Top 2 go head to head
Premier League Golden Boot standings – Haaland closes in after winning Igor Thiago battle
©TM/IMAGO
Erling Haaland is closing in on his third Premier League Golden Boot award after seeing off Igor Thiago on Saturday, as the two top goalscorers in the league went head to head. With three games to go, Haaland is now four goals clear of Thiago after the Norwegian notched his 26th goal of the campaign in Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Brentford on Saturday.
The key encounter for arrived for Thiago and Haaland on Saturday, May 9, when Keith Andrews' side travelled to the Etihad for a crunch encounter, with ramifications for the title race, Champions League places and also the Golden Boot. Unfortunately, Haaland and City were too strong for their opponents, while Thiago had a quiet evening as he struggled to muster more than one chance. Jeremy Doku opened the scoring on the hour mark before Haaland bundled the ball over the line on 75 minutes. Substitute Omar Marmoush then made it 3-0 in stoppage time to clinch an important win for City as they chase league leaders Arsenal.
Stats
E. Haaland
Centre-Forward
Manchester City
34
26
8
Haaland had also scored in the 3-3 draw with Everton in midweek, which damaged their hopes of clinching a seventh league title under Pep Guardiola. But this result will give Haaland and City some confidence going into the final games of the season. As for Thiago, he and his team-mates take on Crystal Palace at home before a tough clash with Liverpool on the final day of the season at Anfield.
Igor Thiago's incredible rise
It looks as if Thiago will miss out, but that does nothing to dampen his spirits after an incredible season for the Bees. The Brazil international is in contention to play at the 2026 World Cup, and rivalling Haaland shows just how far he has come.
Four years ago, Igor Thiago was playing in Bulgaria for Ludogorets' second team. He was little more than an obscure name at the age of 20, and his market value of €450,000 reflected that. Now, it's €50 million, and every fan in the Premier League is acutely aware of the Brentford marksman's goalscoring exploits.
Stats
I. Thiago
Centre-Forward
Brentford FC
36
22
1
Remarkably, eight of Thiago's 22 goals have come from the penalty spot, while Haaland has 23 non-penalty goals this season. Thiago's efforts in spearheading the attack have contributed to Brentford's surprise charge towards qualifying for Europe. But Haaland has found the net in his last two games to take a two-goal advantage.
The 24-year-old had barely surfaced on the radar when the top goalscorers were predicted at the start of the season in August. After all, he had failed to score in any of his previous eight appearances following his big-money move from Club Brugge in 2024. Of course, a serious knee injury played its part in hampering his acclimatisation to life in west London. But now he is fully recovered from that and settled in the capital the Bees are reaping the rewards. He already holds the record for most goals scored by a Brazilian in Premier League history – and by some margin, too.
Stats
E. Haaland
Centre-Forward
Manchester City
34
26
8
Stats
I. Thiago
Centre-Forward
Brentford FC
36
22
1
Many would expect Haaland to claim the prize at the end of the season after going four goals clear. The Norwegian will still be looking over his broad shoulders, something he isn't accustomed to as a two-time previous Golden Boot winner in as many seasons remains a possibility. Thiago's confidence is sky-high and his ability to produce a surprise means it's far from a foregone conclusion, but only a hat-trick in his next appearance would bring him back into contention now.
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