Haaland is challenged by a ‘monster better than Mbappe and Kane’

Following his goal against Liverpool, Erling Haaland rose to the top of the 2025-2026 European Golden Shoe standings, yet the person sharing this spot with him astonished many enthusiasts.

Erling Haaland kept up his frightening scoring form for Manchester City by netting in the 3-0 victory over Liverpool, moving him to the forefront of the 2025-2026 European Golden Shoe race. The Norwegian striker currently has 14 Premier League goals, equating to 28 points, a tally that puts him level at the top with a surprising contender: Darko Lemajić.

The match between Man City and Liverpool was played under intense pressure as the Etihad hosts needed a win to close the gap on Arsenal. Despite missing a penalty in the 13th minute, Haaland redeemed himself with a header to open the scoring in the 29th minute, playing a key role in securing all three points for City and continuing their pursuit of the top spot.

According to the European Golden Shoe rankings, Haaland shares 28 points with Lemajić, the 32-year-old striker currently playing for Rigas Futbola Skola in Latvia. Although this league is only weighted with a factor of 1, Lemajić has stunned many by scoring 28 goals, maintaining his lead before Haaland’s goal against Liverpool. His presence has made the competition more exciting than ever.

The Latvian top division concluded after 36 matches, with Lemajić’s RFS finishing second, just one point behind champions Riga FC. With 28 goals, Lemajić earned the top scorer title for the season, though his chances of staying atop the European leaderboard are slim as major leagues like the Premier League, La Liga, and Bundesliga still have many rounds remaining.

Currently, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé each have 13 goals, worth 26 points, ranking fifth and sixth respectively in the race. Both are expected to accelerate as the season enters its critical phase. Will Haaland sustain his devastating form to claim the European Golden Shoe for the first time in his career?

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