European Golden Boot Race: Top Scorers, Standings

The European Golden Boot is up for grabs again in 2025–26, as the continent’s most efficient finishers vie to claim the prize after Kylian Mbappé’s success last season.

The prize is awarded to the highest scorer across all domestic leagues in Europe, with the system in place operating favourably for those competing in the premier divisions. There hasn’t been a European Golden Boot victor from outside of Europe’s top-five leagues since Sporting CP’s Mário Jardel triumphed for a second time in 2001–02.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, of course, enjoyed their fair share of the award while they were wreaking havoc, but, similar to the Ballon d’Or, their respective departures from the European scene have allowed alternative sharpshooters to emerge regarding the collection of this prize. Luis Suárez and Robert Lewandowski are both multi-time winners since 2013.

It’ll likely be an all too familiar face topping the charts this time around, despite the fact there have been three different winners in the three previous seasons.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2025–26 European Golden Boot race.

How is the European Golden Boot Award Decided?

The European Golden Boot has been awarded on a weighted-points-based system since 1997, with goals scored in one of Europe’s top-five leagues—Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1—counting for double.

Goals from players in leagues ranked sixth to 22nd in UEFA's coefficient, such as the Dutch Eredivisie and Portugal’s Primeira Liga, are worth 1.5 points. Goals from the remaining players competing in the remaining European leagues are worth one point.

The player with the most points at the end of the season wins the award.

20. Ante Budimir (Osasuna)

Goals: 15
Coefficient: 2
Points: 30

The veteran striker had struggled to settle anywhere before moving to Pamplona in 2021. Since then, Ante Budimir has blossomed into a reliable La Liga goalscorer, building on modest returns during his first two seasons at Osasuna.

The Croat notched 17 in 2023–24 and 21 the following season. While he may not top his career-best haul in 2025–26, Budimir has put together another impressive scoring campaign.

19. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

Goals: 15
Coefficient: 2
Points: 30

It’s little surprise to see Lamine Yamal among Europe’s most prolific finishers again this season, the Spaniard’s continuously astonishing performances bringing with them a glut of goals and assists in La Liga.

Yamal leads a star-studded Barcelona forward line for goals, the youngster’s tally recently boosted by his first career hat trick in the 4–1 demolition of Villarreal in February. The first of many, one would imagine.

18. Aleksandar Katai (Red Star Belgrade)

Goals: 20
Coefficient: 1.5
Points: 30

Aleksandar Katai has been a consistently terrific goalscorer since re-joining Red Star Belgrade in 2020, and the 35-year-old is still producing stunning numbers in Serbia.

The former Chicago Fire star and Serbian international is seeking to better his best individual goalscoring campaign in league football, his current record being 24 strikes during the 2021–22 campaign.

17. Mason Greenwood (Marseille)

Goals: 15
Coefficient: 2
Points: 30

Mason Greenwood has been prolific since joining Marseillem and this season has proven no different for the ex-Manchester United forward. He made a fast start in Ligue 1 and has been relentless since the turn of the year.

Four goals in one match against Le Havre was the highlight of his campaign to date, while there have been strikes against Paris Saint-Germain, Lens and Monaco thrown in for good measure.

16. Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich)

Goals: 15
Coefficient: 2
Points: 30

Liverpool’s loss has been Bayern Munich’s gain as Luis Díaz’s stunning debut season with the German giants continues to reach lofty new heights. The goals refuse to dry up for the Colombian in what will almost certainly be a Bundesliga-winning campaign.

Díaz’s speed, agility and eye for goal have proven too much for the aggressive defenses of Germany’s top flight and he’s already managed the best goalscoring season of his career across all competitions.

15. Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth/Manchester City)

Goals: 15
Coefficient: 2
Points: 30

Many questioned whether Antoine Semenyo could continue his goalscoring habits for another campaign after thriving last term for Bournemouth, but any naysayers have been emphatically silenced by his exploits this season.

An incredible first half of the season with the Cherries brought with it 10 Premier League strikes and earned the Ghana international his blockbuster transfer to Manchester City, where he’s picked up right from where he had left off on England’s south coast.

The versatile, powerful and ambipedal forward won’t triumph in this year’s fight for the European Golden Boot, but that shouldn’t detract from another stellar campaign.

14. Vangelis Pavlidis (Benfica)

Goals: 21
Coefficient: 1.5
Points: 31.5

Viktor Gyökeres stole the show in Portugal last season, with Vangelis Pavlidis’ 19-goal Primeira Liga haul overshadowed by the Swede’s remarkable scoring form for Sporting CP.

The experienced Greek forward has already surpassed his tally of league goals from last season, and has a chance of topping the most prolific campaign of his senior career, which came with AZ Alkmaar in 2023–24 (29 Eredivisie goals).

13. Estéban Lepaul (Rennes)

Estéban Lepaul of Rennes — Estéban Lepaul is enjoying a great season, | Valery HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

Goals: 16
Coefficient: 2
Points: 32

Estéban Lepaul has worked his way up France’s pyramid after failing to make the cut at Lyon as a youth player and he’s been in fine goalscoring form since the beginning of last season.

A mightily impressive 13-goal campaign with Angers was rewarded with a move to Rennes over the summer and he’s already bettered that tally for his new employers.

12. Lautaro Martínez (Inter)

Inter striker Lautaro Martínez — A clinical forward. | Mairo Cinquetti/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Goals: 16
Coefficient: 2
Points: 32

Unsurprisingly, Lautaro Martínez has once again been leading Inter’s charge towards the Serie A title. The Argentine endured a tame league campaign by his standards in 2024–25 but has already bettered a modest 12-goal haul, with plenty of time to add to his tally.

The 2023–24 Capocannoniere winner is on course for a second award as his steady stream of strikes inspires the Nerazzurri to further glory, this time under new management—Cristian Chivu homing in on his first piece of silverware.

11. Joaquín Panichelli (Strasbourg)

Strasbourg striker Joaquín Panichelli — Joaquín Panichelli is on fire. | SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images

Goals: 16
Coefficient: 2
Points: 32

The Argentine is certainly enjoying his first season in France. The 23-year-old flourished in Spain after his breakout move from River Plate, with Strasbourg taking a punt on the striker.

A prolific debut season has seen the gamble pay off emphatically, and Panichelli was towards his best goalscoring season—currently a 21-goal campaign with Mirandés in Spain’s second tier in 2024–25—before cruelly tearing his ACL.

10. Dion Beljo (Dinamo Zagreb)

Goals: 22
Coefficient: 1.5
Points: 33

After struggling to make the grade with Augsburg in the Bundesliga, 24-year-old forward Dion Beljo is thriving back in his homeland.

Beljo rediscovered his taste for goals on loan at Rapid Wien last season, and has taken that momentum into 2025–26. He’s embarked on the most productive campaign of his senior career, tallying 20 strikes with a chunk of the season remaining.

He may have given himself a chance of making Croatia’s World Cup squad this summer.

9. Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor)

Goals: 22
Coefficient: 1.5
Points: 33

The gigantic frame of Paul Onuachu failed to star in the Premier League during a tame spell with Southampton, but the Nigeria international has been reinvigorated following his permanent move to Trabzonspor.

Onuachu has picked up from where he left off during his 17-goal 2023–24 loan spell with the Turkish side—that tally having already been smashed with time to spare this term.

8. Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord)

Goals: 22
Coefficient: 1.5
Points: 33

The diminutive forward had only been a modest goalscorer during his first two seasons at Feyenoord, but Ayase Ueda has almost doubled his goal tally for the Dutch club this season.

Ueda scored a combined 12 Eredivisie goals during the 2023–24 and 2024–25 campaigns, but has already notched 20 for Robin van Persie’s side in 2025–26.

Ueda may be one to watch for Japan at this summer’s World Cup.

7. Luis Suárez (Sporting CP)

Goals: 24
Coefficient: 1.5
Points: 36

A new Luis Suárez is terrorising European defences on a weekly basis these days, with Sporting CP’s star forward enjoying an extraordinary debut campaign with the Lisbon giants.

The 28-year-old had been prolific in several Spanish stints and has crossed the border to Portugal with little fuss. He’s easily surpassed his best scoring season in a top-flight league.

6. Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart)

Deniz Undav of VfB Stuttgart — Deniz Undav has shone in Germany. | Max Maiwald/DeFodi Images/DeFodi/Getty Images.

Goals: 18
Coefficient: 2
Points: 36

Deniz Undav’s career threatened to dwindle at Brighton & Hove Albion, but an initial loan spell followed by a permanent switch to VfB Stuttgart has energized the prolific German.

A 19-goal debut campaign was followed by another double-digit haul with the resurgent Bundesliga outfit last season, but Undav is almost certain to smash his record with the club this term as his steady stream of strikes remain crucial for Die Schwaben.

The fight for a plane ticket to North America for Germany’s 2026 World Cup adventure is well and truly on.

5. Vedat Muriqi (Mallorca)

Goals: 19
Coefficient: 2
Points: 38

Vedat Muriqi has been a steady scorer for Mallorca since joining from Lazio in 2021, and at 31, is enjoying his most prolific La Liga season.

His 19 goals—including a treble in Mallorca’s 3–2 win over Athletic Club in January—means he has already bettered his previous best goal tally from 2022–23, with a quarter of the season remaining.

4. Igor Thiago (Brentford)

Goals: 21
Coefficient: 2
Points: 42

Igor Thiago was brutally halted by injuries in his first season with Brentford but has made up for lost time this season. The Brazilian has been a relentless poacher for the Bees, shouldering the goalscoring burden following summer exits for Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.

Thiago has excellent penalty box instincts but also boasts the power to cause mayhem for opposition center backs. This is no flash in the pan; the Brentford star is just an excellent center forward.

3. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Goals: 22
Coefficient: 2
Points: 44

Erling Haaland was an imperious victor of this award in 2022–23 and he could easily triumph again in 2025–26.

Manchester City have been reliant on the freakish scoring gifts of their Nordic robot this season, with Haaland functioning like a man possessed after a disappointing 2024–25 campaign was further inhibited by an injury late on.

Haaland can enter a deadly scoring spree without any warning.

2. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)

Goals: 23
Coefficient: 2
Points: 46

La Liga’s Pichichi Trophy holder ended the 2024–25 league season with 31 league goals, and 62 points were enough for Kylian Mbappé to claim his first European Golden Shoe with the lowest haul since Luis Suárez and Cristiano Ronaldo won with 62 in 2013–14.

Real Madrid is very much Mbappé’s team, and he’s a contender to become the first player to win this award back-to-back since Robert Lewandowski in 2022.

Only Lewandowski, Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry have triumphed in successive seasons since the award’s inception.

1. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

Goals: 31
Coefficient: 2
Points: 62

While collective success eluded Harry Kane before winning the 2024–25 Bundesliga, the English striker has never been shy of individual honours.

Kane claimed the European Golden Boot during his first season with Bayern Munich, and he came within touching distance of Robert Lewandowski’s single-season Bundesliga scoring record.

The striker has another shot at usurping the Pole’s haul of 41 in 2025–26, with Kane leading the charge for Vincent Kompany’s high-flyers.

Ranking as per Transfermarkt.com

Last 5 European Golden Boot Winners

Season	Winner	Team	Goals
2024–25	Kylian Mbappé	Real Madrid	31
2023–24	Harry Kane	Bayern Munich	36
2022–23	Erling Haaland	Manchester City	36
2021–22	Robert Lewandowski	Bayern Munich	35
2020–21	Robert Lewandowski	Bayern Munich	41

European Golden Boot History

Lionel Messi is a record six-time winner. | LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images

The European Golden Boot was first handed out by French newspaper L’Equipe in 1967–68, with Portuguese icon Eusébio claiming the first award with 42 goals.

While L’Equipe were in charge, winners surfaced from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, Austria and Yugoslavia’s top flights, but the award, much like the sport as a whole, has become much more hegemonic since it was rebooted by the European Sports Media in 1997.

Since then, all but four of the Golden Boot victors have played in Europe’s top-five leagues. The only outliers have been Vitesse’s Nikos Machlas, Celtic’s Henrik Larsson and Mário Jardel, who prevailed while representing Benfica and Sporting CP.

No player has topped Europe’s scoring charts more than Lionel Messi, who won six times during his all-conquering spell with Barcelona. His great contemporary rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, is a four-time winner, which make up half of Portugal’s record eight wins.

Interestingly, the Netherlands have produced the most European Golden Boot winners (four), but only one this century: Roy Makaay in 2002–03, as he scored 29 goals for Deportivo La Coruña in La Liga. Before him, Kees Kist, Wim Kieft and three-time Ballon d’Or winner Marco van Basten also triumphed.