According to a report from PUNCH Sports Extra, former German captain Lothar Matthäus has thrown his support behind Nigerian striker Victor Boniface in the race for the top scorer award in the German Bundesliga for the upcoming 2023/24 season, where he is expected to go head-to-head with Harry Kane.
Both Boniface and Kane have recently made moves to Germany from Belgium and England, respectively. Boniface transferred to Bayer Leverkusen from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise for a reported fee of approximately €20 million, while Kane made a high-profile move to reigning champions Bayern Munich from Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League for a guaranteed €100 million.
Boniface has had a remarkable start to his time at Bayer Leverkusen, recording three goals and one assist in his first few competitive matches. His standout performance came as he netted a brace during Bayer Leverkusen’s convincing 3-0 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach in a thrilling Rhine derby held at Borussia Park last Saturday.
Meanwhile, Kane has also made a notable impact, making his debut appearance for Bayern Munich with a goal and an assist. Notably, Boniface boasts an involvement in 60 goals (40 goals and 20 assists) over his combined career appearances at Bodo/Glimt and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. In contrast, Kane has an impressive record of 280 goals in 435 matches for Tottenham, underscoring the striking prowess of both players.
Matthäus, who led Germany to World Cup victory in 1990, shared his high praise for Boniface during an interview on Sky Deutschland. He highlighted Boniface’s goal-scoring aptitude and his ability to create opportunities for his teammates. Matthäus confidently expressed his belief that the 22-year-old Nigerian striker will contend with Harry Kane for the coveted top scorer award, asserting, “We will see a few more goals from him. I see him fighting for the top scorer title alongside Harry Kane.”
Boniface’s track record is promising, having tied as the top scorer with Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford in the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League campaign, contributing six goals in 10 games. Additionally, he earned a spot in the competition’s official Team of the Season, an honor he shares with his new teammate Jonathan Tah.
