#1 Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 28 goals (56 pts)
New Liverpool signing Mohamed Salah is right there at the top of the
Premier League scoring charts and the Egypt international is showing no
signs of slowing down. Salah forms part of a formidable attacking
trident at Anfield and is replicating the goalscoring exploits he
indulged in during his time in Serie A with Roma.
#2 Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 25 goals (50 pts)
Lionel Messi scooped his fourth Golden Shoe accolade last season,
bringing him level with long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentina
international has once again been to the fore for Barcelona this term,
even if he has not been as prolific as he has been previously.
Nevertheless, Messi is not far off the pace and is certainly one of the
favourites to collect the award.
#3 Ciro Immobile | Lazio | 24 goals (48 pts)
Italy international Ciro Immobile enjoyed one of his best ever seasons
last term and has carried on where he left off in 2017-18. The former
Borussia Dortmund attacker is now a key component in a Lazio side that
is keen to break into the top four in Serie A and he is holding his own
among Europe's best strikers.
#4 Edinson Cavani | PSG | 24 goals (48 pts)
Uruguay international Edinson Cavani has been one of Paris
Saint-Germain's key players in the past few seasons and he has
wholeheartedly accepted the responsibility of being the team's chief
goalscorer following the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Cavani hit a
career-high tally last term and he has hit the ground running in
2017-18.
#5 Harry Kane | Tottenham | 24 goals (48 pts)
Harry Kane has been the leading scorer in the Premier League in the
past two seasons and he is well in the race to make it three-in-a-row.
Having recovered from a slow start, Kane has been scoring plenty for
Spurs and he is likely to be among the top sharpshooters this season.
#6 Jonas | Benfica | 31 goals (46.5 pts)
Veteran Brazil international Jonas has been in sensational form for
Benfica this season and he currently boasts a strike-rate of over a goal
a game for Rui Vitoria's side in the Primeira Liga. With the likes of
Pizzi, Eduardo Salvio and Franco Cervi in support, former Valencia man
Jonas will be determined to keep his performaces up to a high standard.
#7 Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich | 23 goals (46 pts)
Widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, Bayern
Munich's Robert Lewandowski hit the 30-goal mark in the last two
Bundesliga campaigns. The Poland international has continued to feast in
front of the opposition goal this season and will, no doubt, be hoping
to establish a formidable run of form ahead of the World Cup.
#8 Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | 22 goals (44 pts)
Reigning Ballon d'Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo is on course for his
worst goal return in La Liga since joining in 2009, but a recent upturn
in form has seen him climb up the table in the race for the European
Golden Shoe. He is still some way off the pace of the leaders, but a
strong finish to the campaign could see him challenge for the accolade.
#9 Mauro Icardi | Inter | 22 goals (44 pts)
Inter's star forward Mauro Icardi has been one of Serie A's best
marksmen over the course of the last four years and he was even crowned
the division's top scorer in 2015. The Argentina international is the
Nerazzurri captain and he is certainly leading by example on the field
as he continues to hit the back of the net.
#10 Sergio Aguero | Manchester City | 21 goals (42 pts)
Argentina international Sergio Aguero has consistently been one of the
best goalscorers in Europe over the course of the past decade and he
remains a key man for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. Sometimes
troubled by injury woes, Aguero remains one of the most potent strikers
in the Premier League.
#11 Luis Suarez | Barcelona | 21 goals (42 pts)
Two-time Golden Shoe winner Luis Suarez has been Barcelona's star
striker since joining from Liverpool and he has overcome an early-season
injury to once again fire himself into the reckoning for the accolade.
#12 Neymar | PSG | 20 goals (40 pts)
The most expensive player in history is finding his feet at Paris
Saint-Germain and, while he is playing catch-up to Edinson Cavani,
Neymar is not far behind when it comes to goals. The former Barcelona
star has lit up Ligue 1 with dazzling skill, but he will be keen to add
more goals to his game as well.
#13 Bafetimbi Gomis | Galatasaray | 25 goals (37.5 pts)
Former Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis has hit the ground running since
joining Turkish giants Galatasaray last summer and he has surged to the
top of the scoring charts in the Super Lig. The France international
hit the 20-goal mark in his last season in Ligue 1 and he has carried
that form into the new campaign.
#14 Bas Dost | Sporting | 23 goals (34.5 pts)
Sporting Lisbon striker Bas Dost was narrowly beaten by Lionel Messi in
last season's race for the Golden Shoe and he is among the top scorers
in Europe again this season. The Netherlands international had been
linked with a move away from the Portuguese giants, but opted to remain
and has been a key man once again in the current campaign.
#15 Radamel Falcao | Monaco | 17 goals (34 pts)
Monaco may have lost a spate of star players during the summer, but
they managed to hold on to their captain and chief goalscorer Radamel
Falcao. El Tigre put an ill-fated stint in the Premier League behind him
by helping Monaco win Ligue 1, scoring 21 goals. Despite losing much of
his supporting cast, the former Atletico Madrid man is well on his way
to matching that sum this season.
#16 Cristhian Stuani | Girona | 17 goals (34 pts)
Catalan outfit Girona are making a push for a European finish in La
Liga this season and a key part of that has been the form of Uruguay
international Cristhian Stuani. The veteran striker, who arrived in
Girona from English club Middlesbrough, has hit the ground running on
his return to Spain.
#17 Paulo Dybala | Juventus | 17 goals (34 pts)
Juventus star Paulo Dybala has already surpassed his Serie A goal tally
from last season and the Argentina international appears to be
relishing the idea of taking the burden off Gonzalo Higuain in the Bianconeri
front-line. Juve left themselves with a bit of a mountain to climb in
the chase for league glory, but Dybala is certainly to the fore in the
fight.
#18 Antoine Griezmann | Atletico Madrid | 17 goals (34 pts)
France international Antoine Griezmann has been Atletico Madrid's star
man for the past number of seasons and he continues to chip in with
goals. He has struck up a partnership with Diego Costa in the capital
and is catching up on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo.
#19 Fabio Quagliarella | Sampdoria | 17 goals (34 pts)
Veteran striker Fabio Quagliarella has been in top form for Sampdoria
this season and isn't too far behind the likes of Mauro Icardi and Ciro
Immobile in terms of Serie A goals. The Italy international will hope to
continue his fine form for the remainder of the campaign.
#20 Dries Mertens | Napoli | 17 goals (34 pts)
Napoli have been doing their best to end Juventus' dominion over Serie A
this season and one of their key players has been Belgium international
Dries Mertens. The 30-year-old attacker has been in sparkling form for
Maurizio Sarri's side and will hope to carry it through to the end of
the season.
#21 Nabil Fekir | Lyon | 16 goals (32 pts)
Lyon lost their main marksman Alexandre Lacazette during the summer,
but a number of other players have stepped up to assume the goalscoring
burden at the club. Mariano Diaz is banging them in, but Nabil Fekir has
emerged as the top scorer and the passionate captain has been leading
his team by example.
#22 Iago Aspas | Celta Vigo | 16 goals (32 pts)
Former Liverpool forward Iago Aspas has found a new lease of life since
returning to Celta Vigo and he has become one of the best attackers in
La Liga, scoring double figures in the last few seasons. He hit 19 in 32
league matches last term and will be aiming to break the 20 mark this
year.
#23 Florian Thauvin | Marseille | 16 goals (32 pts)
France international Florian Thauvin has gone from strength to strength
since returning to Marseille from Newcastle United. The 25-year-old has
emerged as one of OM's key players, forging a fearsome relationship
with Dimitri Payet at Stade Velodrome. He has surpassed his tally from
last season already, in 10 fewer matches.
#24 Mariano Diaz | Lyon | 16 goals (32 pts)
Lyon were shorn of their star striker Alexandre Lacazette in the
summer, but a number of players have stepped up in his absence and one
of them is Mariano Diaz. The former Real Madrid youth has impressed
since making the move to France and is closing in on 20 goals for the
season.
#25 Karl Toko Ekambi | Angers | 16 goals (32 pts)
Cameroon international Karl Toko Ekambi is one of the top scorers in
Ligue 1 and his goals have been crucial for Angers as they fight for a
mid-table finish.
#26 Burak Yilmaz | Trabzonspor | 20 goals (30 pts)
Veteran Turkey international Burak Yilmaz has a reputation for scoring
goals and he has continued his habit since returning to Trabzonspor from
China. Yilmaz's goals have been crucial as his side push for a European
finish in the Super Lig.
#27 Moussa Marega | Porto | 20 goals (30 pts)
Porto forward Moussa Marega has thrust himself into the race for the
Golden Shoe and the Mali international is on course to finish the season
with 20-plus goals. Marega is enjoying his best ever season and will be
determined to carry his form to the end of the campaign.
#28 Carlitos Lopez | Wisla Krakow | 20 goals (30 pts)
Former Villarreal striker Carlitos Lopez has been given a new lease of
life in Poland with Wisla Krakow and he has hit the 20-goal mark for the
first time in his career.
#29 Raheem Sterling | Manchester City | 15 goals (30 pts)
England winger Raheem Sterling is enjoying a career year under Pep
Guardiola, having already surpassed the number of goals he scored over
the past two Premier League campaigns combined. He is City's second best
goalscorer this season after Sergio Aguero.
#30 Gonzalo Higuain | Juventus | 15 goals (20 pts)
Former Real Madrid and Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain has struggled to
find the back of the net with the regularity that characterised his
previous seasons, but he is in double figures and will have his eye set
on a 20-goal target as Juve attempt to upset Napoli.
(goal.com)
(goal.com)