A Serbian forward playing in Latvia is currently the top goal-scorer in Europe, outstripping celebrated stars like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, yet trails them in the official Golden Boot race due to the award’s weighted scoring system.
Darko Lemajic, a 32-year-old striker for FK RFS in the Latvian league, has netted 28 goals this season. These goals place him at the top of the European scoring charts.
However, the competition’s rules award points based on the strength of the league. Goals in Europe’s top five leagues, such as England’s Premier League or France’s Ligue 1, are valued at two points each. Goals in lesser-ranked leagues, including Latvia’s, are worth only one point.
This system means Lemajic’s 28 goals translate to 28 points. Meanwhile, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who recently scored two goals in a 3-1 win against Bournemouth, now has 13 Premier League goals, earning him 26 points.
Kylian Mbappé of Paris Saint-Germain also has 13 goals, placing him on 26 points as well. Despite Lemajic scoring more than double their goal tally, the two global superstars are just two points behind him.
Another lesser-known striker, 35-year-old Klaemint Olsen from NSÍ Runavík in the Faroe Islands, also has 26 goals in his league, giving him 26 points.
Latvia’s domestic league is ranked 37th by UEFA, underscoring the challenge players from smaller leagues face in the Golden Boot standings. For context, Vangelis Pavlidis of Portugal’s Benfica has eight goals in his league, where each goal is worth 1.5 points, giving him 12 points in the race.