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The 2020/21 football season and up and running and that means the race for the European Golden Shoe has also kick-started.
Last season’s prize was claimed by Ciro Immobile, who beat off competition from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski to win it.
The Italian striker scored 36 goals for Lazio in a season where many did not even consider him among the favourites to emerge top-scorer in Europe.
Will we see a new face win the European Golden Shoe this season? Only time will tell, but the race is already getting keener. Perennial contenders for the Golden Shoe like Ronaldo and Messi are yet to get into full gear, but a couple of new faces have already taken an early lead in the race.
As we begin the month of October, here are the top 10 contenders for this season’s European Golden Shoe. (Note: This ranking is based on goals scored by players in only Europe’s top five leagues and, should players have the same number of goals, their assists will be used to decide who stays top of the other).
#10 José Luis Morales (3 goals – 6 points)
José Luis Morales is currently the joint top-scorer in La Liga. The 33-year-old has netted three goals in two games for Levante this season. The veteran striker many not be fancied to go all the way to become top-scorer in the Spanish topflight, but his prospects look good.
Morales currently averages a goal every 58 minutes and has a conversion rate of 43%. He also has one assist to his name.
#9 Cristiano Ronaldo (3 goals – 6 points)
Right after José Luis Morales is Cristiano Ronaldo who boasts of similar statistics. The Portuguese has won the European Golden Shoe award four times and is aiming for another one.
Having lost out to Ciro Immobile last season, the 35-year-old has started this season brightly, scoring two goals in Juventus’ opening Serie A game.
He scored again against AS Roma last week to take his tally to three goals in two games, in addition to one assist and will be keen to lay his hands on the Golden Shoe this time.
#8 Andy Delort (3 goals – 6 points)
Andy Delort seems to have settled in seamlessly at Montpellier and is currently second in the race for the Golden Boot in Ligue 1.
The French striker has so far scored three goals and provided a further two assists in four league games this season. Delort is setting himself up to be one of the breakout stars of the French topflight. He has been a journeyman all through his career, but he’s finally showing the rest of Europe what he’s made of.
#7 Alejandro (Papu) Gomez (3 goals – 6 points)
Papu Gomez sits atop of the Serie A top-scorers chart alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku with three goals.
The Argentine is one of the driving forces in the attack of Atalanta as the side continues to run riot in the Italian league. Gomez is not just a prolific striker but also helps to set goals up for his teammates, as evidenced by his two assists this season.
#6 Memphis Depay (4 goals – 8 points)
Memphis Depay has played five games in Ligue 1 this season and has scored four goals. The Dutchman is the subject of a reported bid from Barcelona.
While that move is yet to materialise, the winger is delivering for Lyon. Last season he was made captain and he led the side to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Depay has continued from where he left off and is dazzling Ligue 1 with his pace, trickery and goals.
#5 Ignatius Ganago (4 goals – 8 points)
Very few young footballers are able to adapt quickly after moving to a new club, and Ignatius Ganago is one of the exceptions.
The 21-year-old joined Lens from Nice in January 2020 and has already become the main man in attack for the Ligue 1 minnows.
Ganago leads the scoring charts in the French topflight with four goals in five matches and has a goal conversion rate of 36%.
#4 Son Heung-Min (4 goals – 8 points)
Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-Min is currently injured and is expected to be ruled out of action for between four and seven weeks.
However, he’s among the top-scorers in Europe, having already netted four goals in the Premier League.
All of Son’s four goals came in Spurs’ 5-2 win over Southampton and he’ll definitely look to add more when he returns to fitness.
#3 Dominic Calvert-Lewin (5 goals – 10 points)
Perhaps the most in-form forward in Europe at the moment, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is currently enjoying the time of his life.
Despite Everton’s star summer signings, the 23-year-old has been the club’s main source of goals this season. He has now scored five goals in the Premier League and is just a goal short of hitting double figures in all competitions. Surely, he’s a strong contender for the European Golden Shoe if he can maintain his form.
#2 Jamie Vardy (5 goals – 10 points)
Good, old Jamie Vardy is right up there with the top contenders for the European Golden Shoe. The Leicester City striker emerged top-scorer in the Premier League last season.
This season, he’s on course to repeat the feat after netting five goals in three games, including a sensational hat-trick against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Vardy occupies the summit of the Premier League top-scorers chart with fellow Englishman Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
#1 Andrej Kramaric (5 goals – 10 points)
The man who has stolen the spotlight as we begin the month of October is Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramaric.
The 29-year-old has scored an astonishing five goals in the Bundesliga this season. He has the same number of goals as Jamie Vardy and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but he edges the duo because his five goals have come in just two games.
Kramaric’s ruthlessness in front of goal is the reason why Hoffenheim sit top of the Bundesliga table and he is a genuine contender for this season’s European Golden Shoe.
