FIFA World Cup 2022 Possible Golden Boot Winner

FIFA Golden Boot award is given to the footballer who scores the highest number of goal during a FIFA World Cup Finals edition. However, if more than one player registers the same number of goals, then the award is handed to the player with lesser goals from penalties. If still remains level, then the new criteria to differentiate between the players will be the number of assists and finally the the higher goal average (lesser minutes played). The Qatar World Cup will feature a bunch of prolific goal scorers. Let’s see who are the possible candidates for grabbing this award.

FIFA WC 2022 Possible Golden Boot Winning Candidates:

There are number of forwards and scoring midfielders who have been in red hot form and been finding the nets on regular occasions. We have made the following list for the possible golden boot winning candidates based on the current performance, scoring rate at mega events and their previous WC records.

Leo Messi:

The 6 times Ballon d’Or winner will be playing his last World Cup and he is yet to fulfill his dream to win a WC trophy with Argentina. When it comes to the scoring, Messi will always be among the top names. He has been brilliant for the Albicelestes in the mega events as well. The Argentine skipper has won the Golden Ball award in 2014 WC but yet to be named as the competition’s top scorer. Although, he is playing in comparatively deeper position in the recent seasons and is concentrating more on creating opportunities, one simply can’t bet against this little magician. Moreover, in the 2021 Copa America he grabbed both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards. He is certainly one of the best footballers in the history and should be among the top names to win the alluded award.

Cristiano Ronaldo:

CR7 is one of the greatest goal scorers in the history of football if not the very best. This guy loves to score and more importantly he can deliver when his team requires him the most! He has returned to his former club Manchester United once again and has bee playing much more up front. He used to play versatile roles on the field but nowadays he has been playing like a number nine and he is yet to stop delivering. With form he is in even at this age, one can’t take his name off the list. The Portuguese sensation has won the UEFA Euro with his national team and this time he will be keen to take the biggest soccer prize to home and will also eye the Golden Boot award for sure.

Robert Lewandowski:

If someone counts the stats since 2020, the Polish super star might edge past Messi and Ronaldo to rank number one in the scorers’ list. The Bayern Munich number nine has been in red hot form since the last couple of seasons and he has been outstandingly consistent. He has scored in 19 consecutive games for his club in between mid February and late September, 2021! This stat shows, how much insane his performances have been. Although, his performances for Poland may not seem that much frightening and one may blame his team mates as well, but still he can score a big number of goals even if he get to play just 3 or 4 matches.

Karim Benzema:

The Real Madrid forward is one of the most in-form footballers in the world right now. After Cristiano’ departure he has been the most crucial player for his club. Meanwhile, after a long time absence, he made his comeback to the France national team and showed brilliant performance in the UEFA Euro 2020 and UEFA Nations League. Considering the form he is in and the players he is surrounded by in the French team and also with the possibility of France’s lengthy run in the WC, Benzema is logically one of the top options to win the World Cup Golden Boot.

Harry Kane:

England national team skipper was the winner of the Golden Boot award in the 2018 WC. Although most of his goals came from the penalties, but scoring penalties is not easy at such pressured situations. Kane is one of the most lethal forwards of Premier League and has won a number of EPL Golden Shoes. The Three Lions talisman will be once again chasing the award and he do have a good chance of re-winning it.

Romelu Lukaku:

The Belgian Number Nine’s record for his country is eye-soothing. His first half strike against France in the UNL semifinal, was his 68th netting for the Belgian Red Devils form just 101 caps. The way he is moving, one day he may even break Cristiano’s all time highest international goal record. Lukaku has got a superb midfield behind him and he won’t have any shortage of chances for sure. Thus he is one of the biggest candidates to win this award.

Neymar:

One of the unluckiest footballers with enormous potentiality but a bit injury proneness. His 2014 WC ended with a fatal injury and then in the 2018, Brazil was knocked out by Belgium and neither Neymar nor Brazil could achieve anything. The Brazilian superstar will be hoping for more positive outcomes this time. And if he stays fit throughout the competition, the PSG forward as a healthy chance of becoming the top scorer of the Qatar WC.

Kylian Mbappe:

Mbappe is the 2nd French man and the 3rd PSG star in this list. The former Monaco wonder kid has stormed into the soccer world and has been dominating it from the very beginning. At such a little age, he has got a World Cup title along with a UNL trophy beside his name. And he was one of the major contributor’s behind France’s world cup glory in Russia. This time he will be more experienced but his sprint velocity won’t be decreasing for sure. France has a good chance of going far in this world cup and Mbappe has huge possibility of winning the boot.

Erling Haaland:

We would have placed him in higher position but the fact which may affect his probability of winning, will be: featuring for a comparatively weaker side. If other Norwegian footballers can light themselves up and then Haaland will have more chance of scoring. And don’t forget this guys has record of scoring 9 goals in a single WC match (FIFA Under-20 World Cup). Thus even if he gets 3 or 4 matches to play, that might prove to be enough for this goal machine to settle himself at the very top of the chart.

Mohamed Salah:

The Egyptian King is perhaps the only representative in this list from the African continent. He is the most influential player from his continent after Drogba and Eto. Salah has been completely irresistible for Liverpool in the recent seasons. He has turned into a super goal machine and has been the most favorite pick for the Fantasy managers. Although Egypt doesn’t have that much chance to make progress in the biggest stage of the world soccer, we still consider Salah as one of the top options just because of his personal brilliance and serious run of form.

Special Mentions:

Ciro Immobile, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann, Lautaro Martinez, Raheem Sterling, Serge Gnabry, Kai Havertz, Memphis Depay, Eden Hazard, Lorenzo Insigne, Patrik Schick.