The FIFA World Cup is often regarded as the most important and famous football tournament on the planet. The World Cup is a competition that occurs once every four years and lasts one month. It features the best 32 national teams competing. The FIFA Council decides which country will serve as the tournament’s host.
At each iteration of the FIFA World Cup, there is a competition for the World Cup highest goalscorer to determine who will receive the prestigious Golden Boot award. Golden Shoe was the name of the award until the 2006 World Cup when it was changed. The award was officially started in the 1982 World Cup. Those who finish in second and third place, respectively, will receive an award shoe made of silver and bronze, respectively.
Just Fontaine of France holds the record for most goals scored at a FIFA World Cup with 13. He accomplished this feat in the 1958 tournament held in Sweden. Even though no player has ever won the Golden Boot more than once, Brazilians have a record six times.
The trophy for the World Cup highest goalscorer is a one-of-a-kind shoe shape. It is composed of a brass alloy that has been gold-plated via electroplating and is nearly a kilogram in weight. Germany’s Thomas Muller enters the 2022 tournament in Qatar with the most World Cup goals (10 in 4 tournaments) of any current player (2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022). Miroslav Klose, another German, has an impressive World Cup highest goalscorer record among his peers: he has the most goals ever scored in the FIFA World Cup with 16. He scored in four tournaments (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014).
Former Brazilian hitman Ronaldo, regarded as the best striker to grace the game, finished second to Klose in goals scored at the World Cup, with 15. After establishing his account in 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal became the first player to score in five consecutive World Cups, with his latest strike coming in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In the opening game against Ghana, the striker scored his first tournament goal in Qatar.
The competition for the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup is already heating up, with some of the game’s deadliest goal-scorers competing on the grandest stage. During the last World Cup, Tottenham Hotspur hitman Harry Kane took home the Golden Boot for England, but this time around, who will be the most deserving?
Although no one has done it before, Harry Kane is still a heavy favourite to win the Golden Boot for a second consecutive tournament. However, he will have plenty of competition from the plentiful quality players in Qatar. So, among the following players listed below by Betting Tips Africa, which do you think is likely to be the World Cup highest goalscorer for 2022?
You can also bet on any of the players to win the prestigious award with Sportsbooks like 1xBet, Bet9ja, Sportpesa, Odibets and many more to earn more money.
Kylian Mbappe (France)
French sensational talent Kylian Mbappe is becoming France’s star player at the Qatar World Cup. In France’s World Cup opening, he scored a goal and sent out an assist, tormenting the Socceroos with his deadly turn of pace. He then took a close game against Denmark by the scruff of the neck. He first made a menacing run toward the goal and finished on the stretch to beat Schmeichel with his first shot after an excellent cutback from a teammate.
Then the PSG player scored the game-winning goal to send Les Bleus into the round of 16. Mbappe is undoubtedly an outstanding player and no stranger to big occasions, having played a key role in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph.
Will the World Cup highest goalscorer likely be Mbappe?
Enner Valencia (Ecuador)
Ecuador beat hosts Qatar 2-0 thanks to Enner Valencia, who scored twice in his World Cup debut despite his inexperience on the World’s biggest stage. Had the goal not been disallowed by VAR, he would have scored a hattrick. Against the Netherlands, he kept his hot scoring streak going with a tap-in right after halftime that tied the game.
Will Valencia become the 2022 World Cup highest goalscorer in Qatar?
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Although Argentina wizard Lionel Messi scored the Albiceleste’s first goal of the 2022 World Cup with a penalty kick that he converted with ease, the team still lost a shocking opening-round match against Saudi Arabia.
Messi then scored a stunning goal outside the penalty area to rescue Argentina’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages against a tenacious Mexico team in a winner-take-all match.
Bukayo Saka (England)
The Arsenal Starboy Bukayo Saka scored twice in his World Cup debut against Iran. The opening game of England was won by a score of 6-2 thanks in large part to the efforts of their winger, who scored twice (one in each half).
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
As the record holder for having scored in five World Cup tournaments, the talisman of Portugal deserves to be on this list. Ronaldo opened his account with a penalty against Ghana and is a favourite to be the World Cup highest goalscorer in Qatar.
Olivier Giroud (France)
Giroud scored twice to lead France to a victory over Australia in their opening match. Now tied with Thierry Henry for the most goals scored by a French national player, he has a good chance of passing the former Arsenal forward very soon despite firing blanks against Denmark.
Can Giroud emerge as the World Cup highest goalscorer whilst surpassing Henry’s record?
Richarlison (Brazil)
Richarlison started as Brazil’s number 9 in their 4-2-3-1 formation. After Vinicius Junior’s shot, he capitalised on a rebound off the Serbian goalkeeper to put the Brazilians up by a single goal. His second goal put Brazil up for good. It was an unbelievable strike in which he controlled Vinicius Junior’s ball into the area in midair and hit a tremendous overhead kick.
