One of the major debates coming into any major international tournament is always; who will score the most goals?
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is no different and there are plenty of extremely talented contenders to grab the Golden Boot.
Here are the players we think could make a genuine claim to be the top scorer at the 2022 World Cup this winter – ranked.
At 34 years old, this is almost certainly the last time we’ll see Robert Lewandowski at a major tournament. Poland aren’t destined to go far and they face both Mexico and Argentina in Group C.
With 14 goals already for Barcelona this season though, Lewandowski can never be totally ruled out of the picture.
Much like Lewandowski, Sadio Mane’s Senegal are not expected to reach the latter stages but he is in great form for Bayern Munich.
Mane is the Senegalese talisman and given they have Ecuador and Qatar in their group, he has a chance to rack up a decent tally and get into the round of 16 at least.
In another world, Romelu Lukaku would be higher on this list but he has missed a big chunk of the season at Inter through injury.
He will return for the World Cup but is not in form. That being said, he often finds a new level with Belgium and he will be making up for lost time.
Cristiano Ronaldo makes this list due to the inability to fully rule him out. He has played little for Manchester United and is out of form for Portugal.
That being said, he’s shocked everyone before, he could have penalties on his side, and Portugal are a candidate to reach the latter stages. Discount Ronaldo from the running at your own risk.
Lautaro Martinez is an incredibly streaky player. Having gone eight games without an Inter goal, he’s now scored two in two and will likely hit the World Cup in one of his good moments where he is irrepressible.
Lionel Scaloni likes him and even when he hasn’t been scoring for the Nerazzurri, he has been scoring for Argentina.
Karim Benzema is the name on everyone’s lips right now having recently been crowned the Ballon d’Or winner for his incredible form with Real Madrid.
He has been absent from the France squad for much of his career but he is back in the picture now and is at six goals in all competitions for Real Madrid this season so far.
He may not quite be able to replicate his Los Blancos form under Didier Deschamps but he is a smart outside bet to take the tournament by storm.
Playing for Brazil in Qatar could be a breath of fresh air for Neymar away from all the internal politics at Paris Saint-Germain.
He is in very impressive form for the Ligue 1 side having netted 12 times in all competitions already.
He will be the talisman for Brazil and there is a feeling that he owes the Selecao a really impressive World Cup. Brazil are ranked among the favourites and Neymar is a large part of that.
Harry Kane is the sort of striker that can never be ruled out of a Golden Boot race. Fan excitement around England’s prospects may have dipped, but when you possess Kane’s talent (and are on pens), you’re in with a shout.
He has 10 club goals this season and the tournament has fallen during his theoretical prime years given he is 29.
Kane and the rest of the England team have got a point to prove after Euro 2020 and he will be eyeing up that second successive World Cup Golden Boot.
Kylian Mbappe is the centre of attention for many of the wrong reasons right now but he will be looking to lead France to glory in Qatar just as he did in Russia four years ago.
Amid the Paris Saint-Germain circus, Mbappe has scored 12 times this season. He is arguably the most frightening player for defenders to face in the world and that is why he has to be high up this list.
France may have stuttered towards this World Cup but they will be a force, and Mbappe will likely be their talisman.
There is a lot to suggest that this will be Lionel Messi’s crowning moment for Argentina. He is yet to make a serious splash at a World Cup with the Seleccion but both he and Argentina are in form.
It wasn’t an easy start to life at PSG for Messi but this season, he looks the business. He has eight goals and eight assists and he looks in great shape ahead of the World Cup.
In Argentina’s final three friendlies ahead of the tournament, Messi scored nine goals. He is after that Golden Boot.
Credit: 90min.com
