Why Kylian Mbappe Won the European Golden Shoe Despite Scoring Fewer Goals Than Viktor Gyokeres

Kylian Mbappe’s first season at Real Madrid ended with individual brilliance and a major European honor, even though it was a relatively disappointing campaign for the club.  

The French superstar secured the European Golden Shoe, sparking curiosity and debate across the football world, especially considering he didn’t score the most goals in Europe. The answer lies in the unique way this prestigious award is calculated. 

Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, made an immediate impact, scoring goals with remarkable consistency throughout the season.  

His campaign kicked off with silverware as Madrid lifted the UEFA Super Cup, but it quickly became apparent that team trophies would be scarce.  

Real Madrid were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Arsenal, who managed to beat them both at the Emirates and at the Santiago Bernabéu. Domestically, the disappointment continued.  

Their eternal rivals, Barcelona, clinched both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, finishing four points ahead in the league and narrowly edging Madrid in a thrilling 3-2 cup final. 

Yet, amid Madrid’s collective frustration, Mbappe stood out as a shining light. He ended the season with 43 goals and five assists across all competitions, with 31 of those goals coming in La Liga.  

That tally earned him the Pichichi Trophy as the Spanish top flight’s leading scorer, a remarkable feat in his debut season. But the real surprise came when Mbappe was awarded the European Golden Shoe, a prize that traditionally goes to the continent’s most effective league goal scorer. 

On the surface, it seemed unfair. Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres had a phenomenal season in Portugal, scoring 39 goals in just 33 matches, eight more than Mbappe.  

The Swedish striker was clinical, consistent, and unstoppable in front of goal. However, the European Golden Shoe is not solely about the number of goals scored; it also factors in the competitiveness of the league where those goals are scored. 

The award uses a coefficient system that gives more weight to goals scored in the so-called top five leagues, namely the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1.  

In these leagues, each goal is multiplied by a factor of two. In contrast, leagues like the Portuguese Primeira Liga use a factor of 1.5. So while Gyokeres scored more goals, his total points after the coefficient adjustment came to 58.5. Mbappe, thanks to La Liga’s higher ranking, saw his 31 goals multiplied by two, giving him 62 points and placing him just ahead. 

This method has drawn mixed reactions. Some fans feel it penalizes outstanding performances in smaller leagues, while others argue it fairly reflects the difficulty of scoring in stronger competitions. Regardless, Mbappe’s award underlines how the strength of opposition and league competitiveness still play a major role in evaluating elite strikers. 

While Mbappe celebrated his individual accolade, other names also made strong impressions across Europe. Mohamed Salah once again led Liverpool’s attack and claimed the Premier League Golden Boot with 29 goals, while Robert Lewandowski continued defying age at Barcelona with 27 goals. Harry Kane found his rhythm at Bayern Munich, scoring 26 times in the Bundesliga. 

Interestingly, the race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or may not favor any of the top Golden Shoe contenders. Ousmane Dembele, whose electrifying form helped Paris Saint-Germain win a historic treble, including the Champions League, has emerged as the current favorite.  

His consistency, flair, and contributions in key matches have placed him ahead of Barcelona’s Raphinha and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal in the latest rankings. 

In the end, Mbappe’s Golden Shoe triumph is not just a testament to his scoring prowess but also to the weight of playing, and excelling, in one of the toughest leagues in world football. Even in a season where Real Madrid fell short collectively, the Frenchman reminded everyone why he remains one of the most lethal forwards of his generation.