Kylian Mbappe's European Golden shoe defence is being challenged by the likes of Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
The European Golden Shoe remains one of football’s most prestigious individual trophies, rewarding the most prolific marksman across Europe’s top domestic leagues.
Each season brings a fresh battle among elite forwards who consistently deliver extraordinary goal tallies. While form, fitness and team dynamics inevitably fluctuate, certain names have become perennial contenders – strikers whose finishing ability, movement and consistency ensure they remain in the conversation year after year.
Over the decades, it has been dominated by legendary strikers, from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking eras to more recent winners who have defined the modern game. The 2024-25 edition was claimed by Kylian Mbappé, whose blistering scoring campaign underlined his status as one of the sport’s most reliable goal machines, beating Salah to the honour. As the 2025-26 season unfolds, the race once again features a mix of established superstars and rising elite forwards.
The European Golden Shoe uses a weighted scoring system based on the difficulty of each domestic league. A player’s points are calculated by multiplying their league goals by a factor assigned to that league — 2.0 for the top-ranked leagues such as the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga, 1.5 for mid-level competitions, and 1.0 for lower-ranked leagues. This ensures that goals scored in more competitive leagues carry greater value in the final standings.
Below is a look at the leading candidates who routinely shape the race for Europe’s top goalscorer.
Getty Images1Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 14 goals
Erling Haaland is widely considered the benchmark for pure centre-forward play in Europe. His blend of explosive pace, physical dominance and clinical finishing makes him a constant threat in any scoring race.
Supported by a chance-creating machine at Manchester City, Haaland regularly posts remarkable numbers in both league and continental competitions. His positioning, relentless mentality and ability to convert even low-quality opportunities ensure he remains a perennial favourite for the Golden Shoe.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport2Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | 14 goals
Harry Kane’s all-round excellence as a goalscorer and creator ensures he is always near the summit of league scoring races. His precision finishing, ability to strike from anywhere around the box and instinctive movement make him ideally suited to Bayern Munich’s dominant style of play.
With his experience and consistency, Kane remains one of the most reliable attackers in Europe, capable of delivering 25–30 league goals in any given campaign.
AFP3Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid | 13 goals
Kylian Mbappé brings a unique mix of speed, intelligence and elite finishing that keeps him among the top scorers every season. Whether deployed centrally or drifting in from the left, he consistently finds ways to exploit defensive gaps.
Playing in an attack-minded Real Madrid side amplifies his output, and his reputation for stepping up in big moments makes him one of the strongest long-term contenders in Europe’s scoring charts.
AFP4Franculino Djú | Midtjylland | 14 goals
Franculino Djú has emerged as one of the most exciting attacking talents in Scandinavian football. His blend of athleticism, sharp movement and composed finishing makes him a standout figure in the Danish Superliga, where he consistently causes problems for defenders with his runs in behind and decisive touches in the box.
As he continues to develop his understanding of space and improve his efficiency in front of goal, Djú remains a player capable of breaking into Europe’s wider scoring conversation whenever his form peaks.
