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The European Golden Boot is the prize awarded to the highest goalscorer across domestic leagues in Europe every season. It is an accolade that sees an intense competition. The world's most potent goalscorers go head-to-head with one another to claim it.
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski won the most recent edition. He scored an astonishing 41 times for the Bavarians in 29 Bundesliga games last season. The Polish forward has entered the new campaign on a prolific note, and will certainly be in the running for the award once again.
The race for the European Golden Boot promises to be more intense this season. Several attackers are already running riot with their incredible exploits in front of goal. They are looking ready to take the battle to the wire.
On that note, here are the five players who are contenders to win the European Golden Boot award this season:
#5 Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland shocked everyone when he finished as top scorer in the UEFA Champions League last season. He scored ten goals in eight games. The Borussia Dortmund superstar has maintained his spectacular form this season. He is, without a doubt, one of the finest finishers in the world right now.
Haaland has entered the 2021-22 campaign explosively, bagging two goals and three assists in his first Bundesliga appearance against Frankfurt in August. Since then, he has added seven more goals and three assists to his name, raising his tally to nine goals and four assists in just six appearances.
It goes without mentioning that the Norwegian would've scored more goals if not for an injury setback. He has missed six games in the German top flight so far. He is expected to return to action soon to continue his bid for the European Golden Boot award.
#4 Ciro Immobile
The Lazio striker is currently leading the scoring chart in Serie A, with ten goals and two assists in 11 appearances so far. That includes four goals in his last five outings with the Italian outfit.
Ciro Immobile has been one of the finest strikers in Europe in the last few years. He has won the Serie A top scorer prize three times so far in his career. Following his brilliant start to the term, it'll be interesting to see how he'll fare against other elite finishers in the race for the 2021-22 European Golden Boot award.
#3 Karim Benzema
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has raised his game to a new level since becoming the leader of Los Blancos' attack following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure. The Frenchman ran riot in the previous campaign, bagging 23 league goals for the Spanish giants.
Benzema has taken off from where he left off this season. The 33-year-old has been a huge nightmare for opposition defences, scoring consistently to keep his team moving in the right direction.
So far, he has recorded ten goals to his name in 12 La Liga appearances - the most anyone has bagged in the Spanish top flight this season. The striker seems to be getting better with age.
With the way he is going, only time will tell how many goals he will end this campaign with. He is indeed a player to keep an eye on in the race for this season's European Golden Boot award.
#2 Mohamed Salah
The way Mohamed Salah has entered the season is quite scary. The Egyptian has proved to be totally unstoppable in the Premier League since the campaign kicked off. He has destroyed even the most organised defences in the division.
Salah wasted no time in making his impact felt. The diminutive forward bagged one goal and two assists in his first appearance against Norwich City in August. After firing blanks against Burnley, the Egyptian embarked on a prolific run that saw him score in seven consecutive games in the English top flight.
As things stand, the 29-year-old leads the Premier League goalscoring chart with 11 goals in 12 appearances. That has put him in a decent position in the race for the European Golden Boot award this season.
#1 Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski has won the European Golden Boot award in each of the last two seasons. Following his prolific start to the current campaign, the Bayern Munich striker has put himself in a decent position to make it three successive triumphs.
As things stand. Lewandowski is leading the race for the accolade this season, 14 goals in 12 Bundesliga games so far. The striker has been in terrific form this season. He has scored in his first five games in the German top flight as well as in his last five matches in the division.
He is scoring goals almost at will this season. So it wouldn't be far-fetched to say the European Golden Boot award is the Polish forward's to lose this campaign. It remains to be seen if anyone can end Robert Lewandowski' dominance.
