As the European Championships begin on Friday, Germany will take on Scotland, igniting the fierce contest for the Golden Boot as well.
A summer of EURO 2024 action is upon us, laying the platform for enormous football predictions with major questions like Who will win? Who will crash out? Who will return home a hero and who will return a villain?
And then rises the Golden Boot debate. Who will hoist that beauty into the German sky in a month?
As some of the contenders are both familiar and known, there is also some young blood ready to shine in the biggest stage providing intense actions required over the next 30 days.
Here are the top 10 contenders for the Euro 2024 Golden Boot.
Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe comes fresh, after signing for Real Madrid with all summer vibes into the biggest stage ready to stay in the spotlight.
The former PSG star carries with him the Golden Boot from Qatar, becoming only the second person in history to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. On paper, it does not seem to much of a difficult mission for Mbappe as he aims for another diamond in his crown.
Les Bleus is tipped as one of the favourites for the tournament. Mbappe supply lines are perfectly organized to dismantle opposition defenses out there.
Harry Kane
England’s all-time top scorer also has a Golden Boot from the 2018 World Cup and will rightfully aim to seize the prize here as well. Kane will once again lead England’s attack in arguably the strongest at the tournament, considering the individual quality they possess under manager Gareth Southgate.
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Kane has shattered multiple records with Bayern Munich, this season having scored 36 goals in 32 Bundesliga appearances and having a tally of 44 across all competitions. Which means Kane will be at his ultimate comfort zone in Germany.
Cristiano Ronaldo
There is no discussion without the greatest goalscorer in history and the reigning European Golden Boot winner Cristiano Ronaldo. Even though he is spending most of his time scoring less prestigious goals in Saudi Arabia, that doesn’t remove the threat he poses in front of goal.
Boasting a staggering 130 international goals, Ronaldo was often selected over Gancalo Ramos for Portugal’s qualifying campaign. This is likely his last Euros, meaning Ronaldo has a Last Dance ahead of him in Germany.
Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian man turned into an emotional figure after the Qatar World Cup, after forgetful spells in club football but his determination is always getting chance after chance. After a group stage exit, Lukaku voiced his despair that he “let his country down”.
The next four weeks will be shot at redemption. The Belgian striker scored 15 times in nine international matches in 202. While his overall record reads a ludicrous 85 in 115 caps. The pressure is also mounted on Kevin De Bruyne to be the creative force behind Lukaku, with Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard and Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku providing from the wings.
Dusan Vlahovic
A good dark horse under the name of Vlahovic is a who is considered a ‘LETHAL goalscorer’ after a rampaging season in Serie A from the 24-year-old.
Vlahovic recorded an impressive 16 goals across 33 league appearances and now his national team expects a similar phenomenon, with 13 goals in 27 appearances, just under a goal in every two games, it sure seems like he is ready for national duty.
However, Serbia will have to be sharp and clinical if they are to reach the knockout phase and Vlahovic role will be hugely important in that.
Jude Bellingham
Obviously, Bellingham has to be on the list. Have you heard of this man lately? He’s a Golden Boy in the making. Since moving to European giants Real Madrid in the summer, the 20-year-old has developed an attacking flair under Carlo Ancelotti, resulting in 19 goals in 28 La Liga appearances. So, let’s wait and watch!
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Kai Havertz
A picture of Kai Havertz holding the MOTM award as Germany packed up for for their departure from Qatar, speaks a lot about the Germans as they have plenty to prove to the wider footballing world.
Despite, the Germans not being favorites, Havertz plays a crucial role in changing that narrative on its head. The 25-year-old had a high-flying season with Arsenal, having scored nine goals in 14 league appearances and has a history of scoring in big games. With all this said, What’s bigger than the Euros on home soil?
Rasmus Højlund
The Danish youngster scored 16 goals across all competitions, including five in a disastrous Champions League campaign. For country, Højlund was equally pivotal netting seven goals in eight games to qualify as group leaders.
Despite a decent performance, the Manchester United forward didn’t get any recognition in an injury-hit first season, which is why we’re including him in this list.
Dominik Szoboszlai
Yes, you heard us clearly, we are talking about Liverpool’s midfielder who managed just three Premier League goals this season. Hungary’s Szoboszlai is a much different player than the Reds. With the Magyars, Szoboszlai is the central force of an attack, recording six goals in his last 12 matches at the heart of a high-scoring Hungarian side. His key attributes include set pieces and shots from the deep, a sight often rewarded on the big stages.
Hungary’s goalscoring spree could be questionable, but in a group featuring Scotland, Germany, and Switzerland, Szoboszlai has no other choice but to step up.
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