5 favourites to win the Serie A Golden Boot this season

Back in the day, the Italian Serie A used to be a hotbed of the finest defenders in history. They were ruthless, cunning, and devoid of 'sportsmanship', only focusing on taking the victory lap at the end of each match. Thanks to stricter match officials and crafty tech, the gory challenges have reduced drastically. However, scorers still have a hard time getting the best of the Serie A defenders.

Today’s list is all about honoring those who have unlocked multiple Serie A teams. Today, it is about taking a look at five men who are in prime position to top the scoring chart in the 2021-22 campaign.

Now, without further ado, let us check out the leading five Golden Boot contenders for the upcoming Serie A season.

#5 Lorenzo Insigne

While creating a list of high-pedigree forwards, Lorenzo Insigne might not appear to be an obvious addition. However, given the form he is in, both for his club, Napoli, and country, Italy, it is hard to keep the 30-year-old out of the running.

The Napoli youth academy product has been synonymous with the club since 2012, and for good reason. He has often been the team’s sole source of inspiration, and it is about time he gets the recognition he deserves.

The Gli Azzurri captain scored a whopping 19 goals in 35 Serie A matches last season, and we expect him to match or better his tally in the 2021-21 campaign.

#4 Luis Muriel

Atalanta BC v Benevento Calcio - Serie A

Despite not being one of the richest or most illustrious clubs in Europe, Atalanta have managed to do something extraordinary. They have managed to create a brand of attacking football that very few teams can match or counter.

Atalanta's number 9, Luis Muriel, is one of the many factors that make the team as deadly as they have proven themselves to be. Signed from Fiorentina in 2019, Muriel was deployed primarily as a super sub last season. But he still comfortably asserted himself as one of the best there is. Out of his 36 appearances in Serie A, 20 came off the bench. But that did not keep him from netting 22 goals and providing nine assists in the Italian top-flight.

Considering how good he was in the super sub role last season, Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini is unlikely to tinker with the winning formula. So expect him to come off the bench in the tightest of fixtures and wheel away in celebration throughout the 2021-22 Serie A season.

#3 Ciro Immobile

Despite not being in the best form in the recently concluded Euro 2020, Lazio forward, Ciro Immobile, played a crucial role in Italy’s continental heroics. The 31-year-old striker only scored two goals in six Euro fixtures in the summer. But his sense of positioning was once again worth applauding.

Immobile’s underwhelming return for Italy should not be too big of a concern on the domestic front, as he has always managed to put on a show in his Lazio colors. Last season, too, Immobile was in fine form in front of goal for Lazio, netting 20 goals in 35 appearances. Add his six assists into the mix and you get one of the most complete forwards in the league.

With both Milan teams and Juventus aiming for a better showing in the league in the upcoming season, Lazio will need their talisman to fire on all cylinders. So, the aim this season would be to give Immobile as many chances as possible and allow the 2019-20 Serie A Golden Boot winner to take the fight to the league’s best scorers.

#2 Romelu Lukaku

FC Internazionale Milano v Udinese Calcio - Serie A

After plying his trade in the Premier League for Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion, Everton and Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku sought out a new challenge in an unfamiliar country. A country famous for giving birth to menacing defenders. Two years have zoomed by since the move to Inter Milan, and Lukaku is now widely revered as one of the best in the business.

Lukaku was one of the biggest driving forces behind Inter Milan’s successful league campaign in 2020-21, which saw the Nerazzuri end their 11-year-long Serie A drought. The Belgian not only pitched in with 24 invaluable goals, but he also registered 11 assists, highlighting the completeness of his attacking play.

As per rumors, Chelsea are looking to bring the Belgium international back to the Premier League. However, considering Lukaku still has three years remaining on his contract with Inter, the move could fizzle out over the next few weeks. Inter cannot afford to let Lukaku leave this summer, not when they finally have some sort of momentum.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

After conquering England and Spain, the Champions League’s leading goalscorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, decided to call Juventus his home in 2018. So far, the Portugal captain has not looked back.

Despite being on the wrong side of 30, Ronaldo has not allowed biology to keep up with his winning mentality. He trains harder, pushes further, and seems to be even hungrier on the pitch. In his debut season, Ronaldo managed to score 21 goals in 31 appearances, which was deemed a disappointing return from one of the best players in history. In the 2019-20 campaign, he bumped up the numbers and recorded 31 goals in 33 Serie A appearances.

Last season, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 29 goals in 33 Serie A appearances, playing primarily as a center forward. This season, too, we expect the Portuguese to stay further up the pitch and pounce on every opportunity he gets.

It does not make sense to bet on a 37-year-old to beat the younger players over the course of a ruthless season. However, in this instance, we cannot help but give in to the legacy of one of the generation’s leading goalscorers.

Edited by Samya Majumdar