Europe's top league scorers in 2024: Surprise name leads Kane, Haaland and co

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.

=4. Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Cole Palmer (14 Premier League goals)

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.

Nonetheless, before scoring in England's Euro 2024 final defeat during the summer, the young forward racked up 14 league goals - in addition to a hatful of assists. That still was not quite enough to push his way into Gareth Southgate's starting XI, though.

Finally, the fourth Premier League player on that number is the less-heralded Mateta, considered a journeyman before his breakout campaign in 2023-24.

The French striker hit top form under new Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, then went on to claim a silver medal at his home Olympics.

=2. Jonathan David (15 Ligue 1 goals)

In addition to several goals in the Coupe de France and Europe, David has outscored Kylian Mbappe and co by slotting home 15 goals in the French top flight this year.

The 24-year-old's current contract runs until next summer, but major clubs including Arsenal, Inter Milan and Roma have apparently been monitoring his situation.

Lille's replacement for another ice-cold finisher, Victor Osimhen, is perhaps still a few years short of his prime, so surpassing his predecessor's achievements cannot be ruled out.

Picking up where he left off in 2023-24, the Canada international recently scored on the first day of the new Ligue 1 season, needing only one half to do so.

David came on at the break in Lille's opener against Reims and duly delivered in the third minute of stoppage time, putting his team 2-0 up by finishing from inside the six-yard box.

=2. Harry Kane (15 Bundesliga goals)

By contrast with Palmer's reputation-enhancing cameos at Euro 2024, perhaps for the first time, Kane's solid-gold reputation lost a little of its shine at this summer's European Championship.

The ex-Tottenham striker was expected to thrive at a tournament played in his new homeland, having already adapted to life in Germany with seamless ease.

That did not quite pan out, but England's all-time top scorer has still added 15 goals to his towering league total in 2024, seeing him crowned as the Bundesliga's most prolific forward.

Having set a new personal record of 44 across all competitions in one season, Kane then dusted himself down following more international disappointment.

Joining David by starting the new season with a late strike after leaving the bench, the 31-year-old already has one more cup goal to his name following Bayern Munich's recent win over Ulm - and the Bundesliga kicks off this weekend.

1. Alexander Sorloth (18 La Liga goals)

Though honourable mentions must go to Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres and Luuk de Jong of PSV Eindhoven, both of whom have consistently made the net ripple in lesser-ranked leagues, it is Sorloth who has scored more than anyone else throughout Europe's top five in 2024.

Haaland's compatriot has registered 18 La Liga strikes so far this calendar year, with the undoubted highlight coming when he bagged all four Villarreal goals as they drew 4-4 with mighty Real Madrid.

On that rare day when almost everything went his way, the Norwegian moved ahead in the race to win last season's Pichichi award; however, Girona's Artem Dovbyk went on to pip him at the post.

Sorloth had a chance to snatch the prestigious prize on La Liga's final matchday, but an early leg injury saw him substituted without scoring.

Nevertheless, the ex-Crystal Palace striker - who has also spent time at Trabzonspor, RB Leipzig and Real Sociedad during a nomadic career - confirmed his reputation as a reliable net-finder in the Spanish top flight.

In fact, his 23 goals for a mid-table team last season came from 36 shots on target - and without taking a single penalty.

Something of a late bloomer, the 27-year-old secured a big move to Atletico Madrid earlier this summer, and celebrated by scoring in the capital club's season opener versus none other than Villarreal.

That strike also puts Sorloth one ahead of closest rival Palmer with 22 goal involvements, leading the way across Europe's top five leagues in 2024.