No Kylian Mbappe: Who can win the Ligue 1 Golden Boot?
Following Kylian Mbappe's move to Real Madrid this summer, the French Ligue 1 is set to see a new top scorer for the first time since the 2018/19 season.
After moving to Paris Saint-Germain from Monaco, the French forward made the Ligue 1 Golden Boot award his property, winning the award in his last six seasons in France.
The only player that challenged him in that period was Monaco's Wissam Ben Yedder, with whom he shared the award in the 2019/20 season—his least prolific season, as he scored 18 league goals.
Mbappe’s departure to Real Madrid this summer has opened up several possibilities in the French league this season.
One such possibility is that a new Ligue 1 champion could emerge this season, with the likes of Monaco, Lyon, Marseille, and Lille likely to capitalise and win the French Ligue 1 title.
Mbappe's absence could also lead to more competitiveness in Ligue 1, as we discussed in an earlier article.
However, while the two possibilities we listed above are only probable, the one certain thing that will happen this season is that a new top scorer will emerge from the French league.
But who are the strikers that could take Mbappe's goal-scoring crown?
This article considers a few likely names.
Jonathan David—Lille
There is no better heir to Kylian Mbappe's goal-scoring throne than Jonathan David.
The Lille striker has been phenomenal since his €30 million move to the French club from Gent in the summer of 2020.
Since his arrival in Ligue 1, the Canadian has averaged at least 17 goals per season, putting him among the most clinical strikers in the French top flight in that period.
In fact, in David's four full seasons in France, only Kylian Mbappe (111) and Monaco hitman Wissam Ben Yedder (80) have scored more goals than him (71).
However, neither Ben Yedder nor Mbappe is in French Ligue 1. So, the Canadian is likely to replace both men in the scoring charts.
David has also shown that he is improving every season. He moved from scoring 13 goals in his first season to 15 league goals the next.
His most productive season was the 2022/23 season, when he hit 24 goals. He did not hit the same mark last year but still found the net 19 times in the league.
He will hope to improve his numbers under Bruno Génésio.
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Mason Greenwood—Marseille
Mason Greenwood's rapid start to life in France makes him one of the early favourites to win the Ligue 1 Golden Boot Award.
Signed from Manchester United this summer amidst much opposition from fans for a reported deal of €31.6 million, the 22-year-old has quickly proved why Marseille and Roberto de Zerbi were desperate to sign him despite the resistance.
In just two games, he has scored three times and laid on one assist for his teammate. Although he plays through the wings at Marseille, Greenwood's eye for goal makes him one of the players who could win the Golden Boot this season.
His attacking contributions could also help Marseille win the Ligue 1 title this season, with Roberto De Zerbi's side looking like genuine title contenders.
That said, if Greenwood continues at his current goal-scoring rate, he is likely to hit 30 goals a season and become the first Englishman to win the coveted award in France.
Greenwood is one player that Marseille ticket buyers will have to keep an eye on.
Bradley Barcola—Paris Saint-Germain
Bradley Barcola could be the biggest winner from Kylian Mbappe's departure to Real Madrid this summer.
Not only has the Frenchman replaced Mbappe in the left-hand of Paris Saint-Germain's attack, but the 21-year-old looks like the man who will inherit his Golden Boot award this summer.
Signed from Lyon last summer for a reported €45 million fee, Barcola looks well-positioned to score many goals this season. With just two games into the season, Barcola already has three goals.
Although Luis Enrique did not start the 21-year-old in their opening game this season, the youngster proved he is ready to lead PSG's attack this season, coming from the bench to score in the opening game.
His contribution in the first game, and the unfortunate injury to Goncalo Ramos, meant he started PSG's second league game of the season from the left.
He rewarded Enrique with two goals in 62 minutes. If he continues at his current rate, he will most likely end the season as Ligue 1's top scorer. He could also be PSG's new starman and the reason fans buy PSG tickets this season.
Alexandre Lacazette–Lyon
He may be 33 years old, but Alexandre Lacazette could win his second Ligue 1 Golden Boot this season.
The Lyon striker won the award in the 2014–15 Ligue 1 season when he scored 27 league goals. So he is the only player still playing in the French top division to have won the award.
Lacazette remains as lethal as he was ten years ago. The 33-year-old scored 19 goals last season, making him the joint-second top scorer in the league last year. And so with Mbappe, the only man who scored more goals than him last season, now out of the way, Lacazette could reclaim the number one spot and repay Lyon ticket buyers, who will be expecting big things from Pierre Sage’s side this year, after a solid second half last season.
Folarin Balogun—Monaco
After struggling to hit the heights expected of him last season, this season could be Folarin Balogun's season with Monaco.
When the former Arsenal man joined Monaco last summer in a €30m deal, it was expected that he would become the club's main goal-scoring threat, as he had scored 22 goals when he was on loan at Reims the previous season.
However, Balogun did not deliver as expected. He played 29 league games for Monaco last season, scoring seven times and providing six assists. He remains a good player, and things could be different for him this year.
But he must first solidify his place in the starting XI, as he is currently behind Breel Embolo in Monaco's attacking ranking.
Elye Wahi—Marseille
New Marseille striker Elye Wahi is another player to look out for this season.
The 21-year-old has scored one goal already this term for Roberto De Zerbi's side. Given his recent goal-scoring history, fans can expect him to hit even more goals this season.
Wahi has scored 38 goals in his last three Ligue 1 seasons. His most productive season was in the 2022/23 season when he netted 19 league goals for Montpellier.
After moving to the Stade Vélodrome this summer, the striker is Marseille's undisputed number nine this season.
Breel Embolo—Monaco
This could be Breel Embolo's year in France after shaking off a terrible anterior cruciate ligament injury from last season.
The Swiss international has not reached the heights expected of him since moving to Monaco. But things could change this season for the 27-year-old, who is expected to lead the club's attack after Wissam Ben Yeder's departure at the end of last season.
He has already played two games but has yet to score. However, if his form with the Swiss national team in the summer European Championship is anything to go by, buyers of Monaco tickets and club fans can expect Embolo to be among the goals this season.
Georges Mikautadze–Lyon
Georgian national team striker Georges Mikautadze is one player that fans and buyers of Ligue 1 tickets should pay attention to for this season.
The 23-year-old is a player those who watched the 2024 European Championship should be acquainted with after his exploits with the Georgian national team, for whom he scored three goals, thus sharing the Euro 2024 top scorer award with five other players.
Mikautadze wasn't just great at the Euros alone. His form in the European championship was a continuation of his form last season, as he scored 13 times in just 20 games for Metz last term, making him one of the most prolific forwards in Ligue 1.
However, following a summer switch to Lyon, Mikautadze has to battle with Andre Lacazette for a place in the starting XI. But should the 23-year-old get selected by coach Pierre Sage, he could be the man to win the Golden Boot this season.
Randal Kolo Muani–PSG
Randal Kolo Muani is another Paris Saint-Germain player who could benefit from Mbappe's departure. The 25-year-old's PSG career has yet to really kick off since he moved to Paris from Eintracht Frankfurt last season in a €80 million deal.
Kolo Muani scored just six goals in six appearances for PSG last term. He started this season as PSG's second number-nine option.
However, an injury to Goncalo Ramos early this season means that the Frenchman could establish himself as a first-team regular this season.
He has the ability to do so and become the top scorer in Ligue 1 this season, but it remains to be seen if he will take his chance.
