As we continue to edge ever closer to the big event that will take place in Qatar, there is already much buzz and excitement ahead of a special World Cup taking place in November. This article will take a keen look at valuable tips to go with, especially betting on the World Cup top scorerahead of the tournament.
The 2022 World cup in Qatar promises to showcase the finest goal poachers from all over the globe. The Golden Boot of the World Cup has always been a very keenly contested prize amongst the very best. Miroslav Klose is the highest goal scorer in the history of the World Cup with 16 goals and is closely followed by the legendary phenomenon Ronaldo Nazario, who hit 15 goals across four World cups.
Just Fontaine holds the record for the most goals in a single World Cup, with the former French forward hitting 13 goals in the 1958 edition. Ronaldo Nazario has the highest number of World Cup goals this century; the Brazilian hit eight goals in the 2002 edition to fire his side to victory.
Harry Kane was in imperious form last time out in the Russian 2018 World cup. The Spurs talisman hit six goals to claim the golden boot and was the first Englishman to win the award since Gary Lineker in 1990.
The 2022 World Cup will see some superstars return to their national teams. Most notably, the lethal Karim Benzema, who is well primed to claim his first Ballon d’Or title after a terrific season with Real Madrid.
Other star strikers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Lionel Messi, Romelu Lukaku and Sadio Mane will hope to get more supply from those behind them and stack up those goals.
Enough of the build-up and let’s take a look at who the bookies favor to claim the prestigious golden boot award.
Harry Kane (+700)
The Three Lions captain is seen as the biggest favorite to claim the golden boot. This is highly justified, given the forward’s predatory record in an England shirt. The Spurs man is just a few goals from equaling Wayne Rooney’s 53 goals record for the Three Lions. Kane also has the honor of being the man to win the last Golden Boot in the Russia 2018 edition. His aerial prowess and shooting technique complements his team and enables him score tons of goals.
Also Kane is a potent finisher and his penalty record is almost perfect. The choice of Kane as the biggest favorite over more established forwards may seem over the top, but Kane is a proven marksman in England and in Europe as well.
Kylian Mbappe (+800)
The Frenchman is arguably the best player in the world at the moment. He is also the best paid, if you care to remember. His diamond quality previously prompted a tug-of-war between his current club Paris Saint Germain and his dream club Real Madrid, though the player later decided to stay put in France. His iconic display at the 2018 World Cup, especially against Argentina is forever etched in the competition’s history. His position on the golden boot favorite’s rankings is truly justified.
Cristiano Ronaldo (+1200)
The Portuguese icon will make his fifth appearance at the Mundial come November this year. The 37-year-old striker has refused to bow to the limitations of aging and his fitness levels still wows even the most critical of pundits. He is the current all-time leading scorer at international level after surpassing Iran’s Ali Daei’s record. He is always a threat in the box and his inclusion here is very justified.
Karim Benzema (+1200)
The Real Madrid captain is perhaps the best striker in the world at the moment. His starring performances in La Liga and the Champions league last season still rings aloud in our ears. His supreme technical and aerial ability puts him slightly ahead of Olivier Giroud in that No. 9 position. Given his consistency, we expect him to turn up during the World Cup in Qatar.
Lionel Messi (+1200)
The Argentine maestro had a bit of a dip in form last season in his first year in France. However, Messi is no push over in world football. The 2014 World Cup finalist knows that he could cement his name as the greatest player to ever play the game should he win the tournament. Argentina have been formidable of recent and their current squad looks well placed to compete for this year’s Mundial.
Romelu Lukaku (+1600)
The big Belgian had a tumultuous return to Stamford Bridge last season and as a result been shipped off on loan to Inter Milan. The striker had returned with huge promises in a £100m deal from Inter but failed to deliver. Regardless, he is a constant force to reckon with internationally. Lukaku is Belgium’s all-time goalscorer and with the depth of creativity behind him, the goals should flow for him.
Neymar Jr (+1800)
The Brazilian forward has been hugely criticized for his role in PSG’s continuous slump in the Champions League. However, the criticisms of the Brazilian seem unfair when we turn to the stats as he is one of the most prolific players of all time. Neymar is very close to beating the legendary Pele’s goal record. If Brazil are to claim this year’s tournament, they will need Neymar Jr to put on his best scoring boots.
Raheem Sterling (+2000)
The Three Lions winger is rated the eight most favorite player to win the Golden Boot award. The left winger has just completed his 45m move from Manchester City to Chelsea. He has been very crucial to the recent successes of England and if they are to continue with that, Sterling’s imperious ability and movement will be very important. His combination with Harry Kane and Mason Mount is also terrific. Though he might not always be amongst the goals, he will definitely be among the names expected to deliever.