It is not just national pride on the line in the World Cup final – personal glory will also be determined as the race for the Golden Boot goes down to the 64th and final match at Qatar 2022.
The merits of Harry Kane’s success in winning the award in Russia four-and-a-half years ago has been debated ever since and, while the main trophy is rightly foremost in the main contender’s thoughts this weekend, this trinket will also nag at the back of their minds over the final 90-120 minutes of action.
Kane’s hopes of retaining his Boot ended with England’s quarter-final exit, after “just” two goals and three assists (still the equal highest ahead of the final weekend). That leaves four main contenders to succeed the Tottenham Hotspur striker.
Despite an increase to 32 countries since France 98, Golden Boot winners have in general scored less since the double-digit heyday of Just Fontaine (13 goals in 1958), Sandor Kocsis (11 in 1954) and Gerd Müller (10 in 1970).
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Every winner since 1974 has ended with five or six goals, bar Ronaldo in Japan and South Korea 20 years ago, when the Brazilian’s trophy-clinching double in the final took him to eight.
That 2002 triumph marks the last time the Golden Boot winner was won by someone from the overall winning country – perhaps personal glory latterly being sacrificed for the common goal – a run which will end at this tournament.
Should players finish level on goals, the winner will be the one with most assists, then least minutes played. Silver and Bronze Boots are also issued.
We profile the quartet of main contenders:
Lionel Messi (5 goals)
The Argentine’s seeming march to a career-crowning glory has been the romantic narrative in Qatar, the 35-year-old in seemingly his last World Cup, finally replicating countryman Diego Maradona to legitimately lay claim to being the best ever.
Messi opened the scoring in the group loss to Saudi Arabia and has struck in all but one of Argentina’s six games. That included the opener in the last 16 against Australia – his 1,000th career game. His three assists also put him ahead of his club colleague below, although he has played more minutes.
Kylian Mbappe (5 goals)
The sight of the Frenchman at full speed has again been one of the most thrilling sights at this World Cup. He followed his teenage kicks from Russia with five more strikes here, although doubles against Denmark and Poland preceded blanks against England and Morocco in the last eight and four. Just the two assists, although his presence and play was crucial to both goals in the semi-final win over Morocco.
Julian Alvarez (4 goals)
Erling Haaland’s headline-shredding show at Manchester City has overshadowed the Argentine’s seven-goal start to his own Etihad career. He took Lautaro Martinez’s place and his double vs Croatia in the semi showcased how he has led alongside Messi. No assists.
Olivier Giroud (4 goals)
Oft-derided Frenchman has enjoyed a fine season at AC Milan and is now his country’s top scorer. He did for England last weekend as well as notching against Poland. No assists.
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