The race for the 2026 European Golden Shoe is intense, with Kane and Mbappé tied at 42 points, and Haaland in third with 40 points.

From the outset of this season, the battle for the 2026 European Golden Shoe has centered on three players, since Real Madrid’s Mbappé, Manchester City’s Haaland, and Bayern’s Kane have been in remarkable scoring form. Yet, Haaland has hit a slump recently, managing only one goal in nine matches across various tournaments, allowing Mbappé and Kane to tie for first place, with Haaland trailing by a single goal.

The latest standings for the 2026 European Golden Shoe are as follows:

• First place: Kane, Bundesliga/Bayern, 21 goals, 42 points.
• Tied for first: Mbappé, La Liga/Real Madrid, 21 goals, 42 points.
• Third place: Haaland, Premier League/Manchester City, 20 goals, 40 points.
• Fourth place: Igor Thiago, Premier League/Brentford, 16 goals, 32 points.
• Fifth place: Pavlidis, Primeira Liga/Benfica, 19 goals, 28.5 points.

This clearly shows that the 2026 European Golden Shoe is essentially a three-way contest. Interestingly, the past three winners were Mbappé (2025), Kane (2024), and Haaland (2023). Brazilian striker Igor Thiago has emerged spectacularly this season as the new goal king in the Premier League, possibly becoming a great new option for Ancelotti at the center forward position in the Samba squad. The Brazilian national team will need a powerful striker like him for their attacking battles.