The European Golden Shoe race is reaching fever pitch as the 2024-25 season draws to a dramatic close. With every goal, the leaderboard shifts, and fans across the continent are glued to the action, eager to see which striker will claim the continent’s most coveted individual scoring prize. Let’s break down the frontrunners, the unique points system, and what to expect as the final matches play out.
How the Golden Shoe Works: More Than Just Goals
Unlike most top scorer awards, the European Golden Shoe uses a weighted points system. Goals scored in Europe’s top five leagues (such as La Liga, Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1) are multiplied by a factor of 2.0, while goals in leagues like Portugal’s Primeira Liga are multiplied by 1.5.
This means a goal in Spain or England is worth more than one in Portugal or Austria, reflecting the perceived difficulty of each league.
Current Standings: Gyokeres Leads, Mbappe Chases
As of May 20, 2025, Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres sits atop the Golden Shoe standings. The Swedish striker has completed his league campaign with a remarkable 39 goals, earning him 58.5 points thanks to the 1.5 coefficient applied to the Portuguese league.
Hot on his heels is Real Madrid’s superstar, Kylian Mbappe, who has netted 29 goals in La Liga, just one behind Gyokeres in points, with 58.0. With one La Liga match left, Mbappe needs just a single goal to leapfrog Gyokeres and potentially clinch his first Golden Shoe.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is also in contention, boasting 28 goals (56 points), while Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane (26 goals, 52 points) and Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski (25 goals, 50 points) round out the top five.
Top 10 Golden Shoe Contenders (as of May 20, 2025)
Player | Club | Goals | Points |
Viktor Gyokeres | Sporting Lisbon | 39 | 58.5 |
Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid | 29 | 58 |
Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 28 | 56 |
Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | 26 | 52 |
Robert Lewandowski | FC Barcelona | 25 | 50 |
Mateo Retegui | Atalanta | 25 | 50 |
Alexander Isak | Newcastle United | 23 | 46 |
Mika Biereth | Sturm Graz/Monaco | 24 | 42.5 |
Ousmane Dembele | Paris Saint-Germain | 21 | 42 |
Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 21 | 42 |
The Final Showdown: What to Watch For
The drama is set for a thrilling finale. Gyokeres has finished his season, so all eyes are on Mbappe, who needs just one goal in Real Madrid’s final La Liga fixture against Real Sociedad to seize the Golden Shoe. Salah, Kane, and Lewandowski would need extraordinary performances to catch up, but football has delivered stranger twists before.
Why the Golden Shoe Race Matters
The Golden Shoe is more than just a personal accolade, it’s a testament to consistency, clinical finishing, and the ability to perform under pressure in Europe’s toughest leagues. For fans, it’s a celebration of attacking football and a showcase of the continent’s brightest talents.