By Razeen Gutta
It is the biggest prize after lifting the cup itself. And for many of the world’s stars, it will almost certainly be their last chance to score more goals than anyone else at the World Cup.
Qatar 2022 will probably be the last World Cup that Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar will play in – and by 2026, Harry Kane will be 33 years old.
Along with Kylian Mbappe, these players are the favourites to lift the Golden Boot come December.
Europe’s top scorer this season, Erling Haaland, will not be at the World Cup, to the relief of the past four golden boot winners from international tournaments.
At Russia 2018 it was Tottenham Hotspur’s Kane who got the award; and with Iran, Wales and USA in their group this year, England fans will be hoping their captain can start off strong in a bid to bring football home for the first time since 1966.
Defending champions France will surely have something to say about that, though. Didier Deschamps’ side will have Kylian Mbappé and Karim Benzema leading the line and will be confident of their chances going forward.
Brazil’s Neymar will look to challenge as well. Partnered by the likes of Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus up front, the PSG man is not someone you can write off.
At Euro 2020 and Copa America last year it was Ronaldo and Messi that grabbed the headlines. And with the all-time kings now 37 and 35 years of age respectively, they still seek a first taste of World Cup success.
The pair will be backed by many to take their nations all the way, and it will not be a surprise to see one of them at the top of the scoring charts come 18 December.
On an African front, Mohamed Salah and Egypt did not qualify. However, Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar will look to kick on from his golden boot-winning performance at Afcon last year.
Meanwhile, champions of the continent Senegal will hope that star man Sadio Mané recovers from injury sooner rather than later and gets them into the knockout stages.
Pictured above: England captain Harry Kane
Image source: @BBCMOTD
