Erling Haaland Faces Early Golden Boot Challenge in 2025-26

The new Premier League season sees Erling Haaland level on two goals with Viktor Gyokeres, Richarlison, Brennan Johnson, Chris Wood, Antoine Semenyo, and Jurrien Timber after two games. Last year’s winner Mohamed Salah, who netted 29 goals and 18 assists, also opened his account. Assists and minutes-per-goal will decide rankings if players remain tied.

As the 2025-26 Premier League season gets underway, the Golden Boot race is already heating up with familiar names and new challengers. Mohamed Salah, last season’s top scorer with 29 goals and 18 assists, began strongly by netting against Bournemouth, extending his record as the most prolific Matchweek 1 scorer in league history. Erling Haaland, who scored 36 goals in 2022-23 and 27 in 2023-24, responded with a brace in Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Wolves, though he drew a blank in their 2-0 loss to Tottenham. 

Arsenal’s new signing Viktor Gyokeres also announced himself with two goals in a 5-0 win over Leeds, joining Haaland on the two-goal mark. Jurrien Timber, usually a defender, surprisingly grabbed a brace and assist in the same match, while Spurs duo Richarlison and Brennan Johnson also struck twice in two games. Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood, who enjoyed a breakout 2024-25 season with 20 league goals, continued his form by netting a brace against Palace. 

The early Golden Boot standings are tightly packed, with seven players tied on two goals after two rounds, with assists and minutes-per-goal serving as tiebreakers. With proven finishers like Salah and Haaland alongside emerging threats like Gyokeres, the 2025-26 scoring race promises to be fiercely contested.