Top 10 goalscorers in the race for the European Golden Shoe 2019-20

Who is the highest goalscorer in Europe?
Who is the highest goalscorer in Europe?

#7 Jamie Vardy | Leicester City | 46 points

Vardy won his first-ever Premier League Golden Boot
Vardy won his first-ever Premier League Golden Boot

Leicester City's legendary striker Jamie Vardy looked all set to propel the Foxes to their second-ever UCL campaign after a stunning season at the King Power. The Englishman was on the brink of being a runaway leader for most goals until he hit a dry patch in 2020.

Vardy amassed 23 goals in 35 league games, and at 33, he became the oldest-ever Golden Boot winner in the Premier League era. The 2015/16 English champion also had five assists along with his 23 league goals for Leicester City, proving to be the catalyst for their top-four push.

Despite Leicester's eventual failure to break into the UCL spots, 2019/20 will go down as one of Vardy's best seasons in the top-flight. His goals, as per the point system, are worth 46 points in the race for the European Golden Shoe.


#6 Erling Haaland | RB Salzburg/Borussia Bortmund | 50 points

Erling Haaland has had a breakthrough season
Erling Haaland has had a breakthrough season

Erling Haaland introduced himself to the biggest clubs in Europe in emphatic fashion during the course of the 2019/20 campaign. He's played across two different top-flight leagues as his impressive performances earned him a winter move to Germany.

The Norwegian played 14 games (11 starts) for RB Salzburg in the T-Mobile Bundesliga and scored a stunning 16 goals in the process. Amidst the uncertainty of how he would adapt to a more competitive league in Germany, Haaland had a flying start in the Bundesliga as well. The 20-year-old scored 13 goals and set up a further two in 14 games for Dortmund.

His 16 Austrian league goals are worth 24 points, while his 13 Bundesliga goals are worth 26 — taking his tally to a total of 50 points. The Norwegian wonderkid is also the second-highest scorer in the UCL, just one shy of Robert Lewandowski's 11 goals.


#5 Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 50 points

Lionel Messi enjoyed a record-breaking season for Barcelona
Lionel Messi enjoyed a record-breaking season for Barcelona

Barcelona's imperious leader Lionel Messi, despite his club's woes in 2019/20, has had another spectacular season in LaLiga Santander. The Argentine was the driving force behind the Catalans' push for a third consecutive Spanish title. However, they ultimately surrendered a four-point lead at the top to Clasico rivals Real Madrid.

The 33-year-old made history by becoming the first-ever player in LaLiga history to score and assist a minimum of 20 goals in a league season. Messi finished the season with 25 goals and 21 assists in LaLiga, both of which were the highest figures recorded in the league during the 2019/20 campaign.

His 25 goals are worth a total of 50 points due to the coefficient of two. Despite this year seeing one of Messi's lowest goal returns in his professional career, his remarkable playmaking ability was on full display at the Nou Camp.


#4 Timo Werner | RB Leipzig | 56 points

Werner became RB Leipzig's all-time top scorer
Werner became RB Leipzig's all-time top scorer

Chelsea's latest €53m purchase Timo Werner has enjoyed a stellar few seasons at RB Leipzig. The German international has pivotal to their recent achievements and has been one of the most lethal forwards in his homeland. 2019/20 was no different, and in fact, it has been his most productive league season to date.

Werner scored a staggering 28 goals in 34 games for the Red Bull-powered club in the Bundesliga. Although he didn't win the Golden Boot in Germany, it is still seven more than what he scored in the 2016/17 season (21), his highest prior to this season. He also has eight assists to show for, and became the only Bundesliga player to score and assists a hat-trick of goals in the same game.

The new Chelsea attacker's point total stands at 56 points due to his 28 goals for RB Leipzig. Werner would hope to replicate his sublime form in London with Frank Lampard's side.


Also read: Top 10 U-21 English talents in football | Premier League 2019-20

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