Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen ends European golden boot race in fifth

Nigeria international Victor Osimhen finished fifth in the race for the European golden boot this season despite finishing as Serie A’s top scorer.

The European golden boot is determined by the number of points, with a goal in Europe’s top five leagues equalling two points.

The Super Eagles star was the top man in Italy’s top flight this season after scoring 26 goals to fire Napoli to their first league title in 33 years.

The 24-year-old Nigeria international became the first African player in Serie A history to win Capocannoniere (Serie A Top Scorer Award) and also became the first-ever African striker to win the Serie A Striker of the Season award in the league’s 125 years history.

Osimhen also broke a 14-year jinx of being the first player since Zlatan Ibrahimovic to win the Scudetto and the Capocannoniere same season.

The Nigerian striker is the first Napoli player to win the Capocannoniere award since Gonzalo Higuain in 2016, and only the fourth in Partenopei history after Diego Maradona, Edison Cavani, and Higuain.

No player from the top five European leagues has scored more league goals in 2023 than the Nigerian. He has 17 league goals tied with Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette and Tottenham’s Harry Kane.

However, it’s Manchester City’s Erling Haaland that finished top of European golden boot chart after scoring 36 goals in his debut Premier League season.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane finished second following his 30 league goals in England’s top flight.

Kylian Mbappe was third following his 29 goals for Paris-Saint Germain, while Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette filled up the fourth spot with 27 goals.