Who is in the running to win the World Cup Golden Boot?

Winning the World Cup Golden Boot can help cement a player’s legacy or act as a springboard to the top once the tournament ends. Previous winners of the award include Harry Kane, who needs no introduction, and Miroslav Klose - the German record holder for goals scored throughout World Cup history. Meanwhile, James Rodriguez used the award to earn himself a move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2014. 

Qatar offers the same chance for several players to make the 2022 World Cup a tournament to remember.

Can Harry Kane make it back-to-back World Cup Golden Boots?

"Scoreboard at the Luzhniki Stadium after" (CC BY 2.0) by Ben Sutherland

Even though Harry Kane failed to score a single goal in the Group Stages, the England captain still has every chance to make it back-to-back award wins. With that in mind, you can use your £30 in free bets to back the Tottenham Hotspur striker, or any other players in the tournament, in the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot race. 

During the 2018 tournament held in Russia, Kane scored six goals to win the World Cup Golden Boot. Kane beat the likes of Denis Cheryshev and Cristiano Ronaldo to the award, who could only manage four goals respectively.

Olivier Giroud could add to his legacy by winning World Cup Golden Boot

At 36 years old, Olivier Giroud has been around for a long time and scored his third goal of the tournament against Poland in the round of 16, becoming France's record goalscorer.

While he's in the autumn of his career, with this likely to be his last World Cup, Giroud is going out with a bang and if he keeps up this form, there's no reason why he couldn't claim the Golden Boot, let alone a second World Cup.

Marcus Rashford to earn the ultimate redemption?

It’s fair to say that Marcus Rashford has had a difficult last 18 months, with his penalty miss in the Euro 2020 final followed by a troublesome season alongside the rest of his Manchester United teammates.

Under Erik ten Hag this season, however, he has looked like a player who is enjoying his football once again; a player ready to make the impact he was quickly becoming admired for a few years ago. And the World Cup has only confirmed that so far, with an incredible free-kick against Wales providing the icing on the cake.

The fact is, it would be seen as the ultimate England redemption if Rashford won the World Cup Golden Boot.

Other candidates to win the World Cup Golden Boot

"Lionel Messi World Cup Golden Ball | 140" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by jikatu

This wouldn’t be a conversation about goals without mentioning Lionel Messi. The Argentine magician has so far enjoyed what is likely to be his last chance at winning the World Cup. And, having won almost everything there is to win in football - both as an individual and part of a team - winning the World Cup combined with the Golden Boot would confirm his place on football’s throne.

Meanwhile, we could also see the likes of Bruno Fernandes pull off a shock win.

Main photo by Rhett Lewis on Unsplash