Igor Jesus and Petar Stanić — Top Scorers of the Europa League
Nottingham Forest striker Igor Jesus and Ludogorets forward Petar Stanić finished the 2025/26 Europa League season with seven goals each, sharing the title of the tournament's top scorers. A total of 512 goals were scored in this edition.
Seven goals apiece: Jesus and Stanić share the Europa League Golden Boot
Main Event
On May 20, 2026, UEFA officially announced the final standings of the 2025/2026 Europa League season. The title of top scorers was shared by two players from completely different football worlds: English club Nottingham Forest's striker Igor Jesus and Bulgarian side Ludogorets' midfielder Petar Stanić. Both players finished the European campaign with seven goals each, the absolute best in the tournament. In total, 512 goals were scored in this edition of Europe's second-tier club competition — an average of 2.71 goals per match, or one goal every 33 minutes.
The season ended on May 21 with Aston Villa's triumph in the Istanbul final against Freiburg (3-0), but the scoring race was unaffected by the final match — none of the finalists managed to catch the leaders. For both players, this achievement was a first in their careers on the European stage and possibly the biggest individual trophy of their lives.
Details and Statistics
The official list of top scorers in the 2025/26 Europa League is as follows:
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|------|--------|------|-------|
| 1-2 | Igor Jesus | Nottingham Forest | 7 |
| 1-2 | Petar Stanić | Ludogorets | 7 |
| 3-4 | Kerem Aktürkoğlu | Fenerbahçe | 6 |
| 3-4 | Antony | Betis | 6 |
| 5-11 | Dion Beljo (Dinamo Zagreb), Federico Bernardeschi (Bologna), Vincenzo Grifo (Freiburg), Williot Swedberg (Celta Vigo), Bilal El Khannous (Stuttgart), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) | | 5 |
Igor Jesus's Path to Seven Goals
The 24-year-old Brazilian striker, who joined Nottingham Forest from Brazilian club Botafogo before the season for €35 million, shone in the group stage:
- Brace in the opening match against Betis.
- Converted penalty in the game against Porto.
- Winning goal against Dutch side Utrecht.
- Two goals in the match against Hungarian side Ferencváros.
- Then Jesus scored in the first playoff match of the knockout stage against Fenerbahçe, registering a goal and an assist.
Notably, Nottingham Forest reached the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champions Aston Villa. It was there that the Brazilian's scoring streak ended, preventing him from becoming the sole leader.
Petar Stanić's Path to Seven Goals
The Serbian midfielder, who joined Ludogorets from Serbian club Bačka Topola for just €1.8 million, became the biggest surprise in the scoring race. His club was eliminated in the Round of 16, but that was enough to write the 24-year-old Serb's name into history:
- Hat-trick against Spanish side Celta Vigo — a key achievement that allowed him to match Jesus.
- Goals against Malmö, Young Boys, PAOK, and Nice.
Stanić became the first representative of the Bulgarian league in many years to top the scoring charts of one of the two major European competitions.
Context and Significance
The shared top-scorer title of Jesus and Stanić is a rare occurrence in Europa League history. Unlike the Champions League, where the Golden Boot often goes to a single dominant striker, this season produced a unique situation: a Brazilian and a Serbian representing clubs of different calibers, yet their individual efficiency proved identical.
Both players are 24 years old, fueling interest from more prestigious clubs. In light of this achievement, rumors about the future of both goal-scorers have already emerged.
Transfer Context
Igor Jesus had an excellent season at Nottingham Forest, hitting peak form. The €35 million paid for him a year ago already looks justified. The English club is unlikely to part with the Brazilian, but if a top club makes an offer, the situation could change.
Petar Stanić is Ludogorets' main asset on the transfer market. According to Bulgarian and Spanish media, a La Liga club (rumored to be neither Betis nor Sevilla, though interest was attributed to them as well) has officially inquired about the Serb's transfer conditions. Ludogorets values its leader at €10 million. This is a huge sum for a Bulgarian club but quite affordable for mid-table teams in top leagues. Given that Stanić was bought for €1.8 million, the potential profit could be 500-600% in just one season.
What's Next
The European club season is officially over. Aston Villa is preparing for a champions' parade and trophy presentation, while world football's attention shifts to the Champions League final (PSG vs. Arsenal) in Munich.
As for the heroes of our article:
- Igor Jesus will return to Nottingham Forest, which will try its luck in European competitions again next season (either in the Conference League, based on their final Premier League position, or again in the Europa League, depending on circumstances).
- Petar Stanić is at the center of transfer rumors. Most likely, this achievement will be his "golden ticket" to a top league (England, Spain, Italy, or Germany). The summer transfer window is just opening, and a hunt for the Serbian playmaker will follow.
Editorial Forecast
Although the scoring race is over, the transfer twists around both heroes are just beginning. Petar Stanić has a 90% chance of leaving Ludogorets this summer. The €10 million price tag is no problem for La Liga or Premier League clubs like Sevilla, Valencia, or Brighton. His versatility (can play as a "ten" or a "false nine") and status as the Europa League's top scorer will make him one of the most sought-after pieces on the transfer market.
Igor Jesus will likely stay in England, as Nottingham Forest has no financial issues and can pay him a salary comparable to offers from second-tier clubs. However, if a top club comes for the Brazilian (e.g., Chelsea or Manchester United need pure strikers), a deal could happen. For now, the favorite in a potential future contest between Jesus and Stanić is the Serb, who made a name for himself at an underdog club. It is precisely such players who often make high-profile moves to bigger teams.
— Editorial Team
