The 2023-24 season will be the first in 20 years that neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo will feature in one of Europe's major leagues.
These two names dominated the goalscoring charts across Europe for nearly two full decades, together scoring almost 1,000 league goals and winning Europe's Golden Shoe award more than 10 times.
But now we are in a new era, with familiar names inevitably dominating the scoring charts. We looked at the top 10 scorers in Europe's five major leagues (Ligue 1, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Premier League).
Note: If two players are tied for goals, they are sorted by the ratio of goals per minute. Getafe's Borja Mayoral has 15 goals, but is just one step away from breaking into the top 10.
10. Dusan Vlahovic – 15 goals
Juventus may have taken a setback in the race for the Scudetto in recent weeks, but top-flight Blachowicz is an integral part of Max Allegri's team and could ease back into the Champions League. It seems possible.
The big Serbian has been in great form since the start of 2024, with nine of his 15 league goals coming since the start of the year.
9. Mohamed Salah – 15 goals
It didn't take long for Salah to make an impact at Liverpool after returning from AFCON. In just 46 minutes against Brentford, the 31-year-old had a goal and an assist to seal all three points.
Injuries have dented his influence since then, but keeping the Egyptian king fit and active is vital if Liverpool are to level Arsenal and Manchester City in the title race. It will be.
Quiz: Can you name all the players who have scored 100 goals in the Premier League?
8. Ollie Watkins – 16 goals
Watkins has been in contention to make the England squad with some incredibly prolific performances of late. He has scored 16 league goals so far, seven of which have come in 2024.
In addition to his elite scoring numbers, Watkins is also a great provider for his teammates. This impressed Thierry Henry.
“We all know Ollie Watkins can score, but can he add something else to his game?” Henry told Sky Sports.
“Can you come and lay the ball off to someone?” Because we all know you're not just scoring a goal, you've got it in your locker, so that includes I'm impressed. ”
7. Jude Bellingham – 16 goals
The England international scored 10 goals in his first 10 appearances in all competitions, equaling Cristiano Ronaldo's record-breaking start. He only turned 20 last summer but already looks like a leader in the heart of Los Blancos' midfield. That's ridiculous.
We're reaching a point where it's impossible to overhype Bellingham. He just might be the best player in the world.
6. Luis Openda – 17 goals
RB Leipzig have splashed out cash in recent years selling the likes of Josko Gvardiol, Dominik Szoboszlai, Christopher Nkunku and Timo Werner, and the Bundesliga club continues to generate lucrative assets.
Belgian international Openda has scored 16 goals in 23 Bundesliga games since joining from Reims last summer.
He cost a hefty 43 million euros, making him a record contract for Leipzig, but you can imagine they would let him go for a sizable profit in a year or two.
5. Erling Haaland – 18 goals
While not the most surprising entry in the top 10, it's a testament to Haaland's ridiculously lethal qualities that people questioned him early in the campaign.
The Norwegian has scored 18 goals in 22 appearances for Josep Guardiola's reigning champions, vaulting him to the top of the scoring charts early on and certain to win the Premier League's Golden Boot again.
Having recently returned from injury and scoring an incredible five goals against Luton in the FA Cup, it would be hard to leave him out of the top of this list.
Read: Fastest player to reach 50 goals in the Premier League: Haaland erases record…
4. Selhou Guirassi – 21 goals
The relatively unknown Guirassi is still in the top echelon of Europe's top scorers, considering he has only played a handful of games for Stuttgart since the German national team's winter break due to a combination of injury and AFCON absences. It's amazing how they come together.
The 27-year-old Guinea international averaged a goal every other game in Germany's top flight last season, and has surpassed that ratio so far in the 2023-24 season with 21 goals in just 19 games. He has recorded records in almost every match up to that point.
He has been in form since before Christmas and we hope he can get back to that form again as Stuttgart punch above their weight in their bid to qualify for the Champions League.
3. Kylian Mbappé – 21 goals
Since joining from Monaco in 2017, Mbappé has averaged an impressive 24 goals a season for PSG, but surprisingly he has only topped the 30-goal mark once (in 2018-19). (33 goals) and has yet to win the European Golden Shoe.
With the departure of Messi and Neymar, this season will undoubtedly be Mbappe's first (and last) as a mainstay at the Parc des Princes. Scored 21 goals in 22 gamesthis year could be his best year yet.
2. Lautaro Martinez – 23 goals
Back in September, Martinez hinted at a special season with a mesmerizing four-goal and 35-minute cameo against Salernitana.
The Argentine World Cup winner has been in good form so far in the 2023-24 season. A move to bring Romelu Lukaku back to San Siro fell through due to his affair with Juventus, but Martinez stepped up to become the Nerazzurri's top talisman in his former strike partner's absence. It's here.
It's only March, but his 23 league goals are already a career high.
He is undoubtedly Inter's standout player, averaging almost one goal per game in Serie A this season. He plays an absolutely vital role as they sit comfortably at the head of the table.
1. Harry Kane – 30 goals
It was only a few years ago that Robert Lewandowski broke Gerd Muller's long-held record of 40 league goals in a Bundesliga season, but Kane is now on track to break that record.
He has already scored four hat-tricks and added eight assists, giving him a whopping 30 goals in just 25 games.
We've all heard the jokes about Kane being cursed and constantly losing trophies, but he needs more than this to help Bayern stay (almost) in the race against their toughest challengers in over a decade. It's unlikely that you'll do that.
Read more: European football's highest-paid eleven for 2023-24: De Jong, Kane, Mbappé…
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