With less than ten games to go in the 2022/23 Primeira Liga season, we look at the top five scorers and break down their season in front of goal so far. The list features a non-penalty king with a record to make the eyes water, a player who is contributing to nearly 70% of his team’s goals and a veteran who is averaging a goal contribution in every single game.
Only goals in the Primeira Liga, all data taken from Opta and correct as of 30th March 2023.
João Mário – 17 goals – SL Benfica
The 30-year-old is currently enjoying his most productive season in front of goal. In addition to his 17 goals, he has also provided six assists taking him to 23 goal contributions in 24 appearances (1,931 mins) giving him a remarkable average of a goal contribution every 83.9 minutes.
Where have his goals come from?
The Euro 2016 winner is the spot-kick king having scored seven of his 17 from the spot this season. He’s taken nine penalties in total this season but blazed one over the bar against Marítimo and saw another smartly saved by Rafael Bracali in the match against Boavista.
João Mário currently also has the quite unique record of being top of the goalscorers list despite attempting the fewest shots out of any of the top five players (41 shots). He is also the only player from the top five to have not scored a header in the Primeira Liga this season.
Remaining games
Rio Ave (A), Porto (H), Chaves (A), Estoril Praia (H), Gil Vicente (A), Braga (H), Portimonense (A), Sporting (A), Santa Clara (H)
Gonçalo Ramos – 16 goals – SL Benfica
The 21-year-old is in frightening goalscoring form this season having scored 16 goals from 21 starts. This campaign has been the most fruitful of his young career so far and there is a feeling he can still go up more levels. He has benefited greatly from the faith shown in him to lead the line at As Águias following the sale of Darwin Núñez to Liverpool.
Where have his goals come from?
Ramos is the non-penalty goal king of Primeira Liga this season! With João Mário on spot-kick duty, all 16 of Ramos’ goals have come from open play – more than any other player in the league.
A player with an innate sense of attacking positioning and terrific movement, all of Ramos’ goals have come from inside the penalty area. 10 of his goals have been scored by his right foot, four by his left and he has scored two headers. The Portugal international has attempted more shots (excluding blocks) than any other player on this list with 64. Just imagine his numbers if he was on penalties!
Remaining games
Rio Ave (A), Porto (H), Chaves (A), Estoril Praia (H), Gil Vicente (A), Braga (H), Portimonense (A), Sporting (A), Santa Clara (H)
Mehdi Taremi – 13 goals – FC Porto
A previous winner of the top scorer prize (2019/20), the Iranian forward will be hoping for a late goalscoring surge as the season winds down to take him to the top of the table. He has scored 13 goals and provided seven assists for his side from 25 appearances (1,940 minutes).
Where have his goals come from?
Taremi has scored 11 goals from open play and two from the penalty spot this season. He did miss a spot-kick against former side Rio Ave, and he had already been substituted when Porto two late penalties against Sporting – both of which were dispatched successfully (Galeno and Mateus Uribe). Nine of his goals have been scored by his right foot as well as two each from his left foot and head.
Last season he finished the league season with 20 goals and we fully expect him to score a few more before the end of this campaign to put himself in real contention for the top scorer prize.
Fran Navarro – 13 goals – Gil Vicente
The 25-year-old Spaniard has already broken one record this season! He became Gil Vicente’s all-time top scorer in the Primeira Liga when he rifled home against Porto at the end of February. It was his 13th goal of the season and his 29th in the competition, taking him past Gil Alves.
Navarro, the only player on this list not to play for one of Os Tres Grandes, also has the rather impressive title of being the only player to score at the Estádio Do Dragão, Estádio José Alavalade and Estádio da Luz this season.
The former Valencia man is vitally important to Gil Vicente and this is clearly reflected by the number of his goal involvements in comparison to the rest of his team. The teams at the top of the table often share their goals around more due to their abundance of talent in attacking positions, whereas Gil Vicente have scored just 23 goals in the league, meaning he is responsible for nearly 57% of their goals and when you factor in his three assists that takes him to 16 goal contributions – meaning he has been involved in nearly 70% of Gil Vicente’s goals.
Where have his goals come from?
Navarro has scored 11 goals from open play and two from the spot, he would be further up the list if his conversion rate from the spot was better though, having missed three of his five Primeira Liga penalties this season. He has scored nine with his right foot, three with his left foot and one header.
Remaining games
Estoril (A), Sporting (H), Chaves (H), Braga (A), Portimonense (A), Benfica (H), Santa Clara (A), Boavista (H), Vitória SC (A), Casa Pia (H)
Pedro Pote Gonçalves – 12 goals – Sporting CP
Another former winner of the top goalscorer award, Pote has spent time further away from goal this season when he has operated in midfield, but it hasn’t stopped him from getting to double figures for goals. In addition to his 12 goals, he has also provided six assists meaning that he is both Sporting’s best scorer and provider in the Liga this season.
The 24-year-old has scored two goals in his last six matches and he will be hoping he can pick up the pace and grab a few more before this campaign is over.
Where have his goals come from?
Five of Pote’s 12 goals have come from the penalty spot this season – his one miss from 12 yards came against Portimonense. 11 of his 12 goals were scored by his right foot with the other goal being a header.
Remaining games
Santa Clara (H), Gil Vicente (A), Casa Pia (A), Arouca (H), Vitória SC (A), Famalicão (H), Paços de Ferreira (A), Marítimo (H), Benfica (H), Vizela (A)
