Adrian Clarke takes a closer look at the players vying to win the Coca-Cola Golden Boot, Playmaker and Golden Glove awards, which are given to the Premier League players with the most goals, assists and clean sheets respectively.
Who are the front-runners for Coca-Cola Golden Boot?
Manchester City’s goal machine Erling Haaland has blazed clear of the field in the race to be leading scorer, finding the back of the net every 67.71 minutes on average.
As if that number was not impressive enough, none of the Norwegian’s 14 strikes for Man City have come from the penalty spot either.
There has been a nice variety to Haaland’s prolific output, with two headed goals, three from fast breaks and 11 via his left foot.
Leading contenders for 25/26 Golden Boot award
| Player | Goals | Mins/goal | Shot conversion |
| Haaland (MCI) | 14 | 67.71 | 31.11% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thiago (BRE) | 8 | 115.50 | 32.00% |
| Welbeck (BHA) | 6 | 118.67 | 42.86% |
| Mateta (CRY) | 6 | 160.33 | 18.75% |
| Semenyo (BOU) | 6 | 164.83 | 26.09% |
| Mbeumo (MUN) | 5 | 191.20 | 19.23% |
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As it stands, Brazilian striker Igor Thiago is his closest challenger, scoring eight times for Brentford.
Three of Thiago's goals have come from penalties, but the 24-year-old’s power and clinical finishing have caught the eye as he looks to eclipse his career-high of 18 league goals for Club Brugge in 2023/24.
As shown below, Haaland’s shot count inside the box is considerably higher than the Bees forward though.
Outside of penalties, Danny Welbeck is the next best scorer behind Haaland on six goals.
Scoring with just under 43 per cent of his shots, the Brighton & Hove Albion striker is on course to smashing his best tally of Premier League goals in one season (10).
Watch highlights of this season's top scorers
Haaland loves a fast start
Few people will be shocked to see Haaland at the top of the standings, not least because he makes a habit of starting Premier League campaigns in scintillating form.
The two-time Golden Boot winner has averaged at least one goal per game (usually more) across the first 11 matches in each of his four years at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland's PL goals after 11 matches in each season
| Season | Goals |
| 2022/23 | 17 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 11 |
| 2024/25 | 12 |
| 2025/26 | 14 |
On course for a 30+ goals campaign
If Haaland's current rate of scoring 1.27 goals per 90 minutes is maintained over 38 games, Haaland will end this season with a record-breaking 48 goals!
Barring unexpected absences or a downturn in form, Haaland has the 30-goal barrier well within his reach.
Remarkably, this is not the most prolific start a Golden Boot winner has made in a Premier League season.
Luis Suarez with Liverpool in 2013/14, and Haaland himself three seasons ago, had already reached 17 goals at this stage.
So there is work to do before Haaland can think about breaking new ground.
Most goals after 11 matches in Premier League season
| Golden Boot winner | Season | Goals after 11 games | Season total |
| Suarez (LIV) | 2013/14 | 17 | 31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haaland (MCI) | 2022/23 | 17 | 36 |
| Haaland (MCI) | 2025/26 | 14 | TBC |
| Phillips (SUN) | 1999/00 | 12 | 30 |
| Aguero (MCI) | 2014/15 | 12 | 26 |
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What we can say is that since 2010/11, no Golden Boot winner has had 22 "big chances" this early in a season.
Haaland is wonderfully supported by his team-mates and remains way clear of Crystal Palace centre forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has received 15 big chances.
Indeed, the table below reflects how Man City have dominated across the last 15 years when it comes to creating clear opportunities for their leading striker early on in the season.
Most big chances created for Golden Boot winners since 2010/11 season*
| Player | Season | Big chances |
| Haaland (MCI) | 2025/26 | 22 |
|---|---|---|
| Haaland (MCI) | 2022/23 | 20 |
| Haaland (MCI) | 2023/24 | 19 |
| Suarez (LIV) | 2013/14 | 15 |
| Aguero (MCI) | 2014/15 | 15 |
* After first 11 appearances in the season
Chasing legendary status
If Haaland does finish 2025/26 with more goals than anybody else, it will be his third Golden Boot triumph, putting him alongside a group of truly elite strikers.
Thierry Henry and Mohamed Salah have won four Golden Boots apiece, with England legends Alan Shearer and Harry Kane both landing three.
Considering Haaland is only 25, there is every chance he will go on to create more Premier League history in the coming seasons.
Most Golden Boot awards
| Player | Times won | Seasons |
| Thierry Henry | 4 | 01/02, 03/04, 04/05, 05/06 |
|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Salah | 4 | 17/18, 18/19, 21/22, 24/25 |
| Alan Shearer | 3 | 94/95, 95/96, 96/97 |
| Harry Kane | 3 | 15/16, 16/17, 20/21 |
See: Every Golden Boot award winner
How is the race for the Coca-Cola Playmaker prize looking?
Currently, a total of 41 players have produced between two and four assists in the Premier League, making this the most wide-open race yet for the coveted Coca-Cola Playmaker award.
The leading trio right now are Tottenham Hotspur winger Mohammed Kudus, on-loan Everton midfielder Jack Grealish and Burnley left-back Quilindschy Hartman.
They have all assisted four goals each.
Most Premier League assists 2025/26
| Player | Total assists |
| Mohammed Kudus (TOT) | 4 |
|---|---|
| Jack Grealish (EVE) | 4 |
| Quilindschy Hartman (BUR) | 4 |
Eight Premier League stars, including Bruno Fernandes, Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo are in the group behind on three assists.
It is hard to tell at this stage who will emerge as leading lights, but Man City do boast a creative duo who are posting seriously impressive data.
Summer signing Rayan Cherki has immediately struck up a good chemistry with Haaland, and of those players with two assists to his name, he is the stats leader on a basis of per 90 minutes.
Averaging 1.67 big chances created and 0.83 assists each game, Cherki could be a real contender for the Playmaker award if he cements a regular spot in Pep Guardiola’s side.
Most assists/big chances created, Premier League 2025/26*
| Assists/90 | Big chances/90 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherki (MCI) | 0.83 | Cherki (MCI) | 1.67 |
| Garnacho (CHE) | 0.52 | Garnacho (CHE) | 1.04 |
| Grealish (EVE) | 0.44 | Doku (MCI) | 0.72 |
| Doku (MCI) | 0.43 | Longstaff (LEE) | 0.57 |
| Buendia (AVL) | 0.42 | B.Silva (MCI) | 0.56 |
* Minimum two assists
Doku, who was in phenomenal form against Liverpool, is also on course for plenty more assists, and keep an eye on Chelsea's summer signing Alejandro Garnacho too.
Garnacho is creating more than one big chance per game right now and assisting once every two matches.
Only two current Premier League players - Salah (twice) and Ollie Watkins - have previously won the Golden Playmaker award so we could have a new name on the list in 2026.
Watch the best assists of the season so far
See: Every Playmaker award winner
Who is leading the way for this season’s Coca-Cola Golden Glove?
Arsenal’s outstanding defensive record could help David Raya power his way to a third consecutive Golden Glove award.
After shutting opponents out in seven of his first 11 appearances, the Spaniard is well on course to usurp the 13 clean sheets he kept in 2024/25, when he shared the prize with Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.
Raya has been less busy than the other main contenders, but his save ratio of 76.19 per cent is the most impressive of the quartet.
Most clean sheets, Premier League 2025/26
| Player | Clean sheets | Saves | Save % |
| David Raya (ARS) | 7 | 16 | 76.19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Pope (NEW) | 5 | 36 | 75.00 |
| Dean Henderson (CRY) | 5 | 25 | 73.53 |
| Robert Sanchez (CHE) | 5 | 18 | 65.38 |
If he can claim another Golden Glove this season, Raya would join compatriot Pepe Reina and ex-Man City star Ederson on three.
Petr Cech and Joe Hart are ahead of them as the 'keepers to catch, with four clean-sheet records apiece.
See: Every Golden Glove award winner
Raya's recent shutout against Burnley was Raya’s 50th in all competitions in just 111 appearances for the Gunners.