The Golden Shoe was awarded to the Portuguese striker Fernando Gomes (FC Porto), coming on top with 36 goals and followed by Peter Houtman (Feyenoord, Holland) with 30 goals and Anastopoulos (Olympiakos, Greece), 29.
It was formidable achievement, for Gomes scored 36 goals in 30 championship games – more than goal per match average,which happens rarely and is a real sign of natural scorer. As is often the case with such players, Gomes was not outstanding player, but in front of the net he always found the way to put the ball in. Born in 1956, he was still young, but his reputation was already high and he was also in the right club – FC Porto was ascending and Gomes started his career with them in 1972, which excatly corresponded with the rise of the club. However, he was just starting his second spell with his home club – after scoring 125 goals in 158 appearances, he moved to Sporting (Gijon, Spain) in 1980. It was a mistake, for apparently he did not fit and after scoring 12 goals in 27 games, he returned home in 1982. And became the top European scorer right away. Naturally, his talent was not unnoticed and he was national team player since 1975, thus becoming integral part of the Portuguese revival in the 1980s and playing at the European finals in 1984 and the 1986 World Cup. One of the most prolific scorers of the 1980s.
Fernando Gomes in action.