Croatians Score Record Number of Goals in Europe’s Top 5 Leagues in 2016/17 Season

Croatians Score Record Number of Goals in Europe’s Top 5 Leagues (photo: HNS)

Never before in history have Croatians scored as many goals in Europe’s top five leagues than this season.

21 Croatian players found the back of the net 116 times this season in Europe’s top five leagues – Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and England, which is a new record.

The previous best was in the 1995/96 and 1996/97 seasons when Croatians scored 106 goals. Those two seasons, thanks to Davor Šuker, 68 and 66 out of the 106 goals were scored in Spain. This year it has been more spread out with 24 goals in Spain.

Nikola Kalinić was the joint top scorer this season (photo: HNS)

The most goals this year scored by Croatians was in Italy’s Serie A (52). Last season Croatians scored 73 goals in Europe’s top five leagues, and 62 the year prior.

Ivan Perišić and Marcelo Brozović scored 15 times for Inter (photo: HNS)

To top it off, a Croatian player is guaranteed to once again lift the UEFA Champions League this weekend with Mario Mandžukić and Marko Pjaca at Juventus and Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić at Real Madrid.

Duje Čop was the top Croatian goal scorer in Spain this season (photo: HNS)

116 Goals in 2016/17 Season in Europe’s Top 5 League

Italy

Nikola Kalinić (Fiorentina) 15
Ivan Perišić (Inter) 11
Mario Mandžukić (Juventus) 7
Stipe Perica (Udinese) 6
Mario Pašalić (Milan) 5
Marcelo Brozović (Inter) 4
Milan Badelj (Fiorentina) 2
Robert Murić (Pescara) 1
Andrija Balić (Udinese) 1

France

Ivan Santini (Caen) 15
Mateo Pavlović (Angers) 1

Spain

Duje Čop (Sporting Gijon) 9
Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona) 8
Marko Livaja (Las Palmas) 5
Mateo Kovačić (Real) 1
Luka Modrić (Real) 1

Germany

Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim) 15
Marko Antonio Čolak (Darmstadt) 4
Ante Rebić (Eintracht) 2
Tin Jedvaj (Bayer) 1

England

Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) 2