Goals are the global currency that unites football worldwide: everyone wants to score them, see them, and celebrate them. For that reason, goalscorers - or strikers, poachers, hitmen, etc - are without doubt the most valued players in the beautiful game. Since January 1, such lethal finishers have been ruthlessly firing home and tidily tapping in from close and long range, so Sports Mole now takes the time to find out just who has scored most in this calendar year.
Considering goals registered in Europe's top five leagues - England, Italy, France, Spain and Germany - these are the men who have proved most prolific in 2024. © Imago Inseparable on 14 league goals this year, Manchester City duo Haaland and Foden join ex-City star Palmer and Crystal Palace 's renaissance man Mateta in equal fourth on our list. Foden stepped up in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne to lead the English champions' successful title defence, frequently finding the net when it seemed Arsenal might end their dominance.
Quite suitably, he scored twice on the final day as City claimed a fourth straight league crown. Meanwhile, Haaland maintained his incredible strike rate, despite being down on some supreme figures from 2022-23. Crucially, a vital brace against Tottenham Hotspur all but wrapped up top spot for his club in mid-May.
The Norwegian has already got the new season under way with yet another goal, but former City teammate Palmer proved unable to do so when Chelsea hosted the champions last week. No.