'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The race for the European Golden Shoe is shaping up nicely, as the top contenders have begun rearing their heads. November came with a lot of goals, but as we begin December, it is fair to say that this season’s race will be one of the keenest we’ve seen in recent years.
It’s no surprise that the European Golden Shoe has often been won by forwards, and sometimes wingers. Last season, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah put up a good fight, as the battle went all the way to the wire when Lionel Messi won it with 34 goals.
But while the award has gone to Spain in the last six editions, it is very likely that the trend will change at the end of the current season. Although Cristiano Ronaldo has moved to Juventus, the Portuguese is still in the hunt for the award.
There are also a couple of new faces who are staking a claim for the 2018/2019 European Golden Shoe award.
So without much ado, let’s delve into how the standings look as we begin the month of December:
(NB: 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 Luis Suarez (9 goals – 18 points)
Barcelona forward Luis Suarez has already won the European Golden Shoe award twice, and he is still in the running to win a third. The 30-year-old has not had a smooth season so far, with Barca struggling in recent weeks.
However, his hat-trick against Real Madrid in the Clasico helped push him up in the European Golden Shoe race. Currently, the Uruguayan has nine league goals, which represents 18 points on the ranking. Suarez also boasts four assists to his name.
Considering he has already won this award twice, the former Liverpool star cannot be considered as an outsider. He will, however, need to be more proficient to ensure that he catches up on his other rivals.
#9 Cristiano Ronaldo (9 goals – 18 points)
Cristiano Ronaldo is enjoying a productive season at Juventus at the moment. The Portuguese has settled very well in Turin and is already repeating his goal-scoring heroics in the Serie A. Ronaldo sits second in the top scorer's list in Italy with nine goals, also representing 18 points.
The 33-year-old has scored in each of Juve’s last three league games, a run which culminated in him becoming the fastest player to reach 10 goals in all competitions for the Old Lady. Having won the European Golden Shoe four times already, Ronaldo looks like he is aiming for a fifth this season.
The Portuguese is not far off from the top of the scoring charts and should he continue with his scoring form, he will definitely be among the top contenders for the award at the end of the season.
#8 Sebastien Haller (9 goals – 18 points)
Many football fans may not have heard enough about Sebastien Haller until today, but the Eintracht Frankfurt forward has been one of the revelations this season. The 24-year-old has taken the German top flight by storm and sits top of the Bundesliga scoring charts.
Haller has netted an impressive nine goals this season, with six more assists to his name. His goals are the reason why Frankfurt lie on 3rd place in the Bundesliga – ahead of Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.
The France U-21 international is still developing, but his goal-scoring exploits make him one of the top contenders for the European Golden Shoe award.
#7 Lionel Messi (9 goals – 18 points)
Five-time European Golden Shoe award winner Lionel Messi comes in seventh place, also with nine goals and six assists to his name. The Barcelona star has battled with injury problems this season, having sat out a couple of weeks after injuring his hand.
However, he is still as sharp as ever in front of goal. Last season at this same period, Messi had netted more, but that does not in any way dim his chances this term. The Argentine is a player who has proven time without number that he can score goals out of nothing.
It is still too early to make predictions, however, Messi is sure to be competing for the European Golden Shoe at the end of the season per his record.
#6 Cristhian Stuani (10 goals – 20 points)
Another surprise pick among the list of top scoring players in Europe is Cristhian Stuani. The Girona striker has been a revelation this season, helping the side to a respectable position on the La Liga log. Stuani has managed 10 goals this season, representing 20 points on the ranking.
He may not be one of the main contenders for the European Golden Shoe award, but at this rate, he can definitely not be ruled out. Although the season is not yet over, it is still no mean feat to outscore players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
And, should Stuani continue with his form, he could become just the fourth player to win the European Golden Shoe since the 2009-10 season.
#5 Krzysztof Piatek (10 goals – 20 points)
If the presence of Cristhian Stuani surprises you, then get ready to be more surprised by the inclusion of Krzysztof Piatek among Europe’s top scorers this season. The Genoa striker is currently the top scorer in the Serie A with 10 goals.
At 23, the Poland international has all the room to improve and it looks like he will be one of the main contenders for the European Golden Shoe award at the end of the season. Piatek went on a mini dry spell in November but was among the goals when Genoa played last week.
The striker currently sits one goal ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Serie A top scorers chart and that signals his prowess in front of goal.
#4 Florian Thauvin (10 goals – 20 points)
In fourth-place in Florian Thauvin who boasts 10 goals and two assists to his name. The France international was one of the stars of the Ligue 1 last season and he has already started this campaign very well.
The World Cup winner has been a key part of Marseille this season, having contributes 10 goals. Although Thauvin is often played out wide, he is one of the few wingers who are free-scoring.
The Frenchman has hit 31 shots on target this season, which translates as 38% of his shots going goal-wards. He also sits third when it comes to the top scorers in Ligue 1.
#3 Neymar – (10 goals – 20 points)
Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar is also in the hunt for his first ever European Golden Shoe award, as he sits third on the chart. The Brazilian has also accrued 20 points, having scored 10 goals Ligue 1 goals this season.
The former Barcelona forward also boasts five assists. The 26-year-old is not an out-and-out striker but his numbers are very impressive and should he keep up his form, he will be a serious contender for the European Golden Shoe award.
Neymar is surrounded by a lot of quality and that could be an advantage, especially as he is in a league where PSG are miles ahead of the other teams.
#2 Emiliano Sala – (11 goals – 22 points)
Nantes Center forward Emiliano Sala has been one of the most consistent players in Europe this season. The 28-year-old is not as privileged as his other contenders, but he has still managed to outscore many of the top players.
The Argentine could scoop his first European Golden Shoe award at the end of the season if he keeps finding the back of the net for the Ligue 1 minnows. Surprisingly, he sits join-top of the league’s top scorers chart, together with Kylian Mbappe.
Sala may not be a popular footballer, but he is delivering on the pitch and could stun the continent by emerging top scorer in Europe.
#1 Kylian Mbappe (11 goals – 22 points)
France wonderkid Kylian Mbappe leads in the race for the European Golden Show award. The Paris Saint-Germain forward has netted 11 goals this season and joins Emiliano Salah on top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts.
However, the 19-year-old also has 4 assists to his name. Mbappe has already broken a lot of records this year, including becoming the youngest player after Pele to score in a World Cup final.
The France international could also become the youngest player to win the European Golden Shoe award should he maintain his goal scoring exploits till the end of the season.
