Top 4 candidates to win the 2018-19 European Golden Shoe

Who are the top 4 candidates to win 2018-19 European Golden Shoe Award?
Who are the top 4 candidates to win 2018-19 European Golden Shoe Award?

As many of you know - the European Golden Shoe is an award which is given after each season to the player who scores the most goals in the league matches of the top division of every European domestic league.

Lionel Messi is the current holder of the European Golden Shoe. This upcoming season there will certainly be many contenders emerging to bag this award, but only one will be able to take it home.

In this list, we feature the favourites to win 2018-19 season Golden Shoe award.


#4 Harry Kane - Tottenham

Hurri-cane is carrying the hopes of his country on his shoulders to win the European Golden Shoe this season
Kane is carrying the hopes of his country on his shoulders to win the European Golden Shoe this season

Tottenham's talisman Kane is emerging as a strong candidate to win the Golden Shoe this upcoming season. He is carrying the hopes of the Spurs fans on his shoulder to take away this prestigious award with him for the first time in his professional career to date.

After being seen nowhere around in the field recently, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino revealed he secretly returned to training just days after England's World Cup exit.

England's current captain, Kane netted 56 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions for both Tottenham and his national side in 2017 - thus establishing himself as a strong candidate for the European Golden Shoe award.

Kane has already won the Premier League Golden Boot twice in consecutive years but was denied a third successive Golden Boot accolade earlier this year though, having finished runner-up to Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, who scored two (32) more.

#3 Mohamed Salah - Liverpool

Salah is known for his ball control, dribbling-skills and speed in order to outshine his opponents
Salah is known for his ball control and dribbling-skills

Mohamed Salah plays predominantly as a right-sided forward and has also established himself among the favourite candidates to win this year's Golden Shoe, having finished last season as the Premier League's top goalscorer and narrowly edging out Kane in his first campaign at Liverpool following a £34.3m move from Roma.

Salah is a player known for his excellent technique, blistering speed, hard-working attitude and eagerness to create and score opportunities in the final third. Ball control, agility and dribbling skills allow him to beat his opponents with seeming ease at times - which proved pivotal as Liverpool surprised many by progressing to the Champions League final last term.

The Egyptian international has already placed himself as the all-time second top goalscorer at Liverpool in Premier League history, while breaking Fernando Torres' 33-goal haul for the most goals scored by a single Red player during their debut campaign at the club. He netted 44 across all competitions.

#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, now Juventus)

Real Madrid v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final
Ronaldo celebrates Real's third successive Champions League triumph and his 5th winners medal in May

Cristiano Ronaldo had a sluggish goalscoring start during last season's La Liga yet still managed to score 26 league goals - despite having four before Christmas. Perhaps if he was able to net more regularly on the domestic stage, he could clinch the Golden Shoe away from the number one candidate this season.

The Portugal international will be now aiming to continue improving following a surprise - but equally sensational move to Juventus this summer. Having joined the Italian champions last month, he could rebuild himself as Serie A's top goalscorer while flourishing as part of a Juve side that continues to get better with more exciting acquisitions on a yearly basis.

Ronaldo has already captured the Ballon d'Or five times, matching Lionel Messi for the most victories after claiming last year's award. As well as that, he was named FIFA's best Men's Player of the Year two years running (2016, 2017) and is a 5-time World Soccer Player of the Year too. If he is somehow able to beat his goalscoring rivals this term, he could indeed be taking home his fifth Golden Shoe this campaign.

#1 Lionel Messi - Barcelona

Lionel Messi has already won the Golden Shoe award two years in a row
Lionel Messi has already won the Golden Shoe award two years in a row

Current European Golden Shoe holder - Lionel Messi, who else?

Messi has already defeated his rivals on five separate occasions to earn the Golden Shoe. Currently ranked at top spot among the favourites for the accolade, beating the likes of Kane, Salah and long-term rival Ronaldo in the process.

Last year, he won the Golden Shoe after netting 34 goals for Barcelona. The first player ever in La Liga history to hit 50 goals in a single season (2011/12), the only player to win the European Golden Shoe a record-breaking five times (standing second is Ronaldo, on four), the Argentine continues to break records and surprise his critics on a yearly basis.

It will be interesting to see whether he can replicate such excellent form ahead of the new campaign, as he continues to age and many goalscoring rivals will be keen to displace the 31-year-old off his mantle.

What do you think of this list? Which player will win the award this time around? Have your say in the comments' section below.

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Edited by Mosope Ominiyi