Salah leads Messi in race for Golden Shoe [See top 10 list]

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During the 2017/2018 football season, the race for the prestigious European Golden Shoe took an exciting turn as Mohamed Salah surged ahead of Lionel Messi, putting himself in pole position to claim one of football’s most coveted individual awards.

At that stage of the season, Salah was enjoying a phenomenal debut campaign with Liverpool. His outstanding performance, including a remarkable four-goal display against Watford, saw him climb to the top of the Golden Shoe rankings.

The Egyptian forward had scored 28 league goals (56 points), giving him a clear lead over Messi, who had 25 goals (50 points) at the time.

Salah’s consistency in front of goal made him the standout performer across Europe’s top leagues, and many began to believe he could go on to win the award.

The European Golden Shoe is awarded to the top scorer in league matches across Europe. However, it is not just about the number of goals scored.

Each goal is multiplied by a coefficient based on the strength of the league:

  • Top leagues (like the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga) = 2 points per goal
  • Lower-ranked leagues = fewer points per goal

This system ensures fairness across different competitions and highlights performance in the toughest leagues.

Here’s how the rankings looked following that round of matches:

  1. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 56 points (28 goals)
  2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – 50 points (25 goals)
  3. Edinson Cavani (PSG) – 48 points (24 goals)
  4. Ciro Immobile (Lazio) – 48 points (24 goals)
  5. Harry Kane (Tottenham) – 48 points (24 goals)
  6. Jonas (Benfica) – 46.5 points (31 goals)
  7. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) – 46 points (23 goals)
  8. Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan) – 44 points (22 goals)
  9. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – 44 points (22 goals)
  10. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) – 42 points (21 goals)
  11. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) – 42 points (21 goals)

The list featured some of the biggest names in world football, highlighting just how competitive the race was.

If Salah had maintained his lead until the end of the season, he would have become only the second Premier League player in over a decade to win the Golden Shoe.

He was also on track to emulate Luis Suárez, who previously shared the award with Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2013/2014 season.

His pace, finishing ability, and confidence made him a nightmare for defenders and a serious contender for multiple individual awards that season.

Despite trailing at that point, Messi remained a strong contender. The Barcelona star had already won the Golden Shoe multiple times and had a proven track record of finishing seasons strongly.

As history later showed, Messi eventually overtook Salah and went on to win the 2017/2018 European Golden Shoe with 34 goals (68 points), while Salah finished second with 32 goals (64 points).

The 2017/2018 season will always be remembered for Salah’s explosive rise and the intense competition between Europe’s elite forwards.

While Messi ultimately claimed the prize, Salah’s performances earned him global recognition and firmly established him among the world’s best players.

The Golden Shoe race between Mohamed Salah and Lionel Messi perfectly captured the excitement of modern football. It showcased not just incredible talent, but also the relentless drive of two world-class players pushing each other to new heights.

Even though Messi finished on top, Salah’s dominance during that period remains one of the standout stories of that unforgettable season.

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