The world’s best goal-scorers will be on show at Russia 2018, but who will prove themselves to be the most lethal in front of goal?
Here’s a look at four contenders for the World Cup Golden Boot:
The superstar: Leo Messi
Barcelona’s Leo Messi is coming off yet another superb season for the Catalan giants, hitting 45 goal in 54 appearances. Free of injury, that form will almost certainly carry through to the World Cup.
It’s not the 30-year-old’s ability that is in doubt — he’s one of the greatest to ever play the game. The real question is if coach Jorge Sampaoli can get the best out of his talisman in a Argentina side that is overloaded with attacking talent but lacks any sort of cohesion.
La Albiceleste only just scraped through CONMEBOL qualifying, and last week’s 4-0 friendly win over Haiti does not patch over the huge problems in Sampaoli’s setup. Despite having the likes of Messi, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain to call on, Argentina’s 19 goals in qualifying was its fewest since their 1994 qualifying cycle.
Sampaoli will need to work out how to turn that around if Argentina stands any chance of avenging their loss in the 2014 World Cup final … and for Messi to get his hands on the Golden Boot!
The defending champ: James Rodriguez
James Rodriguez’s six strikes were enough for him to win the top goal-scorer award at Brazil 2014. Can he become the first player in history to win the Golden Boot for a second time?
The No. 10 has put some indifferent seasons at Real Madrid behind him with a fine campaign at Bayern Munich — and his form for Colombia during that time never wavered.
James led Colombia in goals (6), assists (4) and chances created (25) in World Cup qualifying — the sort of numbers that will have Group H opponents Senegal, Japan and Poland shaking in their boots.
The dark horse: Eden Hazard
Belgium can no longer be considered World Cup outsiders given the array of stars that will be on show for the Red Devils in Russia. Any team that can leave Radja Nainggolan at home has some amazing talent to call upon.
Belgium has a genuine chance at winning the World Cup and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard will be at the heart of everything they do. A relatively easy Group G — Belgium have been drawn alongside England, Panama and Tunisia — means there’s a good chance for the nation to score heavily early on.
In the latter stages of the tournament, Hazard’s history of scoring goals at crucial times should come to the fore, especially as he is Belgium’s penalty-taker.
Indeed, Hazard’s stiffest competition for the Golden Boot may come from within his own team — Romelu Lukaku became Belgium’s all-time leading scorer in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Egypt.
The roughie: Tom Rogic
Australia’s chances of winning the Golden Boot, let alone the World Cup, are slim. But if a Socceroo is going to win it, Celtic’s Tom Rogic is a worthy contender.
The 25-year-old seems to have finally but his injury woes behind him and is primed to have a bg tournament.
Only veterans Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak scored more goals for Australia in World Cup qualifying and, if they torch is to be passed to the next generation of Socceroos, Rogic is the heir apparent.