The Golden Boot goes to the player who scores the most goals at the World Cup. The tournament is slated to go off in about a month’s time in Russia, and here are five players to bet on to win the award.
Lionel Messi, Argentina
Golden Boot Odds: 10.00
Why not? Messi carried Argentina to the final in 2014 in Brazil, where they lost to Germany. He is playing as well as he ever has been at Barcelona, and he scored eight goals in qualification. Messi has five World Cup goals to his name, including three from the last World Cup. If he can get some help from his teammates, Messi should find the net plenty and that would be great for Argentina’s World Cup chances.
Neymar, Brazil
Golden Boot Odds: 11.00
Neymar missed the last part of the season with Paris Saint-Germain due to a broken foot, but he looks to be ready to come back for Brazil’s final friendlies. He scored four goals at the World Cup in 2014, but he was injured prior too Brazil’s 7-1 loss to Germany, so he has plenty of motivation. Much like Messi and Argentina, as Neymar goes, as goes Brazil. But also like Messi, Neymar needs some help from the players around him if Brazil is going to win a sixth World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal
Golden Boot Odds: 15.00
Ronaldo scored 15 goals in qualification for Portugal, and after struggling (by his standards) through the first part of the season, he has stepped up for Real Madrid. However, Ronaldo has just three World Cup goals to his name and Portugal will need more from their captain to challenge the top teams. This could be Ronaldo’s last World Cup, and he’ll want to go out with a bang.
Romelu Lukaku, Belgium
Golden Boot Odds: 21.00
Lukaku had a great first season at Manchester United, and he scored 11 goals in World Cup qualification for Belgium. This is as good a team as Belgium has ever had, and Lukaku will be teamed up with Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, two of the top playmakers in the world. If Belgium are going to shed their “underachiever” tag, they’re going to need goals from Lukaku and at this price, he could be worth a shot.
Thomas Muller, Germany
Golden Boot Odds: 34.00
It is tempting to go for Timo Werner, the young upstart who scored three times for Germany in qualification. However, take a flier on Muller, who has scored ten goals in the World Cup and has much more experience than the 22-year-old Werner. Muller is coming off a decent (again, by his standards) season with Bayern Munich, and he would love to erase the memories of his play at the 2016 European Championships. There, Muller failed to score a goal, which is unlike him at a major tournament. After winning the Golden Boot in 2010 and finishing second to Colombia’s James Rodriguez with five goals in 2014, look for Muller to have a bounce-back tournament in Russia.
Looking for the odds to win the 2018 World Cup? Check out Play Shangrila to get the odds for matches, props and betting lines to win it all!