Don’t look now, but the Golden Boot may be heading back to Italy. The season is young, but Ciro Immobile has maintained scintillating form on his way to 14 goals, and the lead in the award race.

 

The Lazio striker has so far bested Radamel Falcão, Lionel Messi, Mauro Icardi, Paulo Dybala, and Edinson Cavani. His closest competitors come from the Estonian league; both scored 27 times.

 

To judge the competeition, leagues deemed more difficult are awarded more points per goal than lower leagues, like Estonia. Immobile’s 14 goals count twice, so he has a score of 28, while the Estonians’ goals only count once.

 

No one without the name Messi, Ronaldo, or Suarez has won the award since 2010. The last Italian to take home the award was Francesco Totti in 2007.

 

1) 28: Ciro Immobile (Lazio, ITA - 14 goals x 2.0)

2) 27: Albert Prosa (FCI Tallinn, EST - 27 goals x 1.0)

2) 27: Rauno Sappinen (Flora Tallinn, EST - 27 goals x 1.0)

4) 26: Radamel Falcao (Monaco, FRA - 13 goals x 2.0)

5) 24: Lionel Messi (Barcelona, ESP - 12 goals x 2.0)

6) 22.5: Mikhail Gordeichuk (BATE Borisov, BLR - 15 goals x 1.5)

7) 23: Gerard Gohou (Kairat Almaty, KAZ - 23 goals x 1.0)

8) 22: Mauro Icardi (Inter, ITA - 11 goals x 2.0)

8) 22: Paulo Dybala (Juventus, ITA - 11 goals x 2.0)

8) 22: Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA - 11 goals x 2.0)