Who Will Be the Top Goalscorer in Ligue 1?
After finishing 2025/26 with 21 goals, Estéban Lepaul enters the new Ligue 1 season as our favorite to retain the scoring crown, although Mason Greenwood and several other attackers should make the race competitive.
The race to become Ligue 1’s leading scorer enters 2026/27 without an obvious superstar guaranteed to dominate the standings. Paris Saint-Germain possesses the league’s strongest attack, Marseille has an established scorer in Mason Greenwood, and several younger forwards are capable of breaking through. Still, our pick begins in Rennes.
Estéban Lepaul is our choice to finish as Ligue 1’s top scorer.
The Stade Rennais striker produced a remarkable 2025/26 campaign, scoring 21 league goals and becoming the only player in France’s top division to reach the 20-goal mark. His performances also earned him a new contract with Rennes through 2030.
What makes his season particularly interesting is the efficiency behind those numbers. Ligue 1 reported that Lepaul scored his 21 goals from 15.78 expected goals, outperforming that figure by more than five goals. That level may be difficult to repeat, but it also demonstrates how clinical he was when opportunities arrived.
For 2026/27, his biggest advantage is role. Unlike some forwards at deeper clubs, Lepaul should remain one of the central attacking references for Rennes.
Greenwood is the biggest challenger
If Lepaul does not repeat, Mason Greenwood looks like the strongest alternative.
The Marseille attacker spent much of last season near the top of the scoring race. Heading into the final matchday, he was the only player with a realistic opportunity to catch Lepaul, sitting four goals behind.
His broader Ligue 1 record is also impressive. By November 2025, Greenwood had already scored 31 goals in his first 46 league appearances in France, demonstrating that his production was not limited to a short run of form.
What about PSG’s stars?
The obvious complication comes from Paris Saint-Germain.
Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and new signing Maghnes Akliouche give Luis Enrique extraordinary attacking depth. That should make PSG one of the league’s highest-scoring teams again, but it can work against individual Golden Boot candidates because goals and minutes are distributed among several players. PSG’s recent Super Cup lineup demonstrated just how many elite attacking options are available.
Another name worth remembering is Joaquín Panichelli, who scored 16 goals in only 27 Ligue 1 games for Strasbourg before suffering an ACL injury. However, Ligue 1 reported that he is not expected back until 2027, making him unlikely to challenge over a full campaign.
The final prediction
Our choice is therefore Lepaul, with Greenwood as the closest challenger.
The defending top scorer has a defined role, proven finishing ability and a team that will continue to rely heavily on him. Repeating 21 goals will be difficult, but entering 2026/27, nobody has a stronger claim to being Ligue 1’s next scoring champion.
