The upcoming FIFA World Cup will indeed have many goals, but one will come out with a golden boot. And the 2022 edition is packed with stars.
And to make it such, some players in the tournament can light up the event.
We will see so many legends of the game take to the field, maybe for a final time for their respective nations, along with many up-and-coming talents who are either starting their incredible career or trying to make a name for themselves.
Whenever a big football tournament is around the corner, never mind something as massive as the World Cup, the chatter and discussions begin among friends and colleagues at a local refreshment shop or the barber’s shop, or even the office premises in terms of who is a better player, teams and their forms, tournament predictions, etc.
World Cup, the month-long football festival also regarded as the most significant sporting event by many, brings in a new excitement, turning the world into a joyous place throughout its entire duration.
Fans are engulfed in its glitz and allure and engaged with the stars they adore and admire.
One of the things that people wonder before the tournament is who would win the Golden Boot Award. The Golden Boot Award is given to the top scorer of the World Cup in each edition of the tournament. Many illustrious names have won this award to their name in previous editions of the World Cup. Hence why, this award is so coveted and desired among the players.
Today, we will explore some players heading to Qatar who can win the golden boot and write their name in the history books or add to their already amazing careers.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Everyone’s heard of Lionel Messi. The record seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is considered by many as the greatest player to ever grace the football pitch.
Messi will be looking to lead his nation to World Cup glory. The only trophy that is missing from the legendary footballers’ trophy case is the World Cup. And Messi will be determined to place the trophy that has eluded him for so many years finally in his trophy cabinet.
This World Cup is touted as the final one that Messi will play in for Argentina, which makes this his final opportunity to get his hands at this trophy which would help cement his legacy even more if it isn’t concrete already.
Messi, heading into this World Cup has been in great form this season. He has scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists in as many matches; as he has played for PSG. Messi will be looking to replicate his great form in the World Cup with the Argentinian shirt on.
There is a great chance Argentina could go all the way in this year’s World Cup and we surely can’t ignore that Messi has a great possibility of winning the Golden Boot during his quest for the World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Cristiano Ronaldo, another juggernaut of the game and a global name himself, will likely appear in his final World Cup for his nation.
Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside the aforementioned Messi, is considered the two best players of this generation, and some believe him to be the greatest of all time.
Unlike Messi, Ronaldo hasn’t been in excellent club form this season. And at 37 years of age, his skills and abilities have been impacted a bit. He has been in and out of the Manchester United lineup this season, and in some cases, he hasn’t been picked up.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest international goal scorer ever, with his 117 goals for Portugal in all competitions. No matter his club form, when he is with his nation, he has performed incredibly well, more often than not.
Age is catching up to Ronaldo, but we cannot ignore his abilities and skills. With this probably being his final appearance at the World Cup, he would no doubt want to go out on a high by trying to win a World Cup for his country and cementing his legacy as the greatest ever to do it.
The rest of the team around him for Portugal is solid. With them providing appropriate passes and sending the ball in Ronaldo’s direction at the right moment, Ronaldo could still make the magic happen.
Don’t be surprised, like that recent interview with Piers Morgan, if Ronaldo comes out of this World Cup as the top goal scorer. He could lead his team to the latter part of the tournament and try to win it.
Neymar Jr (Brazil)
Another iconic footballer from this generation is Neymar. For the longest time, the Brazillian footballer was seen as the third-best footballer behind Messi and Ronaldo.
Neymar was predicted to take over the reins once Messi and Ronaldo were done. Neymar has had an incredible and illuminating career. However, he has not quite lived up to the hype and reached the heights people thought he would.
This is not to say that Neymar has not been fantastic. He has been a great player and an amazing talent all along. Going into the World Cup, Neymar has been in scintillating club form and is hoping to replicate it with Brazil at the World Cup.
Brazil, considered by many as the top dogs at this World Cup, has an excellent opportunity to get their sixth star and extend their lead at World Cup wins. If Brazil wins the World Cup and Neymar maintains his current form, it would be challenging to ignore Neymar for the Golden Ball and, most likely, the Golden Boot Award.
Neymar has netted 15 goals and provided 12 assists playing for PSG in as many games this season. Like Messi, Neymar has been in a mesmerizing form. Suppose he can carry it to the international scenario. In that case, there are no two opinions on whether he will be a candidate for the Golden Boot Award and the Golden Ball Award.
Kylian Mbappe (France)
The new superstar in town, Mbappe, is one-third of PSG’s ferocious attack alongside Messi and Neymar.
The 23-year-old at the helm of bringing the world of football into a new era is considered one of the best players in the world. Mbappe will most likely be at the center stage of the footballing world for years to come, and with him, France has a genuine superstar amidst their ranks.
Like his club counterparts, Mbappe has been playing great this season. Mbappe has scored 19 times for his club and created five assists. The only player in Europe’s top five leagues that have scored more than Mbappe is Erling Haaland. However, Haaland will not be participating in the World Cup, unfortunately.
In the previous edition of the tournament in 2018, Mbappe scored four times and provided one assist. Among his four goals, one came in France’s final win when he was just a teenager. He won the best young player award back in Russia.
Since then, he has matured and grown a lot, both as a player and in terms of skills and abilities. Mbappe is a great candidate to get the Golden Boot Award in the Qatar World Cup, as he got close enough in the last one.
Karim Benzema (France)
France has abundant talent all over the pitch, and Karim Benzema is one of them. Benzema provides a great attacking option for French coach Deschamps.
The current Ballon d’Or holder will be looking to add to his recent Ballon d’Or win and strengthen his legacy even more at the World Cup. Benzema has only played 12 games this season, and during this time, he has netted in 6 goals and created one assist.
However, Benzema has just concluded his best season ever, where he scored 44 goals and provided 15 assists in as many games, which won him his first ever Ballon d’Or at the age of 34 years of age.
Benzema is a reliable striker and one who is consistent with his exploits. Having Benzema in the squad gives France a great luxury on the attacking front. Even if some of their attackers don’t pan out, they have more.
For instance, if the previously mentioned Mbappe does not show up as expected, they have the luxury to call upon Benzema to carry on the load, and he is more than capable of doing so.
Hence, Benzema is a contender to win the Golden Boot Award.
Harry Kane (England)
Harry Kane, the English skipper, and their leading man, is expected to play a huge role in England’s World Cup campaign.
The winner of the Golden Boot Award at the previous Russia World Cup in 2018, the bookies and others predict Harry Kane to go for it if not win it again.
Harry Kane has been in decent form this season, netting 13 goals and creating three assists in 22 games in all competitions. Kane’s considered one of the best marksmen out there, and many people believe in him bringing in the goods for England at the World Cup.
He was one of the crucial pieces that helped England reach the semi-finals of the previous World Cup, and he would be looking to do the same this time and go even further.
His abilities cannot be doubted, and he is one of the contenders to win the Golden Boot Award in the upcoming tournament.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Another exceptional marksman and a tremendous player in his own right we have on this list is Robert Lewandowski.
The new Barcelona recruit has been phenomenal this season. In the total 19 games he has played across all competitions this season for Barcelona, he has netted 18 goals and provided four assists.
It is essentially thanks to Lewandowski and his exploits in front of the goal that has helped FC Barcelona remain at the top of the La Liga table, two points ahead of rivals Real Madrid.
Lewandowski has been in this stellar form for the last several years for Bayern Munich and now for Barcelona.
When it comes to the international scene, Lewandowski is one of the greatest goal scorers international football has ever seen, with his 76 goals and counting contribution for Poland across all competitions, ranking him 11th.
Poland is in group C with Argentina, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico. Poland can get out of the group and taste the knockouts. We can say that Poland goes where Lewandowski takes them, as he is their talisman and their captain.
With his stellar form, Lewandowski can help Poland cross the group and make some noise in the World Cup. And for this, we have to consider him as one of the candidates for the Golden Boot Award.
Thomas Muller (Germany)
This inclusion of Thomas Muller might come as a surprise to some of you out there. But looking at his previous deeds, it should not at all.
Thomas Muller, who is most known for his midfield play, would not come to mind of many when the discussion is about the top goal scorers in the World Cup. However, Muller is a different type of player and one who is capable of netting goals just as good as creating for others.
Most of you might not remember, but back in the 2010 World Cup, Thomas Muller received the Golden Boot Award for his 5-goal contribution to Germany’s campaign when he was just 21 years old while winning the best young player award featuring in the World Cup all-star team.
Again, in 2014 he received the Silver Boot and Silver Ball for his efforts and was again named to the World Cup all-star and dream team as his country won its 4th World Cup.
The 2018 World Cup was a collective disaster for all involved with Germany. However, in this edition of the World Cup, we can expect Germany to return to its usual form, where they play as a unit and perform like a machine.
Do not count out Thomas Muller, as he can and can be the Top Scorer for Germany in the World Cup and is a candidate for the Golden Boot Award.
Serge Gnabry (Germany)
When we take a glance elsewhere from Muller in the German squad, we see Serge Gnabry. Gnabry has emerged as an absolute star for the German team.
Serge Gnabry is one of only a few players who have crossed the double-double mark this season this early regarding goals and assists. Serge Gnabry has netted ten goals and provided ten assists in the 23 games he has played.
For Germany, he has netted 20 goals already across all competitions in his 36 caps. He is a very talented footballer, and his talents and skills are prevalent. He has established himself over the past couple of years.
Ever since he joined Bayern Munich, his stock and abilities have constantly been rising, and we can’t see any dip in near sight.
Serge Gnabry has the potential and ability to be Germany’s leading man at this World Cup and Steer them toward glory.
Hence, we have considered him the potential candidate for the Golden Boot.
Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
Lukaku is the final player on our list of potential Golden Boot Winners because he has the abilities and potential for it.
First, let’s address the elephant in the room. Lukaku has not been in great form recently for his club sides and has not been able to perform at his best. However, Lukaku with Belgium is a different beast altogether. Lukaku is Belgium’s all-time top goal scorer in history, with 68 international goals.
Also, playing with Belgium, he has talented and innovative players supporting him, which could help him regain his form and start scoring. Players like KDB, Hazard, and others could build up great plays, and Lukaku has excellent abilities to convert them into goals.
This World Cup is considered the last opportunity for Belgium’s golden generation to win anything significant, and Lukaku firing on all cylinders is crucial for them to achieve it.
Lukaku, in form, could be a dangerous striker for any opposition defenders to face, which is why he is on our list of potential Golden Boot winners.
Honorable Mentions
Many great players will be participating in the World Cup and not all of them can make the condensed list.
However, some players have and possess abilities and qualities to be counted as potential Golden Boot Winners. Some of these players include Brazil’s Vinicius Jr., Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez, Memphis Depay, Ferran Torres, Darwin Nunez, Suarez, etc. among others.
Also, in the end, we should at least mention Erling Haaland who has been tearing up the premier league and is on a record-breaking path. However, he will not be in the World Cup due to his nation’s non-qualification. Had he been at the World Cup, he would no doubt be one of the potential candidates if not the best candidate to win the award.
The World Cup starts soon and we are excited to see what is to unfold in the coming month.