Who will win the European Golden Shoe?

The European Golden Shoe was first awarded in 1967-68

League titles have been won, relegation has been decided and there will be newcomers in the Champions League, but one thing that is still up for grabs is the Golden Shoe.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo won the award for European football's top goalscorer for fun during their prime, but others like Thierry Henry, Luis Suarez and Robert Lewandowski have also netted the prize.

Harry Kane became the second Englishman to pick up the award last year after scoring 36 times in his debut campaign for Bayern Munich, but he is certain to have to hand it over in the coming days.

Some European leagues are already done, with just one game remaining for top-flight teams in England, Spain and Italy.

What is the Golden Shoe?

The Golden Shoe, also known as the European Golden Boot, is presented each season to the leading goalscorer in league matches from the top division of a European national league.

The trophy is a sculpture of a golden football boot. The award, originally called Soulier d'Or - French for Golden Shoe - was launched in the 1967-68 season, and was given to the top goalscorer in all European leagues during a season.

Originally presented by French newspaper L'Equipe, it has been awarded by the European Sports Media since the 1996-97 season, where it would be decided that the award will be won on a weighted-points based system - where the goals players score are multiplied by a specific number based on the league they play in.

Goals scored by players competing in Europe's top five leagues - Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 - are worth two points.

Goals from those who play in leagues ranked sixth to 22nd in Uefa's coefficient, including the Portuguese Primeira Liga, are worth 1.5 points. And goals from the remaining players competing in the lower-ranked European leagues are worth one point.

Who are the main contenders?

England captain Kane will see his reign come to an end in a matter of days after he ended the Bundesliga campaign with 26 goals, meaning his 52 points place him fourth in the standings.

It seems almost certain that there will be a first-time winner with Viktor Gyokeres, Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah making up the top three.

Sporting striker Gyokeres could become the first player outside the top five leagues to land the award since 2002 and he leads the way with 58.5 points after netting a terrific 39 goals in Portugal's Primeira Liga - no wonder he's been linked with a summer move to Arsenal.

But the Swede's campaign has come to an end, meaning he can no longer add to his tally - while Real Madrid's Mbappe and Liverpool's Salah still have one more game to play.

Frenchman Mbappe is on 58 points and can overtake the Sporting striker with one goal in Real's final game against Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Egypt's Salah is on 56 points so needs to outscore Mbappe and net at least twice when Liverpool host Crystal Palace on Sunday to move above Gyokeres.

Who has previously won the award?

Lionel Messi last won the Golden Shoe in 2018-19

Since its introduction nearly 60 years ago, the Golden Shoe has been won by some of football's biggest names.

Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi has captured the prize a record six times, with rival Cristiano Ronaldo being crowned Europe's top scorer on four occasions.

Portuguese legend Eusebio was the first player to win the award back in 1968 after scoring 42 times for Benfica. He won it for a second time five years later.

Ian Rush became the first player to win the award with an English club when the Welshman netted 32 times in the 1983-84 season for Liverpool.

In 1996-97, Brazilian striker Ronaldo was the first player to triumph under the current system. His 34 goals for Barcelona meant he scored 68 points.

Eleven years later, the dominance of Ronaldo and Messi started. Ronaldo claimed his first Golden Shoe while playing for Manchester United in 2008 with Barcelona's Messi earning his first two years later.

Fast forward another 11 years and the duo have won a further eight between them.

This year's race is going right to the finish - and it looks as if a new name will be etched on the trophy.