Statistically, Niclas Füllkrug could be the worst player in Bundesliga history: With 16 goals, he leads the top scorer list – the meager result of a top scorer so far is just above that.
It almost seems as if nobody is really interested in the top scorer in the Bundesliga. None of the top seven goal scorers scored a goal in the Bundesliga last matchday. The chances this year are greater than they have been for a long time. With Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland, the most accurate players in recent years have left the Bundesliga.
Who will follow the Lewandowski era?
In the recent past, Lewandowski was the personified top scorer. The Pole secured the trophy a total of seven times and most recently five years in a row – including an all-time record of 41 goals in the 2020/21 season. With his move to Spain – by the way, Lewandowski is again preparing to defend his title across borders – the cards in the Bundesliga have been reshuffled.
Robert Lewandowski with the goalscorer cannon
However, hardly any of the potential heirs to the throne who were on the list before the season came forward. Patrick Schick is playing a weak season at Leverkusen, which is characterized by injuries (three goals). Leipzig returnee Timo Werner is still looking for his final strength (nine goals).
Neither Sadio Mané (seven goals) nor Thomas Müller (six goals) of Bayern’s attacking players, who experience has shown to be among the favourites, were able to live up to expectations. Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry only have outsider chances with eleven goals each.
Filling jug could crown the season
Those who have not been able to intervene themselves for weeks have the best chance. Niclas Füllkrug has been injured since matchday 28 and is still the undisputed leader with 16 goals. It is still unclear whether the ongoing calf problems will allow further assignments this season.
The 30-year-old could crown his season with the cannon: first call-up to the national team, ray of hope at the World Cup, top scorer. That would underpin his position as currently the best German striker. Also because he would be the first German top scorer in eight years after Alexander Meier.
Werder Bremen’s player Niclas Füllkrug has a chance of scoring the goalscorer
The competition behind Füllkrug is asleep. Behind him, four players are currently sharing second place with 13 goals: Randal Kolo Muani, Vincenzo Grifo, Christopher Nkunku and Marcus Thuram. They’re having a snail race. Since Füllkrug’s failure on matchday 28, they have only scored three goals together. This increases Füllkrug’s chances of a historically low number of hits for the top scorer cannon.
In the footsteps of Bobic, Allofs and Wohlfarth
Twice 17 goals were enough for the title of the best goalscorer. Fredi Bobic achieved this feat in the 1995/1996 season. During the “Magic Triangle” at VfB Stuttgart, he narrowly beat his strike partner Giovane Elber, who scored just one goal less. Incidentally, VfB only finished tenth at the end of the season.
Fredi Bobic was awarded a top scorer cannon in 1996
Thomas Allofs and Roland Wohlfarth shared the title seven years earlier with 17 goals each. In the 1988/1989 season, Thomas Allofs kept 1. FC Köln in the fight for the championship with his goals. In the end, however, they had to admit defeat to Bayern. Wohlfahrt scored a lot of goals for Bayern, especially in the final spurt of the season. Two years later, Wohlfahrt was back at the top – this time alone and with 21 goals.
Seven times less than 20 hits were enough
In general, less than 20 goals were enough for the top in seven seasons. The last time Alex Meier did was eight years ago (19 goals). Martin Max was top scorer twice in the jersey of 1860 Munich: at the turn of the millennium with 19 goals and in the 2001/02 season together with Marcio Amoroso (both 18 goals). This list also includes Jürgen Klinsmann (1987/88, 19 goals), Jörn Andersen (1989/90, 18 goals) and Stefan Kuntz and Anthony Yeboah (1993/94, 18 goals).
We will know by May 27th at the latest whether Niclas Füllkrug will join this prominent group or even lead it.