February 22, 2022 - Marko Livaja is the second-best goal scorer in the world this year, according to the popular Transfermarkt website.
After a hat-trick in the 24th round of the First HNL between Hr. Dragovoljac and Hajduk played at Kranjčevićeva stadium (0:3), Marko Livaja reached the 21st goal of this season in the Croatian football championship, reports Gol.hr.
With these goals, Livaja became the most efficient Hajduk player in a single season since Croatian independence.
Livaja has scored at least one goal this season against each of the First League clubs. He has scored four goals against Istra 1961, three goals each against Slaven Belupo, Hr. Dragovoljac, and Gorica, twice against Šibenik, Rijeka and Lokomotiva, and once against Dinamo and Osijek. In addition to 21 championship goals, he recorded five assists.
These are impressive statistics during his year back at Hajduk. In 43 official appearances in all competitions, he scored 32 goals and added 16 assists!
Transfermarkt has also taken notice.
Namely, since the beginning of 2022, Livaja has scored eight goals in four league matches, making him the second-best goal scorer in the world, according to the popular website Transfermarkt website.
If we look at the ratio of goals and appearances since the beginning of this year, only Robert Lewandowski scored more Championship goals than Hajduk's best player and Croatia national team member.
The Polish striker recorded nine goals in six games in the German Bundesliga, which means that he scores every 60 minutes on average, while Livaja scored eight goals in four rounds of the First HNL.
However, Livaja needs 15 minutes less to score, finding the back of the net on average every 45 minutes!
For the record, this data only applies to the first leagues of world football.
Furthermore, Livaja is 11th in the standings for the European Golden Boot!
Ranking of the best strikers in the world in 2022
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 6 appearances / 9 goals
Marko Livaja (Hajduk) - 4 appearances / 8 goals
Franck Etouga (Asante) - 7 appearances / 8 goals
Bartholomew Ogbeche (Hyderbad) - 8 appearances / 8 goals
Akram Afif (Al-Sadd) - 5 appearances / 7 goals
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