ESM Golden Shoe: Makaay holding on

Roy Makaay is still out in front in the race for the ESM Golden Shoe with Mateja Kezman looking like his only realistic challenger.

Still confident
RC Deportivo La Coruña striker Makaay had a barren weekend in front of goal but will not mind one bit as his side claimed top spot in the Primera División with a 2-0 victory against Málaga CF. With five games left to add to his tally of 27 strikes, Makaay will feel confident of taking the crown.

Gap closed
Kezman was on target twice for Dutch leaders PSV Eindhoven as they romped to a 7-0 victory at home against SC Excelsior. Kezman is up to third place with three games remaining in the Eredivisie, but may struggle to close the gap because of the 1.5 multiplier used for the Netherlands, as opposed to Spain where goals are doubled.

Top three
The challenge from England is over with Ruud van Nistelrooij finishing the season as the leading scorer in the Premiership with 25 goals for champions Manchester United FC, after scoring from the penalty spot in the 2-1 victory at Everton FC. Arsenal FC forward Thierry Henry scored once in the 4-0 win at Sunderland AFC to finish with 24 goals, while Southampton FC’s James Beattie remained on 23 goals.

Goals galore
Elsewhere, AS Monaco FC striker Shabani Nonda scored twice to move him up to seventh with 22 goals, while Giovane Elber hit a hat-trick for FC Bayern Munchen in Germany to move into eleventh position with 19 goals.  

Last updated: 12 May 2003

Only the leading five countries (Spain, Italy, Germany, France and England) on the UEFA Ranking have 2 as their multiplier. This is to emphasise the difference in (international) performance level between the clubs from those countries and those from the other countries.

A player cannot first play in a summer league (e.g. Norway) and then in a winter league (e.g. Spain) and combine the points total for each season.

Figures from Voetbal International