Honestly, if you’re looking at the list of premier league scorers this season, it feels a bit like Groundhog Day. We are in mid-January 2026, and Erling Haaland is still doing Erling Haaland things. He’s sitting on 20 goals. 20. Before we’ve even hit the February slump.
But look closer. This season isn't just the "Haaland Show" anymore. There’s a weird, brilliant mix of new Brazilian powerhouses, Leeds United survivors, and a Brighton veteran who simply refuses to go away.
The Robot and the Brazilian Nightmare
Let’s get the obvious part out of the way. Haaland is currently leading the Golden Boot race, but he actually just came off a "mini-drought." Three games without scoring. For most strikers, that’s a Tuesday. For him, people start checking his oil and looking for a loose screw. He finally broke that streak with a penalty against Brighton on Wednesday, January 14th.
The real shocker? Igor Thiago.
If you haven't been watching Brentford, you're missing out. This guy has 16 goals. He’s officially broken the record for the most goals scored by a Brazilian in a single Premier League season, and we still have months of football left. He’s not just a poacher; he’s a physical nightmare for defenders. While everyone was watching the big-money signings at Chelsea and United, Brentford found a diamond.
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Current Top Scorer Standings (As of Jan 18, 2026)
- Erling Haaland (Man City): 20 goals
- Igor Thiago (Brentford): 16 goals
- Antoine Semenyo (Man City): 10 goals
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds): 9 goals
- Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool): 8 goals
- Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle): 8 goals
- Danny Welbeck (Brighton): 8 goals
- Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace): 8 goals
Notice anything strange? Antoine Semenyo has 10 goals, and yeah, he’s playing for City now. It’s a strange world. Then you’ve got Dominic Calvert-Lewin reviving his career at Leeds United. Nine goals for a team fighting to stay clear of the drop is massive.
What Happened to the Usual Suspects?
You’re probably asking, "Where's Mo Salah?" or "What’s Cole Palmer doing?"
It’s been a weird year for the established icons. Salah has had a quiet season by his celestial standards, sitting on just 4 league goals so far. He’s been busy with AFCON lately—Egypt actually just finished in fourth place after losing to Senegal in the semis. Plus, there’s all this chatter from pundits like Stan Collymore saying Liverpool might move on from him and Virgil van Dijk this summer to make room for the younger guys like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
Cole Palmer is in a similar boat. After that monster breakout season where he was carrying Chelsea on his back, he’s only found the net 4 times in the league this year. He’s still a creative hub, sure. He was even the Man of the Match in the Club World Cup final earlier in 2025. But in terms of the Golden Boot? He’s not even in the conversation right now.
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The Semi-Surprising Mid-Table Surge
Usually, the top of the scoring charts is a "Big Six" VIP club. Not this time.
Look at Danny Welbeck. The man is a legend. He’s 35 and has 8 goals for Brighton. It’s a renaissance. He’s playing with more intelligence than most 22-year-old speedsters.
Then there’s Hugo Ekitike at Liverpool. He was supposed to be the "disappointing" investment, but 8 goals isn't exactly a failure, especially considering he's competing with Isak for minutes. Isak himself has struggled with fitness, which has really hampered Newcastle's season.
"Haaland isn't just winning the golden boot race—he's destroying it." — Common sentiment among the pundits at Soccer Scoop.
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Is that true? Maybe. But a 4-goal lead over Igor Thiago isn't "destroyed." It's a fight.
Tactical Shifts and Why xG Is Lyin'
If you look at the underlying stats, some teams are "overperforming" like crazy. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa should technically be 13th based on their expected goals (xG). Instead, they are much higher because Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers (who has 7 goals) are just clinical.
Newcastle is also leaning heavily on Bruno Guimarães. Usually, your defensive mid isn't your top scorer with 8 goals, but Newcastle has struggled to keep their traditional strikers on the pitch. It's a scrappy way to play, but it's working for them.
Why the Golden Boot Matters More This Year
The 2025/26 season feels different because the gap between the "Elite" and the "Rest" is weirdly narrowing in the goal charts, even if the table doesn't always show it. When a Brentford striker is breathing down the neck of a City striker, the league is in a healthy, chaotic place.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Managers
If you're tracking these scorers for fantasy purposes or just to settle a bet at the pub, keep an eye on these three things over the next few weeks:
- The AFCON Hangover: Salah is coming back from a long tournament with Egypt. Expect some rotation or a slow start as he reintegrates at Liverpool.
- The Semenyo Factor: Playing for City means chances are served on a silver platter. If he keeps starting, he’ll hit 15 goals easily.
- Brentford's Schedule: Igor Thiago thrives on service from the wings. Watch their injury report; if their wingers stay healthy, Thiago is the only person who can actually catch Haaland.
The race for the Golden Boot is usually over by March. This year, with Thiago's form and Haaland's "human" moments, we might actually have a contest on our hands.