The race is on once more to be crowned the continent’s leading marksman, with some of the most prolific forwards on the planet set to lead the way

While various Golden Boots are up for grabs within the leading divisions across Europe, there is only one Golden Shoe that can be acquired in any given season by the continent’s most prolific marksman.

The race to claim that prestigious prize is up and running once more, with some iconic forwards set to lead the charge for an individual accolade that marks them out as being superior to all of their fellow frontmen.

Robert Lewandowski, who has swapped Bayern Munich for Barcelona, finished in top spot last season with 35 league goals to his name – closely followed by the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and Ciro Immobile – and GOAL is on hand to keep you across all of the runners and riders in the 2022-23 campaign.

• Getty1Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 21 goals (42)Manchester City knew what they were getting when snapping up Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, with the Norwegian striker boasting power and pace in abundance, and one of the most sought-after talents on the planet did not disappoint when bursting out of the blocks for the Premier League champions.
• Getty Images2Robert Lewandowski | Barcelona | 13 goals (26)Polish striker Robert Lewandowski has already cemented a standing among the all-time greats, but he will believe that he has something to prove after choosing to walk away from the comforting surrounds of Bayern Munich and try his luck in Spain with La Liga giants Barcelona.
• Getty3Harry Kane | Tottenham | 13 goals (26)England captain Harry Kane has earned a reputation as one of the most fearsome No.9s in world football, with the Tottenham forward fully deserving of that standing among the elite as a three-time Golden Boot winner and a man with over 180 Premier League goals to his name.
• Getty4Kylian Mbappe | Paris Saint-Germain | 12 goals (24)A standing as the best player in world football may now be up for grabs, and Kylian Mbappe – given all that he has achieved for Paris-Saint Germain and as a World Cup winner with France – appears to be the most likely candidate to step into shoes once occupied by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
• (C)Getty Images5Christopher Nkunku | Red Bull Leipzig | 12 goals (24)The Frenchman had a sensational season last time out and was attracting attention from all over Europe before signing a new contract in Germany this summer. He will be looking to repeat his 35 goals in all competitions and prove why elite clubs were tracking his progress.
• Getty Images6Ivan Toney | Brentford | 12 goals (24)It was not all that long ago that Ivan Toney was strutting his stuff in League One with Peterborough United but, having helped to fire Brentford to promotion into the Premier League, he is now a top-flight star and a man that is starting to earn international recognition with England.
• Getty7Neymar | Paris Saint-Germain | 11 goals (22)Questions have been asked of Neymar’s commitment to the collective cause, and his general end product, across an eventful spell at Paris Saint-Germain, but there has never been any doubting the Brazilian’s talent and ability to be a match-winner on any given day.
• Getty8Niclas Fullkrug | Werder Bremen | 10 goals (20)Niclas Fullkrug was a star turn for Werder Bremen as they secured promotion back into the Bundesliga during the 2021-22 campaign, as he hit 19 goals in the second tier, and that fine form has been maintained since returning to the big time.
• Getty9Aleksandar Mitrovic | Fulham | 10 goals (20)Serbian striker Mitrovic has attracted criticism in the past for supposed inability to translate form in the Championship – where he has always been prolific – onto a Premier League stage, but a powerful frontman is determined to silence those doubters in style.
• Getty Images10Marcus Thuram | Borussia Monchengladbach | 9 goals (18)Thuram has started the 2022-23 campaign in fine form and appears to be well on his way to his best-ever season from a goal scoring perspective.The Frenchman netted 10 times in 31 Bundesliga appearances in 2019-20, which remains his personal best to date.
• Getty Images11Jonathan David | Lille | 9 goals (18)Jonathan David’s stock has been on the rise for some time, with Canada’s qualification for the 2022 World Cup set to further that cause, and it appears to be only a matter of time before the pacey forward spreads his wings outside of Ligue 1.
• Getty12Terem Moffi | Lorient | 9 goals (18)Plucked from the relative obscurity of Belgian outfit Kortrijk by Lorient in October 2020, Terem Moffi is another highly-rated attacking talent from Nigeria that has set Ligue 1 alight with his remarkable exploits in the final third of the field.
• Getty Images13Jamal Musiala | Bayern Munich | 9 goals (18)This is the season where the boy wonder of German football went from promising youngster to regular starter at Bayern and it seems unlikely he will be losing his starting berth any time soon if he can keep up his impressive form in front of goal all season.
• Getty14Alexandre Lacazette | Lyon | 9 goals (18)The Lyon legend has returned home after a spell with Arsenal and Lacazette has instantly found back his scoring boots, regardless of OL’s difficult start to the season.
• Getty15Miguel Almiron | Newcastle United | 9 goals (18)The Paraguayan speedster has enjoyed a remarkable redemption arc to resurrect his faltering Newcastle United career. While his work-rate, intent pressing, and defensive efforts were never in doubt, he has added goals to his game to silence his doubters.
• Getty Images16Borja Iglesias | Real Betis | 8 goals (16)Having once been a regular source of end product for Real Zaragoza and Espanyol, Borja Iglesias has showcased his keen eye for goal across a productive stint at Real Betis that has made him a model of consistency and a full senior international for Spain.
• Getty17Folarin Balogun | Reims | 8 goals (16)New York-born, England U21 international Folarin Balogun has been held in high regard at Arsenal since he started to make a name for himself in their academy ranks, with a loan spell in France’s top flight allowing the promising youngster to unlock further potential on a prominent stage.
• Getty Images18Marko Arnautovic | Bologna | 8 goals (16)Manchester United were linked with a move to take former West Ham star Marko Arnautovic back to English football during the summer of 2022, and it is easy to see why as the enigmatic Austrian forward has impressed many since returning to Europe from a stint in China.
• RCD Espanyol19Joselu | Espanyol | 8 goals (16)Having previously flopped in England at Stoke and Newcastle, the experienced frontman has become a regular source of goals in La Liga – with a productive spell at Alaves now being followed by another at Espanyol.
• Getty20Karim Benzema | Real Madrid | 7 goals (14)The 2021-22 Pichichi and UEFA Champions League Golden Boot winner has had to battle with injuries in the current season, but is still among the goals as Real Madrid aim to replicate the success under Carlo Ancelotti’s first season.
• Getty Images21Serge Gnabry| Bayern Munich| 7 goals (14)While there were some doubts over whether Serge Gnabry could replicate his form from the previous campaigns after a slow start to the season, the German winger has quickly regained his form. With former ace Robert Lewandowski leaving this summer, he has turned up with other teammates to make up for the lack of goals.
• (C)Getty Images22Lionel Messi | Paris Saint-Germain | 7 goals (14)One of the greatest players of all time, is it any surprise to see Messi on this list? His move to PSG didn’t go exactly as planed last season, but with his ability goals are inevitable and they are even more so when Neymar and Mbappe are your strike partners!
• Getty23Leandro Trossard | Brighton | 7 goals (14)The Belgian attacker has developed into one of the best attackers around in the Premier League and will be a crucial part of Brighton’s push to qualify for European football this term.
• Getty Images24Phil Foden | Manchester City | 7 goals (14)One of the most exciting young talent in the world, let alone the Premier League, Foden is flourishing under Pep Guadiola at Manchester City. The ‘Stockport Iniesta’ is a deadly playmaker with an eye for goal and will certainly be a household name for years to come.
• Getty25Lautaro Martinez | Inter | 7 goals (14)The Argentina international remains one of the best attackers around in the game and his form this campaign has been crucial to keep Inter’s chances of Serie A success alive early on.
• GettyImage26Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 7 goals (14)Mohamed Salah is a name you’d expect to be in this running for the Golden Shoe every season, although not as low as he is in this list. However, he is gathering pace and upping his goalscoring form as Liverpool attempt to revive their ship in the second half of the season.
• Getty27Roberto Firmino | Liverpool | 7 goals (14)Not the Liverpool man you would expect in this list but Roberto Firmino has provided a spark in a season that is yet to get going for Liverpool. The Brazilian has not only scored goals, but provided a few assists for the Reds this season.
• Getty28Martin Ødegaard | Arsenal | 7 goals (14)Martin Ødegaard has been at the heart of the success that Arsenal have enjoyed under Mikel Arteta this season, leading the Gunners’ title charge by becoming a potent goalscorer from midfield.
• Getty Images29Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal | 7 goals (14)Gabriel Martinelli has been one of the best wingers in the Premier League this season, taking his productivity in front of goal higher by a few notches. He’ll be key if Mikel Arteta is to help Gunners lift their first Premier League trophy since 2004.
• Getty Images30Iago Aspas | Celta Vigo | 7 goals (14)Iago Aspas may have famously failed to record a single Premier League goal during a disastrous spell in England with Liverpool, but the veteran frontman remains the most reliable of options in La Liga and is fast closing in on 200 career strikes for Celta Vigo.
• Getty Images31Vinícius Júnior | Real Madrid | 6 goals (12)Vinícius Júnior had a scintillating 2021-22 season, scoring 22 goals in all competitions, 17 of which came in the league. His drastic uptick in goalscoring will be key to Real Madrid’s ambitions this season as well.
• Getty32Florian Sotoca | Lens | 6 goals (12)More of a physical presence in the final third that helps to bring those around him into play, Florian Sotoca has shown that he can find a way to goal himself and could be on course to post a personal best return in the current campaign.
• Getty33Sheraldo Becker | Union Berlin | 6 goals (12)A product of the famed academy system at Eredivise giants Ajax, Sheraldo Becker has never been the most prolific of strikers in front of goal across his career to date – with the Suriname international yet to reach double figures in any given campaign – but all of that could be about to change.
• (C)Getty Images34Daichi Kamada | Eintracht Frankfurt | 6 goals (12)Kamada has been an absolute revelation for Frankfurt and has been unstoppable times. Few people will have expected the Japan international to be this prolific, but he might be an outsider for the Bundesliga top scorer title in this form!
• Getty Images35Federico Valverde | Real Madrid | 6 goals (12)Carlo Ancelotti said in the early stages of the 2022-23 campaign that Valverde should always be hitting double figures with his abilities and the Uruguay international seems to have taken that feedback at heart.
• Getty36Ciro Immobile | Lazio | 6 goals (12)Ciro Immobile has only once dipped below 20 goals in all competitions across any given campaign for Lazio, with the Italy international frontman one of the most consistent forwards in European football and a former Golden Shoe winner from 2019-20.
• Getty37Dusan Vlahovic | Juventus | 6 goals (12)Vlahovic is among the favourites to land the Serie A top scorer title and is arguably one of the best young strikers around in the game.
• 38Callum Wilson | Newcastle United | 6 goals (12)The predatory striker, who has had frustrating time with consistent injuries throughout his Premier League career, has been on fire this season, and thanks to his goals, Newcastle have elevated themselves into a genuine top-four contenders in the upper echelons of the English top-flight.
• Getty39Darwin Nunez | Liverpool | 5 goals (10)Darwin Nunez was purchased by Liverpool for a record fee and the Uruguayan would look to bring his goal-scoring form to Anfield. Nunez was purchased by Klopp to replace the departing Sadio Mane as the young striker would be looking to play the perfect support to the likes of Salah and Firmino.