Zlatan’s Golden Boot Bid Stumbles as Milan Falls to NapoliZlatan’s Golden Boot Bid Stumbles as Milan Falls to Napoli AC Milan’s dwindling Serie A title hopes suffered a setback as they fell 1-0 to Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday. The defeat not only extinguished Milan’s title aspirations but also hindered Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s pursuit of the Capocannoniere (Golden Boot) award. Ibrahimovic, who has been in blistering form this season, had been tipped to add to his tally of 15 goals and potentially challenge Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo for the scoring title. However, the towering Swede was unable to find the net against a resolute Napoli defense led by Kalidou Koulibaly. The match’s only goal came in the 77th minute when Hirving Lozano tapped home from close range after a brilliant cross from Dries Mertens. Milan pushed for an equalizer in the dying moments, but their efforts were thwarted by Napoli’s staunch defense and goalkeeper David Ospina. The loss leaves Milan 12 points behind leaders Inter Milan with just six games remaining. The Rossoneri’s title hopes are now all but over, and their focus will shift to securing a top-four finish and a berth in next season’s UEFA Champions League. For Ibrahimovic, the defeat represents a blow to his Golden Boot bid. With 15 goals, he remains second in the scoring charts but now trails Ronaldo by five goals. While it is not mathematically impossible for the veteran striker to catch the Portuguese superstar, it would require a remarkable run of form in the final six matches. Despite the setback, Ibrahimovic remains a vital figure for Milan. His experience and leadership have helped guide the team through a difficult season, and he will be crucial if they are to achieve their goal of a top-four finish.
