Soccer: The Race for the Golden Boot Across Europe’s Top Leagues
by Tyler Doty | by Tyler Doty
Golden Boot Races Heating Up Across Europe's Top Leagues
We're entering the final stretch of the season, and that means one thing — it’s time to check in on the race for the Golden Boot across Europe’s major leagues. Some titles may be all but wrapped up, but the battle for top scorer is still very much alive in several competitions.
Premier League: Can Mohamed Salah Cap a Legendary Season With Another Golden Boot?
As we predicted in our Premier League prediction, Liverpool is having a dream season and is just a few points away from clinching the title.
One man deserves a huge share of the credit: Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian icon continues to build his legacy at Anfield with another monster season — 27 goals and 18 assists in 32 matches. Unreal numbers.
He’s currently six goals ahead of Erling Haaland (21 goals in 28 matches), who is reportedly out for the rest of the season. The only real threat now might be Alexander Isak, who’s also on 21 goals and has been on fire lately. Still, the gap might be too much to close.
With Salah recently signing a contract extension, he looks set to claim his fourth Premier League Golden Boot (after 2018, 2019, and 2022). Historic stuff.
La Liga: Mbappé vs Lewandowski — It’s a Classic Spanish Shootout
This is definitely the league with the most suspense! Both for the future champion, as confirmed by our La Liga prediction, and for the Golden Boot race.
This is the tightest Golden Boot race in Europe. Just like the title race, it’s wide open.
Right now, Robert Lewandowski leads with 25 goals, while Kylian Mbappé is close behind at 22.
Mbappé will miss the next game due to a red card suspension (vs. Athletic Bilbao), which could widen the gap. And with Real Madrid now out of the Champions League and slipping in the La Liga title race, chasing the Pichichi could become Mbappé’s top priority.
We’re in for a thrilling finish between two of the game’s biggest names.
Serie A: A Surprising Top 3, and One Clear Leader
Before the season, all eyes were on the usual suspects for the Serie A scoring crown — Lautaro Martínez, Romelu Lukaku, Dušan Vlahović, maybe even Artem Dovbyk after his breakout year in Spain.
But the surprise leader? Mateo Retegui, Atalanta’s breakout striker, with 23 goals in 30 games. Behind him is former PSG forward Moise Kean (now at Fiorentina) with 17, followed by Marcus Thuram at 14.
With a solid lead and just a few games left, Retegui looks poised to take home the Capocannoniere in 2024–25.
Bundesliga: Harry Kane Dominating in Year 2
Harry Kane didn’t take the Bundesliga last year — thanks to Bayer Leverkusen’s surprise title win — but he was sensational individually with 36 goals in his debut season.
This year, Bayern looks like they’ll reclaim the title, and Kane is once again leading the way in the scoring charts.
With 23 goals in 27 matches, he’s ahead of Patrik Schick (17 goals) and remains the clear favorite to repeat as the Bundesliga’s top scorer. With just five games left and Schick chasing from a distance, it’s hard to see Kane letting this one slip.
Ligue 1: Ousmane Dembélé Stepping In for Kylian Mbappé?
Let’s be honest — not many people had Ousmane Dembélé in their Golden Boot predictions. The French international, often criticized for his lack of finishing ability, has flipped the script this season. The PSG No. 10 has evolved into a true finisher.
With Kylian Mbappé now at Real Madrid after dominating Ligue 1’s top scorer charts for six straight years, it opened the door for a new leader. Early favorites included Jonathan David, Alexandre Lacazette, Ludovic Ajorque, Georges Mikautadze, and Gonçalo Ramos — all names in the mix in preseason odds.
But it’s Dembélé who’s been lighting up the league. He’s already scored 21 goals in 26 matches, accounting for 32% of his entire pro career tally (32 goals total). He leads Marseille’s Mason Greenwood, who has netted 16 times in 29 games.
With just five games left in the Ligue 1 season (PSG has six after their match against Nantes was postponed due to the Europa League), it’s hard to see Greenwood — or anyone — catching the former Barcelona and Dortmund winger.
