The race for the 2017-18 Premier League Golden Boot is finished, with record-breaking Mohamed Salah holding off Harry Kane as both players reached 30 goals, with Sergio Aguero and Jamie Vardy the only other players to net 20 times.
Kane was the clear winner of last season's crown, bagging 29 goals in 30 appearances for Tottenham, while Romelu Lukaku followed with 25 in 37 games for Everton.
"This one is very special to be honest, the golden boot," Salah told Sky Sports after being confirmed as the top goalscorer in the Premier League. "But as I have said before many times, it's always on my mind to help the team win games.
"So now we're in the Champions League next year and I've won the award, so I'm very proud. I'm always trying to improve, I'm improving year after year.
"It's very special to break the record here [at Anfield]. I will do my best to win it next season!"
Premier League 2017-18 Top Scorers
Kane surged into the lead in the final week of 2017 after bagging back-to-back hat-tricks against Burnley and Southampton, but he has had to relinquish his crown.
The England striker made a speedy return to fitness after an ankle injury earlier in the spring, but was unable to catch the red-hot Egypt international. He was boosted after being awarded a goal against Stoke following a successful appeal, and then scoring against Brighton the following week.
Salah, meanwhile, struck four times against Watford in a 5-0 rout before the international break to move clear of Kane and he added on another on his return to club duties against Crystal Palace. He reached the 30-goal mark by netting against Bournemouth, while his 31st of the season hit past West Brom made him the joint-highest scorer in a single 38-game Premier League season. On the final day of the season, Salah then set a new record with his 32nd Premier League goal of the campaign against Brighton.
Kane did score twice on the final day against Leicester to reach 30 goals for the season, but he ended the campaign two adrift of Salah to miss out on a hat-trick of Golden Boot awards.
Manchester City's Argentine star Aguero, who sat out the final stages of the season due to injury, was on 21 goals, while his team-mate Raheem Sterling is on 18, with Vardy moving on to 20.
Lukaku took his haul for United to 16 before missing the end of the league season through injury, with Salah's team-mate Roberto Firmino on 15. Alexandre Lacazette finished on 14, with Gabriel Jesus on 13. Son Heung-min is on 12, along with Eden Hazard, Riyad Mahrez and Glenn Murray, while Morata and Marko Arnautovic are on 11. Wayne Rooney, Sadio Mane, Leroy Sane, Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Chris Wood and Luka Milivojevic were the only other players to reach double figures.
*Correct as of May 13, 2018
| Pos | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 32 |
| 2 | Harry Kane | Tottenham | 30 |
| 3 | Sergio Aguero | Manchester City | 21 |
| 4 | Jamie Vardy | Leicester City | 20 |
| 5 | Raheem Sterling | Manchester City | 18 |
| 6 | Romelu Lukaku | Manchester United | 16 |
| 7 | Roberto Firmino | Liverpool | 15 |
| 8 | Alexandre Lacazette | Arsenal | 14 |
| 9 | Gabriel Jesus | Manchester City | 13 |
| =10 | Eden Hazard | Chelsea | 12 |
| =10 | Glenn Murray | Brighton & Hove Albion | 12 |
| =10 | Son Heung-Min | Tottenham | 12 |
| =10 | Riyad Mahrez | Leicester City | 12 |
| =14 | Alvaro Morata | Chelsea | 11 |
| =14 | Marko Arnautovic | West Ham | 11 |
| =16 | Wayne Rooney | Everton | 10 |
| =16 | Luka Milivojevic | Crystal Palace | 10 |
| =16 | Sadio Mane | Liverpool | 10 |
| =16 | Christian Eriksen | Tottenham | 10 |
| =16 | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Arsenal | 10 |
| =16 | Leroy Sane | Manchester City | 10 |
| =16 | Chris Wood | Burnley | 10 |
| =23 | Anthony Martial | Manchester United | 9 |
| =23 | Alexis Sanchez | Manchester United | 9 |
| =23 | David Silva | Manchester City | 9 |
| =23 | Ashley Barnes | Burnley | 9 |
| =23 | Dele Alli | Tottenham | 9 |
| =23 | Wilfried Zaha | Crystal Palace | 9 |
Who finished top in 2016-17?
Harry Kane scored a remarkable 29 goals in the Premier League last season to earn the Golden Boot.
Romelu Lukaku was his closest rival, with 25 in his last campaign for Everton, while Alexis Sanchez netted 24 and Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa both finished on 20.
Dele Alli, Eden Hazard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Joshua King also exceeded 15 goals for the season.
