Head coach Simmons urges Bangladesh to “enjoy the moment” and play with “freedom”

Shashank Kishore23-Sep-20251:49

Chopra: You look at Saif Hassan and go ‘there’s some serious talent there’

Bangladesh were outmuscled in their last T20I series against India in October 2024, finding themselves chasing scores of 221 and 297 over the course of a 3-0 series defeat.A year on, they’ve picked up the pieces. Under a new coach in Phil Simmons, who took charge three days after that India tour, they’re trying to unlearn old habits, and build new ones.While there’s awareness that structural changes will take time, there’s also the matter of not losing sight of the present. On Wednesday, they’ll play India, the reigning T20 world champions once again, in a crucial Asia Cup fixture with the stakes a lot higher: the winner will take a giant step towards making Sunday’s final.Related

India go in as strong favourites against upbeat Bangladesh

Bangladesh solve the middle-overs riddle

“Every team has the ability to beat India,” Simmons said. “The game is played on the day, it’s what happens during that three-and-a-half hours. If we get the break in the game, then we have to hold on to it. We have an opportunity to win.”While the head-to-head reads 16-1 in India’s favour, the India-Bangladesh rivalry has transcended far beyond just the numbers. What began as a sibling rivalry in the early 2000s turned into something bigger, when Bangladesh upset India at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.It took until 2015, though, to take the world by storm, when the two sides met in a charged-up World Cup quarter-final in Melbourne. Since then, matches between the two sides have contained enough drama to satisfy any cricketing hype machine.The MS Dhoni and Mustafizur Rahman shoulder barge in 2015, the heart-stopping last-ball thriller at the 2016 T20 World Cup in Bengaluru, and perhaps the most memorable of them all, the Nidahas Trophy final in Colombo in 2018 have all lent some weight to this ‘rivalry’.

“Every game, especially games involving India, has a hype because they’re the number one T20 team in the world. There must be a hype. We’re just going to ride on the hype.”Phil Simmons, Bangladesh head coach

While things have simmered down since, at least on the field, there has been the odd bit of tension, like India deferring a routine bilateral tour, originally to take place in August this year to September next year. Simmons hasn’t paid much mind to that, or to suggestions that his team stands no chance against India on Wednesday.”Every game has a hype,” he said. “Every game, especially games involving India, has a hype because they’re the No. 1 T20 team in the world. There must be a hype. We’re just going to ride on the hype. We’re going to enjoy the moment and enjoy the game. That’s how we’re trying to go into the game, to enjoy the game and therefore give our best.”Asked if he had allowed himself a smile after beating Sri Lanka earlier in the Asia Cup, Simmons admitted he did, but quickly underlined the bigger picture. “We are not here to win a game against Sri Lanka. We are here to win the tournament. Until we get to the stage where we are out, I have to keep everybody grounded in the dressing room.”Simmons has been encouraged lately, even though Bangladesh have produced mixed results – which includes a T20I series loss to UAE. Yet, through it, there has seen a deviation from their safety-first approach of preserving wickets and setting a platform before trying to accelerate.Simmons: ‘We are here to win the tournament. Until we get to the stage where we are out, I’ve to keep everybody grounded in the dressing room’•ICC via Getty ImagesWhen Simmons took over, he wanted them to play differently. And the team has slowly bought into the philosophy, which mirrors the captain Litton Das outlook as well. “It’s been really good,” Simmons said, reflecting on his time in charge of the T20I side. “A big part of it must be the captain and how he has guided his guys and let them know how he wants them to play.”And also the coaches, because we’ve given them that freedom to express themselves when they go out there. I think that’s the biggest part in all formats of cricket, but mostly so in T20 cricket. The freedom to express and use their skills.”For his part, Simmons has given them the independence and liberty to discover their own methods, while also focusing on being flexible.Example: Two games into the Asia Cup, it seemed a given Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan would be locked-in as openers. Then Bangladesh lost to Sri Lanka in the group stage and Simmons saw Saif Hassan batting superbly at training and decided to shake things up.In August, Saif made a comeback to the T20I squad after two years. On Saturday, he struck a 45-ball 61, only his second T20I fifty, as Bangladesh bouced back to beat Sri Lanka in their first Super Fours fixture.1:55

Chopra impressed with Hridoy’s cricketing smarts

Similarly, one match after hitting an unbeaten, six-ball 12 against Afghanistan, Nurul Hasan was left out for Mahedi Hasan, whose offspin made him a necessity against a left-hander heavy Sri Lankan batting line-up. Similarly, legpinner Rishad Hossain made way for an extra seam-option in Shoriful Islam.These changes, Simmons explained, were largely tactical: “Everybody has their time. Maybe you play well in one game but lose the chance in the next because of the combination. It’s hard, but we’re trying to make sure the XI is always hard and difficult to get into. The balance of the team is most important.”If flexibility has been their batting mantra, their bowling has been shaped by pragmatism. Simmons has introduced structured workload management, first with Andre Adams and now with bowling consultant Shaun Tait.Fast bowlers like Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib have been carefully rotated and preserved. Hasan Mahmud is being groomed for Tests, while young quicks such as Nahid Rana have been given elaborate feedback that they hope he will incorporate before he returns.Simmons credits assistant Mohammad Salahuddin, a respected domestic coach, for helping build player confidence and connections, which has been an extension of his management style with Afghanistan and West Indies.In the previous regime, where a board chairman held strong influence over squad selections, at times even the playing XI, such calls may not have been so easy to take. Things are different now.”As long as I have a proper reason for my decisions – we all have different opinions, but as long as I’m confident, and my staff and the captain are confident in how we’re guiding the team, then criticism is like water off a dog’s back. It doesn’t bother me,” Simmons said.

A pair of wicketkeepers and a pair of allrounders feature in this list of emerging players

Deivarayan Muthu24-Oct-2025

Muhammad Abbas (Wellington)

A supremely talented right-hand batter and left-arm seamer, Muhammad Abbas enters the new domestic season after playing three ODIs for New Zealand earlier this year. He made an immediate impact on his international debut, against Pakistan, his country of birth, clattering a 24-ball fifty – the quickest on debut in ODI history – in Napier in March.During the winter, he travelled with the New Zealand A side to Bangladesh and South Africa, gaining exposure away from home. In the third unofficial ODI against South Africa A in Benoni, he picked up 1 for 38 in five overs and hit 66 off 70 balls. At 21, Abbas has the shots and gears to succeed in white-ball cricket and though batting is his stronger suit, he can also do a job with his left-arm seam. A big domestic season could potentially propel him into the BlackCaps’ first-choice white-ball side.Adithya Ashok trained at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai during the New Zealand winter•Super Kings Academy

Adithya Ashok (Auckland)

Auckland wristspinner Adithya Ashok has been identified as Ish Sodhi’s successor and he won his maiden New Zealand contract just before Gary Stead exited as head coach. Rob Walter, the new coach, has leaned on the experience of Sodhi in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year. This Ford Trophy and then the 20-overs Super Smash is Adithya’s chance to press his case for a place in New Zealand’s white-ball sides.Adithya built up a strong body of work during the winter, emerging as New Zealand A’s chief wicket-taker in both four-dayers and List A cricket in Bangladesh and South Africa. Between the two A tours, Adithya visited the Super Kings Academy in Chennai to hone his skills during a spin-centric camp.Curtis Heaphy in action in the Global Super League in Guyana•Global Super League via Getty Images

Curtis Heaphy (Central Districts)

A wicketkeeper-batter, Curtis Heaphy averages over 40 in first-class cricket and over 50 in List A cricket. The 22-year-old was the top run-getter in the 2024-25 Ford Trophy, with 502 runs in 11 innings at an average of 71.71 and a strike rate of 77.95. He then helped Central Districts win the 2024-25 Super Smash and broke into the New Zealand A side. Heaphy also contributed handsomely to CD’s first T20 win outside of New Zealand, scoring an unbeaten 50 off 38 balls against Big Bash League (BBL) champions Hobart Hurricanes in the Global Super League in spin-friendly Guyana. He went bigger in South Africa, making a career-best 190 in the second unofficial Test in Benoni. Heaphy could compete with Canterbury’s Mitch Hay for the emerging wicketkeeper’s slot.Max Chu is a 360-degree batter•Getty Images

Max Chu (Otago)

Another exciting wicketkeeper-batter, Max Chu, who represents Otago, has seen his white-ball stocks rise after hitting 230 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 155.40 in last season’s Super Smash. Chu, 25, can play funky shots behind the wicket, which perhaps put him in the ILT20 shortlist (though he didn’t get a gig there) and landed him a deal at the Canada Super60 earlier this month.Chu was New Zealand’s keeper in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup at home and was part of a batch that included Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra and Matt Fisher. This season presents him an opportunity to level up and join his mates in New Zealand’s senior team.Matt Boyle is rated highly by Canterbury coach Peter Fulton•Getty Images

Matt Boyle (Canterbury)

The younger brother of Jack, who will turn out for Otago in the upcoming season, and the son of Justin, who played for Canterbury and Wellington, Matt Boyle is also part of New Zealand’s young talent pool. A top-order batter, who can also pitch in with legspin, Boyle topped the Super Smash run charts last season and scored his maiden List A century during the 2024-25 Ford Trophy. He didn’t score a whole lot of runs on the winter A tours, but is rated highly by many in New Zealand cricket circles, including his Canterbury coach Peter Fulton.Simon Keene poses a threat to batters with his hooping outswinger•Getty Images

Simon Keene (Auckland)

After Zak Foulkes and Nathan Smith, Auckland’s Simon Keene, who turned 24 earlier this week, promises to be the next seam-bowling allrounder from New Zealand’s pathway system. Keene bagged a five-wicket haul on his Plunket Shield debut in 2022 and then showcased his ability to swing the white ball in last season’s Ford Trophy, when he razed Canterbury’s line-up with 5 for 29 in Mount Manganui. In addition to his hooping outswinger, Keene can also give it a good whack with the bat like he showed during his 35-ball 81 while opening the batting with Martin Guptill in the Super Smash, and more recently during his 77 off 58 balls from No.8 in a one-dayer for New Zealand A in Benoni.

Group B is the group of death, and whoever loses on Saturday will ride a treacherous road to Super Four qualification

Andrew Fidel Fernando12-Sep-20252:32

Jaffer: Bangladesh favourites over SL

Big picture

So far in the Asia Cup, things have gone roughly as expected. India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have all registered comfortable victories, and Pakistan have also avoided an early banana peel. But Saturday brings up a more even clash. Over the last few years, T20 matches between these teams have sometimes been explosive, but although the heat of the rivalry has died down a little, it is also clear that these are well-matched teams in this format. Over the last 10 years, Sri Lanka have won eight of their 16 encounters, and Bangladesh eight.Related

• Asalanka: We are T20 Asia Cup defending champions

• Hasaranga fit for Sri Lanka's Asia Cup campaign

• Why are Sri Lanka and Bangladesh so poor at T20I batting?

• Hridoy hits back at critics as Bangladesh opt for safety over speed

More recently Bangladesh have had the better run, winning 2-1 in Sri Lanka in July, having also beaten Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup last year in Dallas. In those matches, Bangladesh’s bowlers tended to strike early, and find wickets regularly. Sri Lanka hope their batting order is in a better place now. But it was less than two weeks ago that they collapsed to 80 all out against Zimbabwe.Bangladesh also have the advantage of having played a match at this venue already. Their crushing of Hong Kong on Thursday was a largely complete performance, with the seamers getting wickets and the top order unfussily taking the team home in a modest chase. There were also wickets for legspinner Rishad Hossain, who was excellent against Sri Lanka in their most recent series, going at only 5.47 an over in his 12 overs across three matches.This being the group of death – Afghanistan are the other top-10 team vying for a Super Four spot – whichever team loses here will ride a treacherous road to qualification.Wanindu Hasaranga is set to return after missing the tour of Zimbabwe with a hamstring injury•AFP/Getty Images

Form guide

Bangladesh: WWWLW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Sri Lanka: WLWLL

In the spotlight: Litton Das and Pathum Nissanka

Bangladesh captain Litton Das needs 56 more runs to become Bangladesh’s most prolific T20I batter. He is clearly one of Bangladesh’s key T20I batters at the moment, having hit 476 runs this year at a strike rate of 137.17. He also top-scored for Bangladesh in that series in Sri Lanka. Given his experience, he is the Bangladesh batter that will worry Sri Lanka’s bowlers the most.Pathum Nissanka is having a fine T20I year himself, having made 230 runs at a strike rate of 147.43 in 2025. That Sri Lanka have been a significantly improved team in the powerplay is down partly to Nissanka’s improvements. He has opened up new parts of his game, and has become particularly severe on errors of length. In Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka lost the only match in which he didn’t get to 30.

Pitch and conditions

The Abu Dhabi pitch tends to be batting-friendly, though occasionally it will have something for the slower bowlers as well. Rain is not forecast on Saturday.2:05

Jaffer: Hasaranga’s return big boost for SL

Team news: Hasaranga set to return

Bangladesh will likely keep the same XI that beat Hong Kong. That means they will likely play three frontline seamers.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Pervez Hossain Emon, 2 Tanzid Hasan, 3 Litton Das (capt & wk), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Jaker Ali, 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Mahedi Hasan, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur Rahman.Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said Wanindu Hasaranga should be available to play on Saturday, after Hasaranga had missed the Zimbabwe series with a hamstring injury. He also suggested Sri Lanka could go in with three frontline seam options. If fit, Dushmantha Chameers seems a certainty, with Asalanka stating that Nuwan Thushara would also play. Binura Fernando may just have the edge over Matheesha Pathirana for the last spot.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kamil Mishara, 4 Kusal Perera, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Kamindu Mendis, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Binura Fernando, 11 Nuwan Thushara.

Stats and trivia

• Pathum Nissanka needs 50 more runs to complete a tally of 2000 in T20Is. He has played only 67 innings, which means he has eight innings in which to get those 50 runs and become the fastest Sri Lanka men’s batter to the milestone. Kusal Perera got there in his 76th innings.
• Litton Das has not been dismissed for less than 50 in his last four T20I innings, making 54*, 18*, 73, and 59, against Netherlands and Hong Kong.
• Even just in Asia Cups, these teams’ record is pretty even. Bangladesh won the first T20I Asia Cup match between them, in Mirpur in 2016. Sri Lanka won the next one, in Dubai in 2022.

Quotes

“It’s more of a rivalry for the fans. For us as players it’s just good challenging competition.”
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka on the rivalry between these teams

Newcastle United are now reportedly keeping close tabs on a “generational” star who could be ready to complete a big move to the Premier League in 2026.

Howe heaps praise on "relentless" Newcastle in Fulham victory

Following a routine victory over Benfica in the Champions League, Newcastle were once again made to work for a result in the Premier League.

The Magpies, who had won just twice in eight league games in the build-up, desperately needed to find a way past Fulham on Saturday and did just that courtesy of Bruno Guimaraes’ last-gasp winner.

Having his say on the much-needed win, Eddie Howe told reporters: “It was end-to-end. I thought it was a really attacking performance from both teams; both teams were going for the win. We’re delighted to get it ourselves.

“I thought it was a really good last 20 minutes from us; we were relentless in our pursuit to try and win. Eventually, one of those chances fell for us. Those points are so precious, but you also carry forward the belief that you can win in any situation, even when it doesn’t look like you will.”

That said, celebrations from the weekend can’t last very long. Newcastle’s focus must instantly turn towards facing Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. In search of defending their crown, the Magpies must find a way past an in-form side searching for more silverware, themselves.

Related Newcastle's “outstanding” talent can help Woltemade reach Shearer levels

Eddie Howe has an outstanding star at his disposal at Newcastle United who can help Nick Woltemade reach Alan Shearer levels.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Oct 28, 2025

Given how important the Carabao Cup was to Newcastle’s season last time out, it will be interesting to see whether Howe chooses to rest players or field his strongest side in the competition. There’s no doubt that, with European football to balance with domestic duties, he must get things right.

Of course, adding another piece of silverware after last season would be no bad thing and it would certainly go a long way towards attracting the next generation of stars.

Newcastle keeping tabs on "generational" Monga

As reported by The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, Newcastle are now keeping tabs on Jeremy Monga as the Leicester City star continues to enjoy an impressive rise.

Still just 16 years old, Monga has already made more first-team appearances than Arsenal’s Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha and is one of the most sought-after young players in English football.

It would represent a major coup if Newcastle managed to sign Monga ahead of Manchester City and they could even land a bargain deal for what would, in many ways, be their own version of Arsenal’s Dowman.

Leicester are unable to tie their teenage sensation down to a senior contract until he turns 17 next June, which means he could leave for a compensation fee rather than what would be a hefty transfer fee.

Dickson will join from Somerset as a replacement for the outgoing Glamorgan skipper Sam Northeast

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Sep-2025

Dickson produced a devastating late burst to send Somerset to Finals Day•Getty Images

Glamorgan have moved quickly to replace outgoing captain Sam Northeast with the signing of multi-format batter Sean Dickson.Dickson will depart Somerset at the end of the summer, moving to Sophia Gardens on a two-year deal.The 34-year old has established himself as an accomplished batter on the domestic scene. Glamorgan will be his fourth county, having also represented Kent and Durham across all formats.He underlined those credentials on Saturday with a match-winning 71 off just 26 deliveries against Birmingham Bears to take Somerset through to Blast Finals Day. Dickson also has a first-class best of 318, for Kent in the County Championship. It is one of 14 first-class centuries, of which 13 have come in English cricket. Born in South Africa, he notched a sole hundred for Northerns, in Centurion, before moving over to the UK in 2015.Glamorgan are pushing for promotion to Divison One but will lose Northeast, their captain, as he returns to his home county, Kent, at the end of this campaign.Speaking on Dickson’s impending arrival, Glamorgan director of cricket, Mark Wallace said: “We’re delighted that Sean has agreed to join Glamorgan for the next two years. Sean is one of the most explosive middle-order T20 batters in the country and is a proven top four option in four-day cricket.”With Sam Northeast heading back to Kent, Sean will add to the experience of our batting unit and we’re looking forward to welcoming him to Wales.”

Being a midfielder at the top level is extremely difficult, with every attribute arguably required to be considered world-class in today’s era. Whether it be shielding the defence, controlling the game or scoring goals, we have seen some iconic midfielders over time.

A number of midfielders have won the Ballon d’Or, most recently Rodri and Luka Modric, and, right now, Barcelona’s Pedri and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham are currently seen as the best in world football. But who is the midfield GOAT?

Related The Best 15 Midfielders in World Football Ranked (2025)

Some of the best players in the world do their stuff in the middle of the park, but who’s number one?

Posts 5 ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025

Here is a list of 20 midfield legends football has ever seen, factoring in their longevity and consistency at the highest level, while also looking at their team and personal accolades.

20 Greatest Midfielders of All Time

Rank

Name

Country

1

Diego Maradona

Argentina

2

Johan Cruyff

Netherlands

3

Zinedine Zidane

France

4

Michel Platini

France

5

Andres Iniesta

Spain

6

Zico

Brazil

7

Ruud Gullit

Netherlands

8

Lothar Matthaus

Germany

9

Bobby Charlton

England

10

Steven Gerrard

England

11

Luka Modric

Croatia

12

Paul Scholes

England

13

Andrea Pirlo

Italy

14

Toni Kroos

Germany

15

Xavi

Spain

16

Clarence Seedorf

Netherlands

17

​Kaka

Brazil

18

Socrates

Brazil

19

Patrick Vieira

France

20

Frank Lampard

England

20 Frank Lampard

If a goalscoring midfielder is what you need, then Frank Lampard is certainly one of the best. A Chelsea legend, the Englishman is actually the Blues’ all-time leading scorer, netting 211 times at Stamford Bridge across 13 years.

Lampard won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, a Champions League and a Europa League, deservedly being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.

19 Patrick Vieira

Continuing the trend of Premier League icons, Patrick Vieira is best known for his time as Arsenal captain under Arsene Wenger and is also a member of the Premier League Hall of Fame.

The Frenchman only cost the Gunners £3.5m back in 1996 and was worth every penny, being named in the PFA Team of the Year in six successive seasons.

Vieira, a World Cup and Euros winner, could help protect the defence by breaking up play, driving his team forward with his power and popping up with a goal from time to time.

18 Socrates

Recognisable during his playing days for his beard and headband, Socrates was an extremely elegant and intelligent midfielder in his peak, combing power with touch.

A skilful inspiration for the next generation of Brazilian stars, Socrates saw football as an art, and that truly came across during his career, with the 6ft 4 midfielder starring for Corinthians.

17 Kaka

Another Brazilian who would’ve grown up learning all about Socrates was Kaka, and he’d go on to become an icon himself after starring for AC Milan and Real Madrid.

Kaka was quick, skilful, strong and had plenty of end product and is among a small select group of players to win the World Cup, the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or.

He may not have had the longevity and consistency as some of the others on the list, but at his peak, there was no stopping Kaka.

16 Clarence Seedorf

Still the only player in football history to have won the Champions League with three different clubs, Clarence Seedorf was influential for the likes of Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan.

The Dutchman was an iconic box-to-box midfielder and could ping 60 yard passes, make last ditch tackles and score all in the same game.

Named the Dutch Footballer of the Year in 1993 and 1994, Seedorf was also named UEFA’s best midfielder in 2007, showing how goof he was over time.

15 Xavi

A product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, Xavi would go on to play more than 750 games for the Catalan giants and formed one of the most iconic midfield trios at the Nou Camp alongside Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.

A passing genius, Xavi was an unbelievable leader of one of the best teams in history, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.

The Spaniard also lifted two European Championships and one World Cup, and the fact he was a regular across his career in dominant sides shows how good he was.

14 Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos has rightly gone down as a Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Germany icon after a glittering 17-year career at the highest level.

Winning six Champions Leagues, six league titles and the World Cup, Kroos was known for his unbelievable passing range and registered more than 100 assists in the Bundesliga and La Liga over his career.

13 Andrea Pirlo

Arguably the coolest midfielder in history, Andrea Pirlo ran games of football with ease and never looked like he was breaking a sweat.

A deep-lying playmaker, the Italian won six Serie A titles, two Champions Leagues and the World Cup, Pirlo starred for AC Milan and Juventus, finishing in the top 10 on three occasions at the Ballon d’Or.

12 Paul Scholes

Like Kroos and Pirlo, Paul Scholes’ passing range was off the charts during his Man Utd career which saw him win 11 Premier League titles.

Although his England career didn’t match his club honours, Scholes was called a “teacher” by Lionel Messi, the “best” teammate by Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane’s “toughest opponent”, and the praise from the iconic trio goes to show how good he was.

11 Luka Modric

Not many would have predicted Luka Modric to become one of the best midfielders in hostly when he signed for Tottenham in 2008.

However, the Croatian icon starred in the Premier League and was then a Real Madrid regular for 13 years, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2018. A six-time Champions League winner, Modric’s passing range and ability to dictate any game sees him stand out from the rest.

Kylian Mbappe's European Golden shoe defence is being challenged by the likes of Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.

The European Golden Shoe remains one of football’s most prestigious individual trophies, rewarding the most prolific marksman across Europe’s top domestic leagues.

Each season brings a fresh battle among elite forwards who consistently deliver extraordinary goal tallies. While form, fitness and team dynamics inevitably fluctuate, certain names have become perennial contenders – strikers whose finishing ability, movement and consistency ensure they remain in the conversation year after year.    

Over the decades, it has been dominated by legendary strikers, from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking eras to more recent winners who have defined the modern game. The 2024-25 edition was claimed by Kylian Mbappé, whose blistering scoring campaign underlined his status as one of the sport’s most reliable goal machines, beating Salah to the honour. As the 2025-26 season unfolds, the race once again features a mix of established superstars and rising elite forwards. 

The European Golden Shoe uses a weighted scoring system based on the difficulty of each domestic league. A player’s points are calculated by multiplying their league goals by a factor assigned to that league — 2.0 for the top-ranked leagues such as the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga, 1.5 for mid-level competitions, and 1.0 for lower-ranked leagues. This ensures that goals scored in more competitive leagues carry greater value in the final standings.

Below is a look at the leading candidates who routinely shape the race for Europe’s top goalscorer.

• Getty Images
  

  1Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 14 goals

  Erling Haaland is widely considered the benchmark for pure centre-forward play in Europe. His blend of explosive pace, physical dominance and clinical finishing makes him a constant threat in any scoring race.

  Supported by a chance-creating machine at Manchester City, Haaland regularly posts remarkable numbers in both league and continental competitions. His positioning, relentless mentality and ability to convert even low-quality opportunities ensure he remains a perennial favourite for the Golden Shoe.   

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  2Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | 14 goals

  Harry Kane’s all-round excellence as a goalscorer and creator ensures he is always near the summit of league scoring races. His precision finishing, ability to strike from anywhere around the box and instinctive movement make him ideally suited to Bayern Munich’s dominant style of play.

  With his experience and consistency, Kane remains one of the most reliable attackers in Europe, capable of delivering 25–30 league goals in any given campaign.       

• AFP
  

  3Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid | 13 goals

  Kylian Mbappé brings a unique mix of speed, intelligence and elite finishing that keeps him among the top scorers every season. Whether deployed centrally or drifting in from the left, he consistently finds ways to exploit defensive gaps. 

  Playing in an attack-minded Real Madrid side amplifies his output, and his reputation for stepping up in big moments makes him one of the strongest long-term contenders in Europe’s scoring charts.     

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  4 Igor Thiago | Brentford | 11 goals

  Igor Thiago is a physically imposing and relentlessly energetic forward whose aggressive style fits seamlessly into Brentford’s high-tempo approach. He excels at pressing, holding up play and attacking crosses, giving him multiple avenues to find the back of the net.

  His strength, aerial ability and improving composure in front of goal allow him to compete effectively in the Premier League’s demanding environment. As he continues to polish his finishing, Thiago has the tools to deliver consistently strong scoring seasons.

Harry Brook has challenged Zak Crawley and Jordan Cox to back up their performances in the Hundred in order to break into his England white-ball set-up.Brook, whose Northern Superchargers were knocked out of the Hundred on Saturday night after their Eliminator against Trent Rockets was abandoned, took over from Jos Buttler as England’s limited-overs captain in April. He now faces a tight turnaround before the first of their three ODIs against South Africa starts on Tuesday at Headingley, followed by three T20Is against the same opposition.He has spent the last three years playing Test cricket alongside Crawley, and is understood to have pushed hard for Superchargers to sign him on a lucrative £120,000 deal in March’s draft. Brook’s advocacy was rewarded by Crawley’s 280-run season, which left him third in the men’s run charts ahead of Sunday’s final, behind only Cox (327) and Buttler (283).Crawley has played 59 Tests but only eight ODIs – most recently in December 2023 – and is uncapped in T20Is. Cox, meanwhile, won three ODI and two T20I caps last year and was a surprising omission from next month’s squads after his recent form – not least for England’s three T20Is in Ireland, from which Brook, Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith have all been rested.Related

• Sonny Baker wins first England call-up, Jacob Bethell to captain in Ireland

• Jordan Cox, Sam Curran fifties seal thumping win for Oval Invincibles

• Jacks, Cox lead romp as Oval Invincibles close in on final berth

• Trent Rockets progress to Men's Hundred final after Eliminator wash-out

• Invincibles' chance to join T20 cricket's hat-trick heroes

“Everybody’s in the mix: whoever does well,” Brook said on Saturday night. “He [Crawley] obviously has the attributes that we’re talking about: putting pressure on the bowlers with their good and bad balls; he can manipulate the field really well; he’s good against fast bowling and he’s good against spin. He’s got all the attributes to play white-ball [cricket] for England.”It’s the same with everybody. Everybody’s been talking about Jordan Cox: he’s obviously an unbelievable player, alongside Creeps. You’ve just got to keep on doing it, and be as consistent as you can for a long period of time… It’s good to have competition [for places].”Brook has hardly had a day off since the start of England’s international summer in May but said that he has managed his time well during the Hundred: “I’ve said a million times that England cricket gets my priority. I’ve been trying my best throughout this competition to stay as fresh as I can for England.”Northern Superchargers had never previously qualified for the knockout stages of the men’s Hundred, missing out on Net Run Rate last year, and were denied the chance to reach the final for the first time by the rain on Saturday night. Brook has now won 10 out of 14 completed matches as captain since taking over ahead of last season, and remained upbeat.”It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get through – but that’s cricket,” he said after Rockets progressed to Sunday’s final by virtue of a higher group-stage finish. “We’ve had an unbelievable season. This comp’s been so much fun, playing with some really good lads and alongside Fred [head coach Andrew Flintoff] who is an absolute legend, so I’ve had a lot of fun.”

Jeff Stelling has criticised Unai Emery as a result of one moment in Aston Villa’s 1-0 victory against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

Cash leads Villa to victory over Man City

Emery continued his stellar record at home against Man City on Sunday, with the manager overseeing his third straight victory against Pep Guardiola’s side at Villa Park, courtesy of Matty Cash’s first-half strike from just outside the box.

It was a stellar performance from the full-back, who was voted the Player of the Match, and the Poland international has since put pen to paper on a new contract which lasts until 2029.

The Villans have really turned a corner in recent weeks, having picked up victories against some top teams, defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on the road earlier this month, and the Premier League table now makes for much better viewing, having moved up to eighth.

The manager has also silenced the talk about his future, after it was reported last month that Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martinez, Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers were all unhappy with the Spaniard, given the slow start they made to the campaign.

The 53-year-old has certainly turned the corner, but Stelling was still left unimpressed with some of the decisions he made on Sunday, calling out the decision to substitute Jadon Sancho in the second-half, having only introduced the winger just before the 30-minute mark.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Stelling came to Sancho’s defence, saying: “He’s a soft target, because over the years it’s been easy to point the finger at him, but I think on this occasion it was wrong to point the finger at him.”

Sancho's Villa career yet to truly take off

It was always going to be a risk signing the 25-year-old, given that he was unable to live up to his huge price tag at Manchester United, and his Villa career is yet to take off, having only featured for 226 minutes across five matches in all competitions.

Emery defended the decision to substitute the former Man United man by pointing out he has done the same thing with other players before and wants to introduce the Englishman slowly: “Yes, sure he’s (Sancho) not happy but I did it before with Morgan Rogers, with Emiliano Buendia, with Leon Bailey, and he played 60 minutes on Thursday,”

Related Aston Villa take hilarious swipe at Haaland after victory against Man City

The Villans defeated Pep Guardiola’s side 1-0 at Villa Park on Sunday.

Posts ByDominic Lund Oct 27, 2025

“Today when he (Buendia) was injured, my plan was maybe in case he (Sancho) was going to play 30 minutes, but I decided to play more and he played 45 minutes.”

That said, given the scale of media attention Sancho received at Man United, it was a strange decision from Emery, who risks damaging his summer signing’s confidence, even if the manager didn’t substitute him due to being unhappy with his performance.

Kylian Mbappe scored a brace and Hugo Ekitike opened his international account as France cruised past Ukraine to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Les Bleus stuttered in the first half, but an outstanding display in the final 35 minutes ripped apart Ukraine's feeble resistance. Didier Deschamps' men have had a near-flawless qualifying campaign as they have won four and drawn one of their games to rack up 13 points from a possible 15.

• France are going to the USA next summer!

  The Parc des Princes stood still before a ball was even kicked as a minute's silence was observed to remember the victims of the deadly Paris attacks 10 years ago, on November 13. One hundred and thirty-two lives were lost, and around 352 were left injured as gunmen open fired on cafe terraces and at the Bataclan concert hall. Against that heavy backdrop, France stepped onto the pitch for their 2026 World Cup qualifier, expected to seal their participation in next summer's showpiece event with a routine victory. 

  From the first whistle, it was one-way traffic. France enjoyed the bulk of the possession, pinned Ukraine back, and peppered their penalty area with touches, 21 inside the box before half-time. But the scoreline stubbornly refused to budge. In the 17th minute, they created the first significant chance of the match as Mbappe drilled in a low left-footer, but Ukrainian keeper Anatoliy Trubin was equal to it. Before the half-hour mark, Cherki tried his luck from distance, but it failed to trouble the keeper. Frustration was creeping in and Manu Kone mistimed a challenge on Roman Yaremchuk, collecting a yellow and ruling himself out of France’s next qualifier in Azerbaijan. Four minutes from half-time, Barcola curled a peach towards the top corner and once again Trubin clawed it out with a spectacular leap. As the teams headed towards the tunnel, France were furious as Ukraine’s low block was a fortress they failed to breach. 

  After a tepid first half, drama started to unfold in the second. In the 50th minute, Dayot Upamecano’s high foot caught Yehor Nazaryna in France’s box. VAR had a good look at it and asked the referee, Slavko Vincic, to come to the screen. Vincic was seen engaged in deep discussions with the VAR officials, and after a careful review, he deemed the offence to be not severe enough to award a penalty.  

  Four minutes later, Taras Mykhavko clattered straight onto Olise’s left foot, and Vincic was certain that it was a stonewall penalty. Up stepped Mbappe and the forward scored from the spot with a cheeky Panenka as the keeper dived to his left. After breaking the deadlock, France did not think of taking their foot off the gas pedal and instead pressed for the insurance goal. 

  Ukraine were living dangerously, and Olise doubled the lead with a ruthless finish after being fed by N'Golo Kante. The floodgates opened as tired Ukrainian legs struggled to keep up with the hosts' tempo. Mbappe scored the third from a rebound that fell kindly for him after Ekitike's attempt was blocked by Trubin. And the icing on the cake was the Liverpool forward's first international goal in the 88th minute. 

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  The MVP

  Mbappe was undoubtedly the star of the match. The Real Madrid forward was anonymous in the first half, but he sprang to life after converting from 12 yards. His partnership with Olise was simply unstoppable as they found spaces despite a five-man defensive setup by Ukraine. His two strikes see Mbappe reach 55 international goals and close in on Olivier Giroud at the top of France's all-time goalscoring list. He also reached 400 career goals, an astonishing feat for the 2018 World Cup winner. 

• The big loser

  Ukraine manager Serhiy Rebrov got the tactics right in the first half, but after falling behind, everything unravelled in spectacular fashion. He did not have a Plan B, and suddenly, the defensive block became too porous.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Match rating (out of five): ⭐⭐⭐