Soccer: Larsson hanging on for Golden Shoe

Celtic goal-machine Henrik Larsson faces a wait to discover if he is to be crowned Europe's top marksman.

No other player in Europe has come even close to matching his incredible haul of 53 strikes in all competitions for the Treble-winning Glaswegians.

But if he is to be handed the coveted Golden Shoe award next month, he must hope two other famous strikers will now fail to hit the net.

The Swede rounded off his great season by scoring two against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup final, helping his side to a 3-0 win.

In the Scottish Premier League, his haul of 35 equalled the record held by ex-Celt Brian McClair in 1986-87.

But as the SPL is regarded by the Golden Shoe organisers as a weaker league than many of those on the Continent, his goals count for less than other strikers'.

With only league goals being considered, Larsson's points tally of 52.5 can still be overhauled by a number of players.

The German, French and Dutch leagues are all finished but there are still two matches to be played in both Italy's Serie A and the Primera Liga in Spain.

Two Italian-based forwards therefore have a fair chance of catching Larsson, and their goals count for two points instead of 1.5 for each netted in the SPL.

Andrei Shevchenko of AC Milan and Lazio's Hernan Crespo are both on 48 points, meaning whoever scores three goals or more in the final two games pips Larsson for the prize.

Enrico Chiesa of Fiorentina is a long shot on 44 points, needing at least five more goals, as is Raul of Real Madrid.