Ranking the Golden Boot Races Across Europe
Teams win championships, but only the most audacious goalscorers are in the hunt for the Golden Boot awards in Europe's domestic leagues.
Who's in the lead in your favorite league?
Who has a chance to catch them?
We've got all the numbers.
As the leagues enter their stretch runs, we rank the most compelling individual battles as players fight to be atop the goal charts at season's end.
No. 5: English Premier League
1 of 5There's only one man who will wear the Golden Boot this season in the EPL.
Arsenal's Robin Van Persie has been scintillating this campaign. His 25 goals in 27 league appearances puts him well out front in the scoring race.
For argument's sake, the next closest player is Manchester United's Wayne Rooney. The United forward has 20 league goals and only 10 matches remaining to try and chase down RVP.
Predicted Winner: Robin Van Persie
Degree of certainty: 97%
No. 4: French Ligue 1
2 of 5Montpellier sit second in the French table largely on the striking shoulders of their star forward Olivier Giroud.
The 25-year-old hasn't let transfer rumors turn his head, as evidenced by his 17 league goals this season,
Top of the table PSG can boast the next highest scorer in Nene. The Brazilian has netted 13 for Carlo Ancelotti's free spending side.
As a single point separates their teams in the table, this personal battle could well determine the French championship as well as who takes home the shiny footwear.
Predicted Winner: Olivier Giroud
Degree of Certainty: 70%
No. 3: German Bundesliga
3 of 5Bayern Munich is chasing the league in Germany.
Currently five points behind Borussia Dortmund in the table, they'll hope striker Mario Gomez continues his league leading goal-scoring form.
Gomez has netted 21 times in this season's Bundesliga. Although he's being closely pursued by Schalke Dutchman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar who is only two goals behind.
With Bayern chasing the title, and Schalke looking to overtake Borussia Mönchengladbach for third position, this Golden Boot could go down to the last match day.
Predicted Winner: Mario Gomez
Degree of Certainty: 30%
No. 2: Italian Serie A
4 of 5If you ask him, AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic (currently top with 19 goals) would undoubtedly pick himself in this race.
But the man who has finished top of Italy's scoring charts the past two seasons will have something to say about it before season's end.
Udinese's Antonio Di Natale is right on Ibra's heels with 18 goals on the year.
And whereas Milan have an assortment of goal scoring options, Di Natale is the only game in town for Udinese.
Predicted Winner: Antonio Di Natale
Degree of Certainty: 20%
No. 1: Spanish La Liga
5 of 5Can there be any doubt this is the race that will intrigue most world football fans the most?
The world's two best players within two goals of each other with eleven games remaining.
Cristiano Ronaldo went to 32 league goals with a brace on Saturday. The next day Lionel Messi kept pace with a pair of his own to reach 30 for the season.
With Real Madrid edging ever closer to clinching the league championship, this individual battle will take center stage. Since both of these men are capable of putting up a hat trick or more whenever they take the field, the race to La Liga's Golden Boot just might be too close to call.
Predicted Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo
Degree of Certainty: 0%
