OFFICIAL: Arab Lawrence Shankland is Europe’s hottest striker – above Sergio Aguero and Robert Lewandowski

Dundee United’s free-scoring frontman Lawrence Shankland is the top goalscorer in Europe.

The 24-year-old striker’s impressive tally of 13 goals in eight games is a better rate of scoring than any player in the top two divisions of England, Scotland, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Russia, France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Turkey.

Shankland’s closest rival is Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski who sits with 11 goals in seven games, with a goal to game ratio of 1.57 which is still inferior to Shankland’s 1.63.

Next is Donyell Malen, of PSV Eindhoven, who has scored 10 goals in nine games so has a 1.11 goals to game ratio.

Also on the list is England international Jermain Defoe who has bagged nine goals in seven games for Rangers, leaving him with 1.29 goals per game ratio. Also featuring on our list is Argentine star Sergio Aguero who has scored eight goals in eight games for Manchester City.

Shankland, who scored on his full international debut in the 6-0 win against San Marino, became the first United player to represent the Scots since current captain Andy Robertson.

The striker has overtaken Slovakian international Pavol Safranko as the last name to be etched on the international board that hangs inside Tannadice.

Shankland described his first goal on the international stage as a ‘bonus’.

He said: “It was obviously a bonus to get a goal as well but more importantly we got the result that we wanted.

“To get a start for your country is obviously great and getting a goal as well, I was just delighted. It’s my job.”

Shankland will turn his goal-scoring efforts back to league football as United face off against Queen of the South in Dumfries on Saturday.

A list of the top goal scorers:

Europe’s top goalscorers (as of October 15 2019) –

• Lawrence Shankland (Dundee United, Scottish Championship) 13 goals in 8 games – 1.63 goals per game.
• Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, German Bundesliga) 11 goals in 7 games – 1.57 goals per game.
• Donyell Malen (PSV Eindhoven, Dutch Eredivisie) 10 goals in 9 games – 1.11 goals per game.
• Kjartan Finnbogason (Vejle BK, Danish NordicBet Liga) 1o goals in 12 games – 0.83 goals per game.
• Aleksandr Sobolev (KS Samara, Russian Premier Liga) 10 goals in 12 games – 0.83 goals per game.
• Ivan Sergeev (Torpedo Moscow, Russian 1. Division) 10 goals in 17 games – 0.59 goals per game.
• Tino Kadewere (AC Le Havre, French Ligue 2) 10 goals in 8 games – 1.25 goals per game.
• Jermain Defoe (Rangers, Scottish Premiership) 9 goals in 7 games – 1.29 goals per game.
• Jean-Pierre Nsame (BSC Young Boys, Danish Super League) 9 goals in 10 games – 0.9 goals per game.
• Sergio Aguero (Manchester City, English Premier League) 8 goals in 8 games – 1 goal per game.
• Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham, English Championship) 8 goals in 11 games – 0.73 goals per game.
• Manuel Schaffler (SV Wehen Wiesbaden, German Bundesliga 2) 8 goals in 9 games – 0.89 goals per game.
• Dieumerci Mbokani (Royal Antwerp, Belgian Jupiler Pro League) 8 goals in 9 games – 0.89 goals per game.
• Michele Marconi (AC Pisa, Italian Serie B) 7 goals in 7 games – 1 goal per game.
• Adis Jahovic (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkish Super Lig) 7 goals in 7 games – 1 goal per game.
• Ciro Immobile (Lazio, Italian Serie A) 7 goals in 7 games – 1 goal per game.
• Victor Osimhen (LOSC Lille, French Ligue 1) 7 goals in 9 games – 0.78 goals per game.
• Alfredo Ortuno (Real Oviedo, Spanish La Liga 2) 7 goals in 10 games – 0.7 goals per game.
• Luís Miguel Afonso Fernandes Pizzi (Benfica, Portuguese Liga NOS) 6 goals in 7 games – 0.86 goals per game.
• Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, Spanish La Liga) 6 goals in 7 games – 0.86 goals per game.
• Bryan Róchez (Nacional, Portuguese Liga Pro) 6 goals in 7 games – 0.86 goals per game.
• Emircan Altintas (Umraniyespor, Turkish 1. Lig) 5 goals in 7 games – 0.71 goals per game.
• Casper Nielsen (Saint Gilloise, Belgian First Division B) 5 goals in 10 games – 0.5 goals per game.