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The European Golden Shoe is an award given out to the top scorer in European leagues since 1967/1968, and it is handed out by European Sports media. It is one of the most prestigious individual awards in football. The award has been won by some of the most legendary names in history, including Ronaldo Nazario, Thierry Henry, Francesco Totti, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi.
Coefficients are given out to leagues based on their UEFA ranking. Hence, fewer goals scored in a tougher league are ranked higher than more goals in a weaker league.
The goals are multiplied by a factor of 2 in the leagues ranked one to five (La Liga - Ligue 1). Leagues ranked six to 21 (Portugal Primeira Liga - Sweden Allvenskan) are multiplied by a factor of 1.5, and leagues ranked 22 and below are multiplied by one.
Ciro Immobile is the current holder of the award, following his record-breaking campaign last season.
Here, we shall be taking a look at the top 10 contenders for the 2020 European Golden Shoe.
Top Contenders for the European Golden Shoe
Note: Stats and goals correct at the time of writing
#10 Jesper Karlsson (AZ Alkmaar) - 16 goals
Eredivisie (x1.5)
16 goals - 24 points
After starring in his nation's Allvenskan for four years, the Sweden international joined AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands' Eredivisie.
Karlsson has played a key role in helping AZ to 5th in the table, with five goals from 12 league games so far.
Along 11 he scored for Elfsborg in Sweden before he transferred, he has scored a total of 16 goals, which tallies to 24 points.
#9 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) - 12 goals
Ligue 1 (x2)
12 goals - 24 points
Kylian Mbappe needs no introduction, considering his exploits over the last four years.
The France international has blossomed into a world beater and is currently regarded as one of the best players in the world despite being only 22.
Although Ligue 1 was curtailed last season, Mbappe won the Golden Boot. He would be seeking to go one further by winning a maiden European Golden Shoe at the end of the current campaign.
#8 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) - 12 goals
Serie A (x2)
12 goals - 24 points
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy logic and break records on a weekly basis, despite the fact that he will soon turn 36.
The Portugal international joined Juventus in 2018. He has since written his name into the club's record books and narrowly lost out on the Capocannoniere award last season.
The former Manchester United man is a four-time winner of the European Golden Shoe, but has not triumphed as Europe's top marksman since 2015.
#7 Amahl Pellegrino (Kristiansund BK)
Eliteserian (x1)
25 goals - 25 points
Amahl Pellegrino finished as the second top-scorer in the 2020 Norwegian Eliteserian, and his goals were enough for Kristiansund BK to register a 5th-place finish on the final standings.
Considering the fact that the Norwegian league is not in the upper echelons of league hierarchy, goals scored in the Eliteserian are only awarded coefficients of one in the European Golden Shoe ranking.
#6 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Premier League (x2)
13 goals - 26 points
Mohamed Salah was an instant revelation upon signing for Liverpool from AS Roma, and he has played a massive role in the success enjoyed by the Merseyside outfit since then.
The Egypt international is a two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner but a maiden European Golden Shoe still eludes him.
That could change this season, as the 28-year-old is currently in fine form, with five goals scored from five matches played in December.
#5 Rauno Sappinen (FC Flora)
Premium Liiga (x1)
26 goals - 26 points
Unlike most other leagues in Europe, the Estonian Premium Liiga has concluded, meaning that Rauno would not get any chance to add to the 26 goals he scored.
His goals were enough to see Flora successfully defend their league title but the league's coefficient of one in the European Golden Shoe ranking means that Sappinen would likely drop further down the list before the conclusion of mainstream leagues.
#4 Christoffer Nyman (Norkoping)
Allvenskan (x1.5)
18 goals - 27 points
Chsristoffer Nyman finished as the top-scorer in the just concluded season of the Swedish Allsvenskan with 18 goals.
The Swedish top-flight is awarded a coefficient of 1.5 for the European Golden Shoe ranking which gives the 28-year-old a final tally of 27 points.
#3 Kasper Junker (Bodo/Glimt)
Eliteserian (x1)
27 goals - 27 points
Kasper Junker was the driving force as Bodo/Glint ran away with the Norwegian title, his 27 goals helping his side to win a maiden league title.
Unfortunately, this is worth only 27 points in the ranking for the European Shoe and like many players in the lower leagues, he will drop down the standings later in the season.
#2 Maksim Skavysh (BATE Borisov)
Vysheyshaya Liga (x1.5)
19 goals - 28.5 points
Maksim Skavysh finished as the top goalscorer in the Belarusian Premier League with 19 goals, although this was only enough to help BATE Borisov to a second-place finish.
The league's coefficient of 1.5 means that he has 28.5 points in the European Golden Shoe ranking which is enough to place him second in the race at the moment.
#1 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Bundesliga (x2)
17 goals - 34 points
Bayern Munich romped their way to a second treble last season and star striker Robert Lewandowski was the standout player in what was a remarkable campaign.
The Poland international was unlucky to lose out to Ciro Immobile in the race for the European Golden Shoe last season, but he has continued from where he left off in the current campaign.
The 32-year-old leads the way in the Bundesliga scoring chart with 17 goals. Despite playing fewer games than his main rivals in the league (34 against 38), Lewandowski is on course to finish as the top marksman in Europe.
