden Boot, and the 25-year-old has already started the season with two goals to his name.
#2 Mohamed Salah
Not a fairy-tale ending for the Egyptian in the World Cup and UCL, unfortunately. Salah scored 32 times for Liverpool in the Premier League, bagging 10 assists as well. This has been a blissful year for the 26-year-old, as he also scored 7 goals in the UCL.
Mohammad Salah won the Premier League Golden Boot 2017-18 and finished second in the European Golden Boot ranking last season, as Barcelona's Leo Messi scored two more than the African.
Mohammad Salah has put the ball twice behind the net this season in just 4 games, and he must be looking to win all major collective and individual trophies with Liverpool.
#1 Leo Messi
Leo Messi has won the Golden Shoe for a record 5th time for Barcelona in his 14 years of footballing career with the Catalan side. Leo has been scoring unlimited goals every season, and the man seems to age like wine; getting better and better with years passing by.
He scored 34 goals in the 36 games last term, with 12 assists to his name as well. In spite of being a playmaker, a pure number 10 for his team, he still finishes every season with the highest league goals, or at least, the top scorer for Barcelona. His ability to score and create plays remains on an extraordinary level; a level players try their best to reach.
Considering his remarkable form in domestic games, a 6th Golden Shoe for the Argentine doesn't look a bit impossible, not at all.
