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The Serial Top Scorers at the Top Level without a Single Major Trophy

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A number of serial top scorers seem to have had tough luck in winning a trophy despite being known as prolific goal scorers.

Being a serial top scorer in various competitions, including the major ones, does not necessarily guarantee silverware. They may have an eye for goals, but lifting trophies can be an entirely different story from scoring.

The failure of Bayern Munich to progress to the Champions League semifinal last week seems to justify another misfortune of Harry Kane, the current serial top scorer at the top level. Despite having been awarded top scorer accolades multiple times in almost all major competitions both at the club and international levels, the England skipper still lacks a trophy in his career.

The former Spurs star has won EPL top scorers three times, followed by Bundesliga and UCL top scorer, plus the Golden Boot award in the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro championship. He was even awarded the European Golden Shoe last season.

However, Lady luck seems to be never on his side. In Spurs, their best finish in the EPL was runner-up in the 2016/17 campaign plus UCL runner-up in 2019. Kane’s bad luck appears to follow him around in Munich, as Die Roten went trophyless last season, their first stain since 2009.

Kane’s hope to end his misfortune is still open wide in the Bundesliga, as Bayern is still leading the table with eight points ahead of the reigning champions, Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen. Let us hope they do not slip in the final four games since Die Werkself could still turn things around. Otherwise, Kane’s seeming curse can be considered real. What a shame for such a high-calibre striker.

Unsurprisingly, he is not the only one. Throughout the history of European major leagues, there have been serial top scorers who eventually ended their playing careers without a single trophy in hand. Let’s just hope Kane is not falling into the same hole as these unfortunate forwards. Surprisingly, most of them are Italian.


Theofanis Gekas (Greece)

The former Greek international was probably an unexpected name on the list. He was not known as a prolific goalscorer but did manage to win the top scorer award three times, each in a different competition.

The most surprising accolade was when he became Bundesliga top scorer in the 2006/07 campaign while playing for VfL Bochum on loan. Gekas did not only save the newly promoted side from relegation but also finished in eighth place with his 20 goals and four assists in his season debut abroad. Such top form drew interest from Bayer Leverkusen, where he played for two years but failed to cement himself in the first team. He was eventually on loan to Portsmouth before returning to Germany and joined Hertha Berlin plus Eintracht Frankfurt till 2012. Unfortunately, his six-year stint on German soil was criticised due to his lack of effort to learn German.

Gekas then continued their career mainly in Turkey, with brief spells in Spain and Switzerland, as he played for Levante and FC Sion, respectively. Unfortunately, the former striker did not win a single trophy for his team, including when he was part of Greek football powerhouse Panathinaikos, before moving to Germany.

At the international level, Gekas was yet part of the winning squad in EURO 2004. He made his debut in 2005 and scored 24 goals and provided eight assists. He was the top scorer in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the UEFA zone and also helped his nation qualify for South Africa 2010 amid failing to progress from the group stage and reach the quarterfinal in EURO 2012, where he bagged one goal too.

Clubs / teams when clinching top scorer awards

Goals (assists)

Team result

Panathinaikos (2004/05)

18

2nd place in Greek Super League

VfL Bochum (2005/06)

22 (4)

8th place in Bundesliga

Greece national team (2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers)

9

Qualified to 2010 FIFA World Cup

Antonio Di Natale (Italy)

The Udinese legend is undoubtedly one of serial top scorer without a single trophy at the top level. His only title was winning Coppa Italia Serie C in 1995/96 when he was young for Empoli.

The Napoli-born forward was awarded the Golden Boot award three times, two in Italian Serie A and once in Coppa Italia 2015. Di Natale moved to Udinese in 2004 and stayed for 12 years there without winning any silverware. He scored 227 goals and set up 73 goals for Zebrette. His contribution did help his team to finish fourth place twice and sit third once in 2010/11 campaign.

At the international level, Di Natale was capped 42 times and registered 11 goals and five assists. Unfortunately, he was never the first choice for Gli Azzurri. Despite making his debut in 2002, he was only included in the squad for EURO 2008 and 2012 plus 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Clubs / teams when clinching top scorer awards

Goals (assists)

Team result

Udinese (2009/10)

29 (6)

12th place in Serie A

Udinese (2010/11)

28 (6)

3rd place in Serie A

Udinese in Coppa Italia 2014/15

4

Round of 16

Aldo Boffi (Italy)

He was the former AC Milan forward before the World War II and won Cappocanonieri or Serie A top scorer three times, in 1939, 1940 and 1942. However, his goals were not able to help his team finish in the top three. Let alone snatch a trophy.

Boffi played for Rossonerri from 1936 to 1943. It was the last active year of football competition before the intrusion of WW II. Sadly, he could not deliver a single title for Milan. Their best finish was on the third place in the 1940/41 campaign and Coppa Italia runner up in 1942. Overall, the Guissano-born striker notched up 130 goals for AC Milan.

At the international level, Boffi was not lucky too. He only made two appearances with Gli Azzurri in 1938 and 1939 without scoring a single goal. After WW II, he was no longer called up for international fixtures. Boffi moved to Atalanta but failed to replicate his top form in Milan with La Dea.  

Clubs / teams when clinching top scorer awards

Goals (assists)

Team result

AC Milan (1938/39)

19

9th place in Serie A

AC Milan (1939/40)

23

8th place in Serie A

AC Milan (1941/42)

22

9th place in Serie A

AC Milan Coppa Italia 1937

7

Semifinal

Guiseppe Signori (Italy)

He was one of the Serie A stars in 1990s. Signori was well-known during his stint in Lazio and Bologna. In the former side, he won top scorer awards three times in Serie A. Yet, their best campaign was only the runner-up in the 1994/95 season. Meanwhile, in the latter team, the former prolific forward helped them qualify to UEFA Cup 1998/99 via Intertoto Cup and advanced to the semifinal. Signori was also named the top scorer in two Coppa Italia editions, 1993 and 1998.

Nevertheless, he was no longer part of Lazio’s plan under Sven Goran Eriksson who initiated the club’s best period. When Signori left the capital in the middle of 1997/98, Lazio won Winners Cup and UEFA Super Cup at the end of the season, plus clinched a league title in 2000.

The former Foggia and Sampdoria man appeared in 28 international fixtures with Gli Azzurri. He contributed seven goals and five assists, including two in 1994 FIFA World Cup. It was the only major international tournament he took part. Signori was mainly deployed as the left winger under Arrigo Sacchi instead of the forward. Such position was no longer his favorite one, especially after enjoying being a lethal bomber to lead the line. Thanks to his former boss in Foggia, Znedek Zeman, who moved his role from winger to the frontman.

The striker whose iconic no-run-up penalty impressed the world bagged 127 goals plus made 15 assists for Biancoceleste. He also notched up 84 goals and provided 34 assists during his time in Bologna.

Clubs / teams when clinching top scorer awards

Goals (assists)

Team result

Lazio (1992/93)

26 (3)

5th place in Serie A

Lazio (1993/94)

23 (-)

4th place in Serie A

Lazio (1995/96

24 (2)

9th place in Serie A

Lazio Coppa Italia 1993

6(1)

quarterfinals

Lazio Coppa Italia 1998

6(1)

Round of 16

 


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