Top 10 leaders in the European Golden Shoe race

As the 2020/21 season enters the final third, it is time to check out the 10 current leaders in the European Golden Shoe race.

The 2020/21 European Golden Shoe race is beginning to take shape as clubs reach the halfway stage.

Last season’s runner-up Robert Lewandowski has won the award for the first time in his career with a stunning 41 goals in only 29 Bundesliga games. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo completed the top-three in the 2020/21 standings.

The European Sports Media determines the outcome based on a player’s goal numbers and the strength of his league (e.g. goals scored * league strength = total points).

So here Ace Football checks out the final rankings for this season’s Golden Shoe using only players from a top-five European league.

10. Harry Kane – 46 points

Harry Kane capped off Jose Mourinho’s last match in charge of Tottenham by scoring a brace in a 2-2 draw with Everton.

It took a little while to get things going again under Spurs interim coach Ryan Mason, but two goals in his final three Premier League games won Kane the Golden Boot. He also won the league’s playmaker of the season award.

9. Karim Benzema – 46 points

The Frenchman scored his 23rd goal of the season to help Real Madrid defeat Villarreal 2-1 on Saturday.

Benzema has been in superb form since returning from an adductor injury. He has supplied decisive goals against Atletico Madrid and Barcelona to help Real Madrid secure a second-place finish in La Liga.

8. Gerard Moreno – 46 points

The Villarreal striker has proved last season was no fluke by enjoying another prolific campaign this term.

Moreno has been a key factor behind Villarreal’s bid for a top-six finish and has bagged a top-three finish in the La Liga goal charts.

7. Romelu Lukaku – 48 points

The former Manchester United striker has proved to be the full package this season to help Inter Milan win a first Serie A title since 2010.

But while the league crown was already in the bag, Romelu Lukaku continued to smash in the goals and has finished as the second-highest scorer in Serie A.

6. Kylian Mbappe – 54 points

Mbappe had another impressive campaign in Ligue 1. His prolific form helped Paris Saint-Germain stay right in the thick of the Ligue 1 title battle until the very end.

Lille may have won the French league, but it was the young striker who won the player of the year and top scorer awards.

5. Erling Haaland – 54 points

The 20-year-old kicked off his first full campaign in the German Bundesliga with a brilliant 27 goals in only 28 games. Had a muscle injury not sidelined him for Borussia Dortmund’s last four league games of 2020, he could’ve been a lot closer to the top.

Nevertheless, Haaland has had been sensational and will probably be the biggest topic of the summer transfer window.

4. Andre Silva – 56 points

The former AC Milan striker completed a permanent €3m transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt in September and has repaid the club’s faith by enjoying an impressive second season in the Bundesliga.

Only Robert Lewandowski scored more goals than Silva in the German top-flight.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo – 58 points

After narrowly missing out on a first Capocannoniere award and a fifth European Golden Shoe, Cristiano Ronaldo entered his third campaign with Juventus more determined than ever.

The Real Madrid legend supplied the goals for a struggling Juventus in impressive fashion, was critical in helping the club seal a top-four finish in Serie A, and won a first Capocannoniere award.

2. Lionel Messi – 60 points

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner’s resurgence continues following a lackluster start to the campaign. He has rediscovered his best form since the turn of the year and was key in Barcelona’s comeback in the La Liga title battle.

1. Robert Lewandowski – 82 points

The 2020 FIFA Best Player of the Year has made the difference yet again for Bayern Munich. His goal contributions have made up 48% of the club’s goals.

Lewandowski has won his first European Golden Shoe after narrowly missing out to Ciro Immobile last season.

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