THE World Cup is well into the knockout stages and the race for the Golden Boot is taking shape.
Brazil, France, Argentina, Spain, England and others are vying to win the sport’s biggest prize in Qatar.
Harry Kane won the World Cup 2018 Golden Boot[/caption]
Kylian Mbappe is the front-runner for top scorer at the 2022 World Cup[/caption]
However, stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will want a certain individual award.
The World Cup Golden Boot is one of the tournament’s most coveted prizes, with some of football’s legends having won it in the past.
Brazilian Ronaldo, Gary Lineker, Gerd Muller and Eusebio have all picked up the award before.
England’s Kane won it in 2018, and he’ll be hoping to do it all over again in Qatar.
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France’s Karim Benzema, who won the Ballon d’Or earlier this year, WON’T be involved, however, as he has been ruled out of the tournament through injury.
But Brazil superstars Neymar and Vinicius Jr will be eager to bring the award back to the South American country.
In 2006 and 2010, Germany stars Miroslav Klose and Thomas Muller bagged the Golden Boot.
Colombia superstar James Rodriguez won it in 2014 but he won’t be involved in this tournament as his country failed to qualify.
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World Cup Golden Boot standings
- Kylian Mbappe – France – 5
- Marcus Rashford – England – 3
- Enner Valencia – Ecuador – 3
- Cody Gakpo – Netherlands – 3
- Alvaro Morata – Spain – 3
- Lionel Messi – Argentina – 3
- Bukayo Saka – England – 3
- Olivier Giroud – France – 3
- Vincent Aboubakar – Cameroon – 2
- Niclas Fullkrug – Germany – 2
- Robert Lewandowski – Poland – 2
- Mehdi Taremi – Iran – 2
- Salem Al Dawsari – Saudi Arabia – 2
- Julian Alvarez – Argentina – 2
- Andrej Kramaric – Croatia – 2
- Cho Gue-sung – South Korea – 2
- Breel Embolo – Switzerland – 2
- Kai Havertz – Germany – 2
- Ritsu Doan – Japan – 2
- Aleksandar Mitrovic – Serbia – 2
- Ferran Torres – Spain – 2
- Richarlison – Brazil – 2
- Mohammed Kudus – Ghana – 2
- Bruno Fernandes – Portugal – 2
- Giorgian De Arrascaeta – Uruguay – 2