European Golden Shoe 2024-25: Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland & the top scorers in Europe.

The last player to defend this accolade back in 2022, Robert Lewandowski is aiming to claim the honor for the third time in five years.

Under the guidance of Hansi Flick, Poland’s record-breaking striker is showing no signs of slowing down, delivering some of his finest performances well into his thirties. Teaming up with Raphinha and rising star Lamine Yamal, he’s become a pivotal figure in Barcelona’s title pursuit, netting an impressive 15 goals in just 14 appearances.

Having won his first European Golden shoe last season after a debut campaign for Bayern Munich, the Englishman is at it once again.

The Norwegian missed out on the European Golden Shoe award to Kane by a long distance but is back for another shot this time around.

One of the standout story of this Bundesliga season, Omar Marmoush has taken the campaign by storm, showcasing electrifying form for Eintracht Frankfurt. The forward has been racking up goals and assists with remarkable ease, leaving a lasting impression with his dazzling performances.

As the season reaches its busy stage, with the Reds also involved in the Champions League, the Egyptian can catch up.

Hailing from Argentina and having honed his craft in the youth setups of River Plate and Boca Juniors, Mateo Retegui has emerged as Italy’s unexpected new star, thanks to his heritage.

After showing glimpses of his potential with Genoa last season, Retegui has truly flourished since his summer move to Atalanta, stepping in as a late replacement for fellow Azzurri forward Gianluca Scamacca.

Under the guidance of Gian Piero Gasperini, a manager renowned for maximizing the talents of attacking players, Retegui has hit new heights, proving to be another masterstroke for the experienced coach.

The former Manchester City player has blended well in the Blues’ scheme of things, with a lot of fans looking up to the England international.

Raphinha has stepped in whenever required and more so has found the net even in Lewandowski’s absence.

Barcola is on the money for Paris Saint-Germain with his consistent strike rate in Ligue 1.

Ante Budimir lit up La Liga last season with an impressive haul of 17 goals for Osasuna, earning him the honor of finishing as the league’s fifth-highest scorer.

While his name may not carry the same weight as some of the competition, Budimir was only two goals shy of stars like Robert Lewandowski and Jude Bellingham. The Croatian forward plays a pivotal role for Osasuna, often leading the line as the team’s lone striker. Despite making just 29 starts during the campaign, there’s potential for him to feature more prominently, given his importance as both the squad’s target man and primary penalty taker.

Winning the confidence of the Forest faithful with his 12-goal haul last season, Wood is now the go-to man at the club in the final third.

Young German striker Jonathan Burkardt is leading the goal charts for Mainz. He will be a key to player to watch out for as the season progresses.

The Cameroonian forward is a crucial cog in the Bees’ campaign this time around.

When Inter snapped up Marcus Thuram following the expiration of his contract with Borussia Monchengladbach, they had to beat out a fair bit of competition to do so. There was a feeling that he was a long-term signing who might take a few months to find his feet.

But that didn’t prove to be the case. He well and truly hit the ground running and was super decisive in the final third, alongside goal-machine and partner-in-crime Lautaro Martinez.

It’s impossible to ignore Kylian Mbappe right now. The French star has finally made his long-anticipated move to Real Madrid, arriving in Spain with six straight Ligue 1 Golden Boots to his name. On top of that, he boasts the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot and the 2023/24 Champions League Golden Boot. It’s tough to envision a scenario where Mbappe isn’t leading the charge for the Pichichi this term.

It’s been eight years since Moise Kean etched his name into Juventus history, becoming their youngest-ever debutant and the first player born in the 2000s to grace both Europe’s top five leagues and the UEFA Champions League. During his debut season, he secured a domestic double before embarking on a loan spell at Hellas Verona.

Since those early days, Kean’s career has been a rollercoaster ride, with stints at Juventus, Everton, Paris Saint-Germain, and a return to Turin. A potential January 2024 move to Atletico Madrid was on the horizon, but the transfer fell through when a medical check-up revealed his tibia injury required an additional three weeks of recovery.

Despite this promising start, his career path has been far from straightforward. Now, though, Kean appears to have finally rediscovered his form, shedding the label of “golden boy” and evolving into a dependable forward capable of shining on the biggest stage.

Jamal Musiala has firmly established himself as a standout talent within Bayern’s ranks and will aim to continue delivering crucial goals for the team throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

With Harry Kane leading the line, Musiala’s main task will be to provide opportunities for the star striker. However, the versatile midfielder is more than capable of leaving his mark on the scoresheet as well.

The former Manchester United man is also one of the early leaders in race to the European Golden Shoe.

With English striker Ivan Toney out of the door to Saudi Arabia, the onus will be on Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to deliver the goods in the final third for Brentford this season. Mbeumo has been instrumental in Brentford’s success since the West London club’s promotion to the Premier League.

However, Wissa started making his mark for Brentford last year only. The DR Congo international is a composed finisher on both his right and left, with the ability to take defenders on in one-on-one situations thanks to his agility and pace to get in behind defenders.

Vinicius Junior’s hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 4-0 win over Osasuna and some more strikes in La Liga has the Brazilian in the mix.

Tim Kleindienst will be aiming to impress the Borussia Monchengladbach fanbase during his first season with the club. He joined this summer from Heidenheim and will be eager to lead the scoring charts at his new club.

After emerging as one of Europe’s most electrifying attacking talents during his breakthrough season at Villarreal in 2022-23, Nicolas Jackson secured a £32 million move to the Blues last summer.

The Senegalese forward experienced a mix of highs and lows during his inaugural Premier League campaign but still managed an impressive return of 14 goals. This season, he’ll be determined to raise the bar and eclipse that total.

The Tenerife native has been pretty consistent as far as scoring goals for Villarreal this season.

Jonathan David is also among those in the running for the Golden Shoe this season.

A versatile, right-footed forward with the ability to excel both as a central striker and from wide positions, Brazilian attacker Matheus Cunha has shown impressive form this season for Wolves despite the team’s relegation battle. Known for his skill in dribbling, positioning and playmaking between defensive lines, he’s been a standout in what has been a challenging campaign for the Molineux side.

With English striker Ivan Toney out of the door to Saudi Arabia, the onus will be on Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to deliver the goods in the final third for Brentford this season. Mbeumo has been instrumental in Brentford’s success since the West London club’s promotion to the Premier League.

However, Wissa started making his mark for Brentford last year only. The DR Congo international is a composed finisher on both his right and left, with the ability to take defenders on in one-on-one situations thanks to his agility and pace to get in behind defenders.

(GOAL)