Who Can Stop Erling Haaland Winning Another Premier League Golden Boot?

Erling Haaland has made another strong start to the Premier League season, with the Manchester City striker leading the Golden Boot standings after the opening five matches of the 2026/27 campaign.

Haaland has scored five league goals so far, putting him one ahead of Liverpool striker Alexander Isak. João Pedro is among the group sitting on three, while last season’s runner-up Igor Thiago remains another player with a recent record of competing towards the top of the scoring charts.

The City forward has won the Golden Boot in three of his four completed Premier League seasons, including last year when his 27 goals put him five clear of Thiago. With Haaland already back at the top of the standings, the early stages of the campaign have again raised the question of which forwards can stay close to him over 38 matches.

Erling Haaland

Haaland has scored five times in Manchester City’s first five Premier League fixtures, having failed to find the net in only one of those matches. His underlying numbers have also been strong, with 20 shots, 19 efforts from inside the penalty area and nine big chances after five games. Each of those figures was the highest of any Premier League player at that stage of the season.

His current record follows another Golden Boot-winning campaign in 2025/26. Haaland finished last season with 27 goals, adding a third award to those he won in 2022/23 and 2023/24. His first season in England remains his highest-scoring Premier League campaign after he set a record for a 38-match season with 36 goals.

Haaland has now won the award in 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2025/26. Only Mohamed Salah and Thierry Henry have won more, with four each. Another Golden Boot this season would therefore take Haaland level with the Premier League record.

Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak is currently Haaland’s closest challenger in the standings.

The Liverpool striker has four goals from five Premier League appearances, with three of those arriving during September. He scored twice against Ipswich Town before providing the only goal in Liverpool’s win over Bournemouth, leaving him one behind Haaland after five matches.

Isak’s current total has come from 415 Premier League minutes. He has recorded an expected goals figure of 3.54 and has six shots on target from inside the penalty area.

The Sweden international also has previous experience of finishing among the league’s leading scorers. He scored 21 Premier League goals in 2023/24, when only Haaland and Cole Palmer finished above him in the Golden Boot standings.

His four goals this season mean he is the only player currently within one of Haaland. With 33 league matches still to play, Isak’s scoring record over the opening five fixtures has put him firmly into the early Golden Boot race.

João Pedro

João Pedro has also started the season strongly for Chelsea, scoring three Premier League goals across the opening weeks of the campaign.

The Brazilian began 2026/27 with two goals and two assists during August, performances that earned him the Premier League Player of the Month award. He became the first Chelsea player to receive the prize since Cole Palmer in September 2024.

João Pedro’s involvement has not been limited to goals. Chelsea scored 18 times across their opening six matches in all competitions, with João Pedro operating alongside Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers in the attacking areas.

His three Premier League goals leave him two behind Haaland at this stage. Unlike Isak and Thiago, João Pedro has not previously produced a 20-goal Premier League season, so maintaining his early scoring rate would represent a significant increase on his previous league totals.

The opening five matches have nevertheless put him among the league’s leading scorers and given Chelsea another regular source of goals at the start of the campaign.

Igor Thiago

Igor Thiago’s inclusion is based primarily on what he produced across the whole of last season.

The Brentford striker scored 22 Premier League goals in 2025/26 and finished second behind Haaland in the Golden Boot standings. Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo was third with 17.

Thiago made 36 league appearances during that campaign and also recorded one assist. Eight of his 22 goals came from penalties, while only Haaland registered more big chances and shots on goal among Premier League forwards across the season.

Those numbers provide a clear comparison with Haaland over a full campaign. Thiago finished five goals behind the City striker last season and was the only other Premier League player to pass 20 league goals.

His start to 2026/27 has not placed him alongside Haaland and Isak at the top of the current standings, but his output last season means he remains one of the few active Premier League forwards who has recently demonstrated that he can reach the scoring totals normally required to compete for the Golden Boot.

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FAQs

Who is leading the Premier League Golden Boot race in 2026/27?

Erling Haaland leads the Premier League scoring standings with five goals after the opening five matches of the season. Alexander Isak is second with four.

Who won the Premier League Golden Boot last season?

Haaland won the 2025/26 Golden Boot after scoring 27 Premier League goals for Manchester City.

Who finished second in the 2025/26 Golden Boot race?

Brentford striker Igor Thiago finished second with 22 goals, five behind Haaland.

How many Premier League Golden Boots has Erling Haaland won?

Haaland has won three Golden Boots, taking the award in 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2025/26.

Who has won the most Premier League Golden Boots?

Thierry Henry and Mohamed Salah share the record with four Golden Boots each. Haaland is one behind them with three.