The 2025-26 Premier League season is underway, and the race for the Golden Boot is already heating up. Several familiar faces and a few surprises are emerging as contenders for the prestigious award.
As of early October, Manchester City's Erling Haaland leads the pack with an impressive 9 goals in the opening seven games. Despite failing to secure a third consecutive Golden Boot last season, Haaland has returned with renewed vigor, showcasing the predatory instincts that made him a global sensation.
Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo is currently Haaland's closest competitor, having netted 6 goals. Semenyo's remarkable start has positioned him as a serious contender, exceeding expectations and injecting excitement into the race.
Following closely behind are Burnley's Jaidon Anthony and Brentford's Igor Thiago, both with 4 goals each. These players have demonstrated their goal-scoring prowess early in the season, establishing themselves as potential dark horses in the Golden Boot chase.
A cluster of players are tied with 3 goals, including Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike, Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr, Tottenham's Richarlison, Everton's Iliman Ndiaye, Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, Newcastle's Nick Woltemade, Sunderland's Wilson Isidor, and Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres. While they have some ground to make up, their presence indicates the depth of attacking talent in the Premier League this season.
Mohamed Salah, who won the Golden Boot last season with 29 goals while playing for Liverpool, is looking to catch up after a slower start to the current campaign. Salah's previous season was record-equalling, as he also provided 18 assists, totaling 47 goal contributions.
Several new arrivals in the Premier League, including Nick Woltemade, Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, have had time to settle in with their respective clubs and will be looking to make a mark as the season progresses.
The Premier League has a rich history of top goalscorers, with Alan Shearer leading the all-time list with 260 goals, followed by Harry Kane (213 goals) and Wayne Rooney (208 goals). As the 2025/26 season unfolds, the race for the Golden Boot promises to be a captivating contest between established stars and emerging talents.
The season has already seen some high-scoring matches, including Liverpool's 4-2 victory over Bournemouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers' 0-4 defeat to Manchester City, and West Ham United's 1-5 loss to Chelsea. These results highlight the attacking intent of many teams and suggest that there will be plenty of goals to come throughout the campaign.
With the season still in its early stages, it remains to be seen who will ultimately emerge victorious in the Golden Boot race. However, the current standings provide a tantalizing glimpse into what promises to be a thrilling and unpredictable battle for individual honors.
