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Filling Mbappe’s golden boot: Who will be the top scorer in Ligue 1 next season?

Filling Mbappe’s golden boot: Who will be the top scorer in Ligue 1 next season?

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It has been nothing short of a glorious chapter in French football for Kylian Mbappé. Since making his professional debut in December 2015, he’s won a league title with Monaco and six with Paris Saint-Germain, he’s won four Coupe de France titles, two Coupe de la Ligue titles, and three Trophée des Champions titles, and he has registered 191 goals and 74 assists in 246 appearances. And yet, after becoming the first player to win six straight Golden Boots in Ligue 1, Mbappé has departed PSG, and joined Real Madrid on a free transfer.

By Zach Lowy

All that means that, for the first time since 2017/18, a player not named Mbappé will finish as top scorer in Ligue 1 next season. But who? We’re taking a look at the most likely options to win the Golden Boot in 2024/25.

Jonathan David

At 24 years of age, Jonathan David has emerged as one of the top young strikers in Europe. He first made a name for himself in 2019/20, finishing as the joint-top scorer in Belgium before earning a €30 million move to Lille. After a difficult start to life in France, David would strike a promising chemistry up top alongside Burak Yilmaz, scoring 13 goals in Ligue 1 – including a winner at PSG – as Lille claimed their first league title in a decade.

He hasn’t looked back since then, adapting to Ligue 1’s physicality and coping with the pressure of being Canada’s most expensive transfer with ease. A fox in the box who boasts stellar off-the-ball movement and blistering speed, David isn’t the tallest or the strongest, but he’s adept at bending his run, waiting for the right cross or cutback, and sniffing out a rebound opportunity with the killer instinct of a veteran.

David is within touching distance of becoming not only Canada’s all-time top scorer – three away from Cyle Larin – but Lille’s as well – 14 away from Andre Strappe. He is Les Dogues’ focal point in attack and continues to make his case as one of the best players in France, finishing second in Ligue 1 for goals (19) and expected goals on target (20.4) in 2023/24.

The biggest question is – with a contract until 2025, will Lille be able to resist offers for their Canadian striker and keep hold of him? Having racked up 26 goals in all competitions in each of the last two seasons, it’s seemingly a matter of time before David earns a big move, but Les Dogues will be hoping to retain him for yet another season as they enter the post-Paulo Fonseca era.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Apart from Mbappé, Ligue 1 looks set to lose two veteran strikers this summer: Wissam Ben Yedder will depart Monaco on a free transfer, whilst Alexandre Lacazette is reportedly negotiating a move to Saudi club Al-Qadsiah. However, one player who looks set to stick around is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Having joined Marseille on a free transfer last summer, Aubameyang has been a vital figure and a beacon of consistency in what has been a chaotic campaign for OM. Marseille have gone through three different managers, they have come within inches of making it to the UEFA Europa League Final, and they have finished eighth in the Ligue 1 table, missing out on European football next season.

However, Aubameyang has been a constant throughout, racking up 30 goals and 11 assists in 51 appearances, becoming the all-time leading scorer in Europa League history, and coming within two goals of matching Didier Drogba for the most goals in a Marseille season this century. In fact, Marseille have not won a Ligue 1 match where Aubameyang did not score or assist since August 26.

As he approaches 35 years of age, the Gabonese striker continues to age like fine wine, capable of producing acrobatic finishes and acrobatic celebrations alike. Skilled at leaving defenders in his wake with a deft touch and conjuring up magic at the blink of an eye, Aubameyang has already won the Golden Boot in England and Germany, and he’s more than capable of doing so in France.

Folarin Balogun

Folarin Balogun doesn’t turn 23 for another month, but he’s already cemented his status as the top-scoring American in Ligue 1 history. The US international took French football by storm in 2022/23, scoring 21 goals and 3 assists in 37 matches whilst on loan at Reims, but rather than return to boyhood club Arsenal, he elected to pursue a permanent transfer. Monaco won the race for him, signing Balogun for an initial fee of €30 million, rising to €40 million with add-ons.

Whilst Balogun’s time in the principality started fairly well with four goal contributions in his first five, he wasn’t quite able to recreate the same form that he delivered under Will Still at Reims and only registered 7 goals and 6 assists in 29 league appearances as Monaco finished second, securing Champions League football for next season. However, there’s reason to believe that he will take a step forward in his sophomore season under Adi Hutter.

Balogun will not only have a full preseason under his belt, but he could also benefit from the departures of Ben Yedder, who is confirmed to leave, and Maghnes Akliouche, who is drawing interest from RB Leipzig, Manchester City, and PSG. Capable of eating up large swaths of the pitch with his long strides and changing his pace to bamboozle the defender, Balogun isn’t just adept at beating his man with his blistering speed, but with his intelligent movement and formidable decision-making. Capable of opening up his body and curling a shot past the goalkeeper with either foot, Balogun thrives on the shoulder of the last man, a counter-attacking demon who’s skilled at checking his run and anticipating where the ball will arrive.

Perhaps Balogun’s most memorable moment at the Stade Louis II came in his first start, when he missed two penalties in a 1-0 loss to Nice, but whilst he hasn’t quite hit the ground running in Monaco, he’s more than capable of stepping up in 2024/25. This season, Balogun finished atop Monaco’s squad for shots per 90 (3.5), xG per 90 (0.59) and shots on target per 90 (1.5), and after underperforming his expected goals by four, we’re expecting his numbers to even out next season.

Georges Mikautadze

It has been a rollercoaster two years for Georges Mikautadze. After spending two seasons at Belgian side Seraing, Mikautadze finished as Ligue 2 top scorer with 23 goals and guided Metz to promotion, kicking off the 2022/23 season with an assist vs. Rennes and a goal apiece vs. Marseille and Clermont Foot. On August 30, Ajax signed him for €16 million rising to €19 million with bonuses, where he would score zero goals in nine appearances before heading back to Metz on loan.

Mikautadze returned to Metz with a vengeance, registering 11 goals and 3 assists in 17 league appearances – despite missing the first half of the campaign, he directly contributed to 17 of Metz’s 35 goals. He nearly dragged them to safety, but it wasn’t enough – Saint-Ètienne edged them in the promotion / relegation playoff, and as a result, Les Grenats will be playing in the second tier next season. Metz will trigger their €13 million purchase option before selling him for a hefty profit, with Lyon, Rennes and Monaco all reportedly interested. The only question is – will they sell him before Mikautadze plays for Georgia in their first-ever major tournament, or after?

He’s already showcased his skills in one of the worst teams in the French top-flight, but he could easily multiply his numbers by playing in a possession-heavy, attack-minded setup in Ligue 1. A cool and composed finisher who rarely fluffs his lines from the penalty spot, his low centre of gravity allows him to turn on a dime, shift his weight with ease and eliminate a defender with a swift feint. Quick to latch onto rebounds and exploit an individual mistake from a defender, Mikautadze is a ruthless striker who always knows where to arrive and where to strike the ball.

At 23 years of age, he has just about every single finish in his locker, whether it’s a chipped shot or a thunderbolt from outside the box, and he is a player whose unpredictability and dynamism constantly keeps the opposing defender guessing. Things haven’t always come easy for Mikautadze, who’s had to cut his teeth in the second divisions of Belgium and France and deal with the disappointment of his Ajax spell, but it’s clear that this adversity has produced a far more mature, well-rounded footballer. Pressure makes diamonds, and in Mikautadze’s case, it’s made a gem that’s ready to sparkle for one of France’s biggest teams.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every Ligue 1 game with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Filling Mbappe’s golden boot: Who will be the top scorer in Ligue 1 next season?

It has been nothing short of a glorious chapter in French football for Kylian Mbappé. Since making his professional debut in December 2015, he’s won a league title with Monaco and six with Paris Saint-Germain, he’s won four Coupe de France titles, two Coupe de la Ligue titles, and three Trophée des Champions titles, and he has registered 191 goals and 74 assists in 246 appearances. And yet, after becoming the first player to win six straight Golden Boots in Ligue 1, Mbappé has departed PSG, and joined Real Madrid on a free transfer.

By Zach Lowy

All that means that, for the first time since 2017/18, a player not named Mbappé will finish as top scorer in Ligue 1 next season. But who? We’re taking a look at the most likely options to win the Golden Boot in 2024/25.

Jonathan David

At 24 years of age, Jonathan David has emerged as one of the top young strikers in Europe. He first made a name for himself in 2019/20, finishing as the joint-top scorer in Belgium before earning a €30 million move to Lille. After a difficult start to life in France, David would strike a promising chemistry up top alongside Burak Yilmaz, scoring 13 goals in Ligue 1 – including a winner at PSG – as Lille claimed their first league title in a decade.

He hasn’t looked back since then, adapting to Ligue 1’s physicality and coping with the pressure of being Canada’s most expensive transfer with ease. A fox in the box who boasts stellar off-the-ball movement and blistering speed, David isn’t the tallest or the strongest, but he’s adept at bending his run, waiting for the right cross or cutback, and sniffing out a rebound opportunity with the killer instinct of a veteran.

David is within touching distance of becoming not only Canada’s all-time top scorer – three away from Cyle Larin – but Lille’s as well – 14 away from Andre Strappe. He is Les Dogues’ focal point in attack and continues to make his case as one of the best players in France, finishing second in Ligue 1 for goals (19) and expected goals on target (20.4) in 2023/24.

The biggest question is – with a contract until 2025, will Lille be able to resist offers for their Canadian striker and keep hold of him? Having racked up 26 goals in all competitions in each of the last two seasons, it’s seemingly a matter of time before David earns a big move, but Les Dogues will be hoping to retain him for yet another season as they enter the post-Paulo Fonseca era.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Apart from Mbappé, Ligue 1 looks set to lose two veteran strikers this summer: Wissam Ben Yedder will depart Monaco on a free transfer, whilst Alexandre Lacazette is reportedly negotiating a move to Saudi club Al-Qadsiah. However, one player who looks set to stick around is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Having joined Marseille on a free transfer last summer, Aubameyang has been a vital figure and a beacon of consistency in what has been a chaotic campaign for OM. Marseille have gone through three different managers, they have come within inches of making it to the UEFA Europa League Final, and they have finished eighth in the Ligue 1 table, missing out on European football next season.

However, Aubameyang has been a constant throughout, racking up 30 goals and 11 assists in 51 appearances, becoming the all-time leading scorer in Europa League history, and coming within two goals of matching Didier Drogba for the most goals in a Marseille season this century. In fact, Marseille have not won a Ligue 1 match where Aubameyang did not score or assist since August 26.

As he approaches 35 years of age, the Gabonese striker continues to age like fine wine, capable of producing acrobatic finishes and acrobatic celebrations alike. Skilled at leaving defenders in his wake with a deft touch and conjuring up magic at the blink of an eye, Aubameyang has already won the Golden Boot in England and Germany, and he’s more than capable of doing so in France.

Folarin Balogun

Folarin Balogun doesn’t turn 23 for another month, but he’s already cemented his status as the top-scoring American in Ligue 1 history. The US international took French football by storm in 2022/23, scoring 21 goals and 3 assists in 37 matches whilst on loan at Reims, but rather than return to boyhood club Arsenal, he elected to pursue a permanent transfer. Monaco won the race for him, signing Balogun for an initial fee of €30 million, rising to €40 million with add-ons.

Whilst Balogun’s time in the principality started fairly well with four goal contributions in his first five, he wasn’t quite able to recreate the same form that he delivered under Will Still at Reims and only registered 7 goals and 6 assists in 29 league appearances as Monaco finished second, securing Champions League football for next season. However, there’s reason to believe that he will take a step forward in his sophomore season under Adi Hutter.

Balogun will not only have a full preseason under his belt, but he could also benefit from the departures of Ben Yedder, who is confirmed to leave, and Maghnes Akliouche, who is drawing interest from RB Leipzig, Manchester City, and PSG. Capable of eating up large swaths of the pitch with his long strides and changing his pace to bamboozle the defender, Balogun isn’t just adept at beating his man with his blistering speed, but with his intelligent movement and formidable decision-making. Capable of opening up his body and curling a shot past the goalkeeper with either foot, Balogun thrives on the shoulder of the last man, a counter-attacking demon who’s skilled at checking his run and anticipating where the ball will arrive.

Perhaps Balogun’s most memorable moment at the Stade Louis II came in his first start, when he missed two penalties in a 1-0 loss to Nice, but whilst he hasn’t quite hit the ground running in Monaco, he’s more than capable of stepping up in 2024/25. This season, Balogun finished atop Monaco’s squad for shots per 90 (3.5), xG per 90 (0.59) and shots on target per 90 (1.5), and after underperforming his expected goals by four, we’re expecting his numbers to even out next season.

Georges Mikautadze

It has been a rollercoaster two years for Georges Mikautadze. After spending two seasons at Belgian side Seraing, Mikautadze finished as Ligue 2 top scorer with 23 goals and guided Metz to promotion, kicking off the 2022/23 season with an assist vs. Rennes and a goal apiece vs. Marseille and Clermont Foot. On August 30, Ajax signed him for €16 million rising to €19 million with bonuses, where he would score zero goals in nine appearances before heading back to Metz on loan.

Mikautadze returned to Metz with a vengeance, registering 11 goals and 3 assists in 17 league appearances – despite missing the first half of the campaign, he directly contributed to 17 of Metz’s 35 goals. He nearly dragged them to safety, but it wasn’t enough – Saint-Ètienne edged them in the promotion / relegation playoff, and as a result, Les Grenats will be playing in the second tier next season. Metz will trigger their €13 million purchase option before selling him for a hefty profit, with Lyon, Rennes and Monaco all reportedly interested. The only question is – will they sell him before Mikautadze plays for Georgia in their first-ever major tournament, or after?

He’s already showcased his skills in one of the worst teams in the French top-flight, but he could easily multiply his numbers by playing in a possession-heavy, attack-minded setup in Ligue 1. A cool and composed finisher who rarely fluffs his lines from the penalty spot, his low centre of gravity allows him to turn on a dime, shift his weight with ease and eliminate a defender with a swift feint. Quick to latch onto rebounds and exploit an individual mistake from a defender, Mikautadze is a ruthless striker who always knows where to arrive and where to strike the ball.

At 23 years of age, he has just about every single finish in his locker, whether it’s a chipped shot or a thunderbolt from outside the box, and he is a player whose unpredictability and dynamism constantly keeps the opposing defender guessing. Things haven’t always come easy for Mikautadze, who’s had to cut his teeth in the second divisions of Belgium and France and deal with the disappointment of his Ajax spell, but it’s clear that this adversity has produced a far more mature, well-rounded footballer. Pressure makes diamonds, and in Mikautadze’s case, it’s made a gem that’s ready to sparkle for one of France’s biggest teams.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every Ligue 1 game with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.