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Star Real Madrid striker, Kylian Mbappe on Sunday, May 25 was crowned with the ‘Golden Boot’ award after a memorable opening season. In just a year, Mbappe clinched the European Golden Boot for the first time in his career, thus creating history in the process. While he becomes the first Frenchman to do so since Thierry Henry (2004 and 2005), he is also the only player in world football to win the European Golden Boot, World Cup Golden Boot and the Champions League Golden Boot.
After scoring twice against Real Sociedad, the Real Madrid star surged to the top of the leaderboard, surpassing Sporting Libson’s marksman Viktor Gyokeres, who has 39 goals to his name. With Real Madrid hosting Sociedad in their final la Liga fixture, Mbappe converted a penalty following a handball into the box. He then fired home a left-footed strike, completing two goals and surpassing Gyokeres in the list to claim the acclaimed title.
How Kylian Mbappe finished above Gyokeres despite 31 goals?
It is to be noted that the Golden Boot isn’t just based on the total number of goals, but is the determined by a point system that weighs on the goals scored in each domestic league. La Liga carries a multiplier of two, while the Portuguese Primeira Liga is rated at 1.5. Hence, Mbappe’s 31 goals got him 62 points, edging over the Swedish international, who secured 58.5 points with 1.5 rating.
Here’s how the ratings are calculated:
1- Kylian Mbappé: 31 goals x 2 = 62 points
2- Viktor Gyökeres: 39 goals x 1.5 = 58.5 points
3- Mohamed Salah: 29 goals x 2 = 58 points
4- Harry Kane: 26 goals x 2 = 52 points
5- Robert Lewandowski: 25 goals x 2 = 50 points
With Mbappe on the top, the biggest name he pipped was Mohamed Salah. However, Salah still has a game to go as Liverpool face Crystal Palace at Anfield in their final Premier League fixture despite the title win. With Salah to surpass Mbappe, The Reds striker would be required to net four goals. However, it remains highly unlikely as Salah has got just one goal in his last eight appearances.
