The Premier League Golden Boot race for 2025-26 saw fierce competition among elite strikers with Haaland claiming the prize once again.
Premier League 2025-26 Final Top Scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erling Haaland | Man City | 38 | 4 |
| 2 | Viktor Gyokeres | Arsenal | 26 | 3 |
| 3 | Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid | 29 | 2 |
| 4 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 23 | 5 |
| 5 | Alexander Isak | Newcastle | 22 | 1 |
Haaland's Dominant Season
Erling Haaland's 38-goal season established a new Premier League record, surpassing his own mark of 36 set in 2022-23. Remarkably, only 4 of his goals came from penalties, meaning 34 were from open play—the highest open-play goal tally in Premier League history. His goals-per-minute ratio of one every 78 minutes was the most efficient in the competition's 34-year history.
The Race Month by Month
Haaland led the Golden Boot race from September onwards, but Gyokeres' purple patch in December-January (12 goals in 8 matches) briefly closed the gap. Salah's consistency kept Liverpool in title contention while his 23 goals cemented his place in the Premier League's all-time top 10. Isak's 22 goals announced Newcastle as genuine challengers for Europe's elite.
Season Highlights
- Haaland scored in 28 of 38 Premier League matches — the highest ever ratio
- Gyokeres' debut season at Arsenal exceeded all expectations with 26 goals
- Salah's potential farewell season included 23 goals and 14 assists
- Isak's improvement from 14 goals last season to 22 this season shows elite progression
Penalty-Adjusted Rankings
When penalties are removed, the rankings shift slightly. Haaland's 34 open-play goals remain untouchable, but Gyokeres' 23 open-play goals move closer to Salah's 18 and Isak's 21. This adjustment rewards players who score from open play rather than from the spot, providing a purer measure of goal-scoring ability.
Historical Context
Haaland's 38 goals place him alongside the greatest individual Premier League seasons ever. Only Shearer (34 in 1994-95), Salah (32 in 2017-18), and Haaland himself (36 in 2022-23) had previously breached the 30-goal barrier. With three 30+ goal seasons already, Haaland is establishing himself as the most prolific scorer the English top flight has ever seen.