Erling Haaland has 7 goals in 5 appearances, and that is enough to put him in control of the early Premier League Golden Boot race. Alexander Isak is the standout challenger, though, because his 7.29 rating and 3 assists in 4 games show he is influencing matches even when he does not score.
BBC Sport’s feature desk said Haaland “will be hoping for a record-equalling fourth Premier League Golden Boot this season.” It also noted that Isak “finished second in the Golden Boot race in 2024-25 with 23 goals, outscoring Haaland and only finishing behind Salah.”
Isak is the clearest challenger
The reason Isak sits ahead of the rest is not hard to spot. He has already shown he can score at the level needed, and the added creative output makes him less dependent on one hot spell. That balance is what keeps his challenge alive while others are still trying to get into the race.
BBC Sport’s contender list also keeps Liverpool's Igor Thiago, Brentford's Joao Pedro and Chelsea's forward in the frame, but the gap to Haaland is already noticeable. Haaland’s own 7.94 rating shows the scoring has come with strong all-round form, not just one or two sharp finishes.
The bar for a Golden Boot winner
The scale of the chase is still the biggest obstacle for everyone else. The BBC says the past four Golden Boots have all required between 27 and 36 goals, and only 12 of 34 Premier League seasons have been won by a player whose team also took the title.
That history leaves room for a challenger, but it also tells you how much scoring is still needed. Haaland’s start gives Manchester City the front-runner, and Isak looks like the only rival who has both the form and the wider involvement to keep the race interesting into the autumn.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
