Shomurodov Battles Onuachu For Süper Lig Golden Boot

Paul Onuachu’s once-comfortable lead in the Süper Lig Golden Boot race has shrunk to just two goals after the Nigerian striker failed to find the net in his last three appearances.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s Eldor Shomurodov is now breathing down his neck.

Onuachu had topped the scoring chart for most of the season, even after missing several weeks to represent Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Upon returning, he caught fire with eight straight league goals, seemingly cementing his position at the summit.

But a minor injury has since disrupted his rhythm. He sat out Trabzonspor’s Week 29 trip to Alanyaspor and has drawn blanks in subsequent matches against İstanbul Başakşehir, Konyaspor, and Göztepe.

That dry spell has allowed Shomurodov to close the gap. The Uzbek forward netted a brace to move to 20 goals, becoming Onuachu’s nearest challenger.

Not to be overlooked, Fenerbahçe’s Anderson Talisca has also stormed into contention with 19 goals, thanks largely to a decisive hat-trick against Samsunspor over the weekend.

Onuachu is chasing history, hoping to emulate compatriot Victor Osimhen, who became the first Nigerian to win the Turkish league’s Golden Boot last season.

But momentum has shifted: while the Trabzonspor marksman searches for his lost scoring touch, his rivals are peaking at the perfect moment.

Shomurodov has been a model of consistency, scoring regularly to stay within striking distance, and Talisca has delivered clutch performances despite limited minutes.

Further down the leaderboard, Mauro Icardi (14 goals) and Osimhen (13) are unlikely to challenge for the individual prize.

However, both could still lift a much bigger trophy—Galatasaray will secure their 26th league title with a win this weekend.

For Onuachu, the immediate goal is ending his drought when Trabzonspor face Beşiktaş. Shomurodov’s side, meanwhile, will host Samsunspor as the Uzbek looks to capitalize on every slip.