frontrunner / leader
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frontrunner
A person, team, or organization that holds first place in a competition, ranking, or statistic. The term is used very frequently in sports.
Nach dem Sieg am Wochenende ist der Verein wieder Spitzenreiter der Bundesliga.
After the win at the weekend, the club is once again the frontrunner in the Bundesliga.
The word consists of 'Spitze' (top, peak) and 'Reiter' (rider). It paints the picture of someone who is “riding” at the top, meaning they are ahead of everyone else.
Als Spitzenreiter der Liga steht die Mannschaft unter großem Druck.
As the frontrunner in the league, the team is under great pressure.
In a sports context, 'Spitzenreiter' (frontrunner) is used very frequently to refer to the leader of a league or table. Typical combinations are 'Spitzenreiter der Tabelle' (leader of the table) or 'der amtierende Spitzenreiter' (the current frontrunner).
Am nächsten Spieltag trifft der Tabellenzweite auf den Spitzenreiter.
On the next matchday, the team in second place will face the frontrunner.
Outside of sports, 'Spitzenreiter' (leader) can also describe a negative or undesirable leading position. People then often speak of the 'trauriger Spitzenreiter' (sad leader).
Die Stadt ist leider Spitzenreiter bei der Jugendarbeitslosigkeit.
Unfortunately, the city is the leader in youth unemployment.
king
'der König' and 'der Spitzenreiter' can both refer to someone or something that is right at the front. 'Spitzenreiter' is used especially for rankings, tables, competitions, or statistics. It is about the current first place. 'König' is more figurative and sounds more like admiration or a special reputation. Someone can be the 'König' of a field because they are especially well known or successful there, even without a current ranking. 'Spitzenreiter' is more precise when numbers or positions are being compared.
Nach dem Sieg am Sonntag ist das Team wieder Spitzenreiter der Liga.
After the win on Sunday, the team is once again the frontrunner in the league.
In unserer Stadt gilt Mehmet als König des Straßenfußballs.
In our city, Mehmet is considered the king of street football.