The race for the European Golden Shoe - December 2018 watch

Lionel Messi is the current holder of the European Golden Boot
Lionel Messi is the current holder of the European Golden Boot

#12 Nicolas Pepe (Lille)

League - France Ligue 1

League coefficient - (x2)

10 goals (20 points)

Nicolas Pepe
Nicolas Pepe

Not much was known about Nicolas Pepe in seasons gone by (his wikipedia page is rather sparse), but this season, he has been breathtaking to say the least, and is one of the most sought after players in Europe, with most of the major clubs competing with each other to get his signature.

So far this campaign, the 23-year-old Ivorien international has scored 10 goals and registers five assists in 16 Ligue 1 matches, and reports have emanated that Arsenal have identified him as a priority signing ahead of next campaign, and if he is to keep up this from, it is hard to see Lille holding on to him for much longer.

#11 Luka Jovic (Frankfurt)

League - Germany Bundesliga

League coefficient - (x2)

10 goals (20 points)

Luka Jovic
Luka Jovic

The 20-year-old Serbian international is currently on loan in the Bundesliga from Benfica, but he has taken to the Commerz-bank arena like a fish to water.

He had a fairly impressive debut campaign with Frankfurt, scoring eight league goals in 22 Bundesliga appearances, while also appearaing five times in the triumphant DFB Pokal run in 2018 scoring the decisive goal in the semi-final win over Schalke. His performances saw him rewarded with a spot on the Plane to the World Cup in Russia with Serbia.

Thus far this season, he has taken his goalscoring exploits a notch higher, and in October became the youngest ever player in Bundesliga history to score five goals in a single matchj when he did so in the 7-1 victory over Dusseldorf.

Jovic currently has 10 Bundesliga goals this term to help his club to fifth place on the standings, while he has also contributed five goals in as many matches in the Europa League to help his side sit top of their group having impressively won all their matches thus far.

At this rate, it is hard to imagine Frankfurt not taking up their option of making his move permanent at the end of the season.

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Edited by Emeka Monyei
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