The Sprint for the Golden Boot: Fred vs Borges

The Sprint for the Golden Boot: Fred vs Borges

The Sprint for the Golden Boot: Fred vs Borges

image

By Gordon Fleetwood

Just over a week ago the race looked to be over. You could have called the engraver and no-one would have batted an eyelid. In the race for the title of top scorer in Brazil‘s top flight, Santos striker Borges was all alone at the summit. With a ten goal lead and only four rounds to go, the award seemed to be safely nestled in the hands  of the thirty-one year old. 

Then a bolt from the blue hit, not once, but twice. A challenger had arisen from the pack with a new-found burst of energy. Where Borges was once all alone, he now has Fred to keep him company. 

The Fluminese striker went berserk in rounds thirty-five and thirty-six as he netted an incredible sevens goals. Grêmio were the first to feel Fred’s wrath as he notched four strikes in a 5x4 win. He scored a hat-trick as plucky overachievers Figueirense were demolished 4x0. These wins kept Fluminese in third place and allowed the dying embers of their slim title hopes to continue burning.

Just like that, over the course of four days, Borges’ lead was cut from ten goals to only three, and the race to be the top scorer was wide open.

Looking back over the past seven months, the two strikers have taken slightly different paths to reach this point. Borges was the more consistent of the two as he kept an underperforming Santos team afloat with his wide array of goals. Even when he wasn’t playing particularly well, there was a sense of danger around him. When he was at his best. Borges proved to be a constant nightmare for defenders with his strength, intelligent movement, and deadly nature in front of goal. 

On the other hand, Fred proved to be a controversial figure. There were times when his displays made a mockery of his obvious talent. Maybe this had something to do with his fitness issues earlier in the year, but on the surface Fred spent the season vacillating between being a lethal predator and a docile herbivore. Lately his good moments have coinciding with goal scoring spurts, and these have added up to reveal an impressive overall record. Fred has twenty goals in twenty three games which is significantly better than Borges twenty-three strikes in thirty appearances. 

Now, as the finish line looms in the distance, it is Fred that has the momentum. 

Borges’ last goal came four games ago, and he has only played twice since then as Santos fielded a reserve side on two occasions as part of their Club World Cup preparation. He may only play one more game this season as Santos’ last game - a derby against Palmeiras - may see the second string team being utilized once more. If that is the case, then Sunday’s match against relegation threatened Bahia would be his only opportunity to pad his lead. 

Even with the wind in his sails, Fred faces a stiff test to pass Borges. Fluminese’s last two games are derbies against Vasco da Gama and Copa Libertadores hopefuls Botafogo respectively. The latter side may prove eventually turn out to be slightly easy pickings given that they’re currently on a dreadful run of seven losses and a solitary win in their last eight games. However, second place Vasco is a completely different prospect. 

O Gigante da Colina (The Giant of the Hill) has the second best defensive record in Brazil and boast two of the most outstanding players in this area of the field in the league. One of them is goalkeeper Fernando Prass, and the other is the man mountain at centerback known as Dedé. The twenty-three year old is undoubtedly the best defender in Brazil. Fred’s job will be decidedly harder than it was against Grêmio and Figueirense. 

So it is that as another gripping year in the Campeonato Brasileiro draws to a close, the nominations for the Prêmio Craque do Brasileiro - the award for the best player in each position and the best player overall - have been released. It is no surprise to see Borges and Fred are fighting for the title of best central striker - along with Botafogo’s Sebastian Abréu. Whoever ends up at top scorer will probably claim the prize and be crowned Artilheiro do Brasileirão