After the winners’ trophy itself, the Golden Boot is one of the most coveted awards during any major international tournament and a feather in the cap for any striker in the game.
Euro 2020 will see some of the best strikers in world football battle it out to win the Golden Boot, currently held by Antoine Griezmann for his six goals during Euro 2016.
The list of European Championship Golden Boot winners features stars such as Fernando Torres, David Villa, Marco Van Basten and Michel Platini.
The leading candidates for this summer’s award would all be worthy winners capping off wonderful seasons, but who should you put your money on? Let’s take a look at the top candidates according to the Euros 2021 odds.
Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku lead the way, with both at 11/2 in the odds market. Kane, the 2018 World Cup Golden Boot winner, would become the second player after Gerd Müller to top both the World Cup and European Championship goalscoring charts and the second Englishman to win the European Championship award after Alan Shearer in 1996. The Spurs striker also led the way in qualifying, with 12 goals for Gareth Southgate’s men.
Inter Milan talisman Lukaku is Belgium’s leading man. The former Chelsea, Everton and Manchester United striker has a staggering 60 goals in 93 caps for the Red Devils and netted seven times in qualifying. Belgium have a favourable group including Denmark, Finland and Russia. If Lukaku nets a hatful in one of the group games, he could be well on the way to the award before the knockouts begin.
There are three Frenchmen in the eight most-tipped players for the Golden Boot. Griezmann is 18/1 to become the first player to retain his title, slightly behind Karim Benzema at 14/1.
The prolific PSG forward Kylian Mbappé is 8/1 for World Cup holders France and a tough group including Germany and Portugal is keeping his odds reasonable. Mbappé scored four goals during the 2018 World Cup, including one in the final, and he will certainly play a pivotal role if France are to get to the latter stages of Euro 2020. Mbappé is coming into the tournament off of a 37-goal season for the French outfit.
France’s Euro 2020 qualifying goals tally was led by Olivier Giroud. The reliable Chelsea man scored six goals for France in qualifying and came off the bench to score twice against Bulgaria in Les Bleus’ final warm-up game. With all of the stars surrounding him, Giroud’s odds to win the Golden Boot have been pushed out to 33/1, the same as Raheem Sterling, Diogo Jota, Ferran Torres and German pair Kai Havertz and Thomas Muller.
Cristiano Ronaldo has unfinished business at the European Championships. Despite Portugal’s victory at Euro 2016, their star man was forced off on a stretcher before the half-hour mark and was involved in their infamous loss to Greece in Euro 2004. Six goals away from three figures in international football and most likely his last European Championships, CR7 may be about to sign off in style at 12/1.
Robert Lewandowski, fresh from his record-breaking Bundesliga season, may be worth a punt at 25/1. Poland have a nice group including Spain, Sweden and Slovakia. As they look to their all-time leading scorer for goals, he could also lead the scoring charts this summer.
