World Cup Tips: Best Golden Boot Betting Odds & Predictions On Top Scorer
World Cup Golden Boot Tips:
Four prolific forwards will engage in a four-way battle to win the World Cup Golden Boot when Argentina take on France in the final in the earlier hours of Monday morning.
Most betting sites make Lionel Messi the odds-on favourite after he scored from the penalty spot in La Albiceleste’s 3-0 victory over Croatia in the semi-finals.
That moved the Argentina captain level with PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe on five goals apiece for the tournament.
They are now one clear of Olivier Giroud and Julian Alvarez, who have each scored four goals while playing alongside their more vaunted compatriots.
Alvarez is a 25/1 outsider with William Hill, but he is the one surging with momentum, having banged in four goals in his last four games.
It promises to offer an intriguing sideshow to the main event on Monday, and we have assessed each man’s chances of seizing individual glory on the greatest stage of all.
Lionel Messi
In our pre-tournament tips, we had Lionel Messi as our second choice to win the Golden Boot, when he was priced at 14/1.
Mbappe was our top choice at 10/1, and the PSG teammates are now level at the top of the goalscoring charts as they head into the final.
However, Messi has emerged as the favourite to win this award after finding the back of the net in his last two games for Argentina.
He is now odds-on with many betting sites, but you can still find a market leading 11/10 at BetVictor.
Messi scored twice in the group stage - a penalty during a shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia, and a long-range strike against Mexico - but he has really stepped it up a gear during the knockout stage.
He was on target in the 2-1 win against Australia in the Round of 16, and he slotted in another penalty during a tempestuous quarter-final showdown with the Netherlands.
The great man saved his best performance for the semi-finals, as he ran riot in a 3-0 win against Croatia.
His goal came from the penalty spot - leaving him with three successful spot-kicks out of four attempts from 12 yards at this tournament - but he dazzled with his all-round play, and his assist for the third goal was a thing of beauty.
He is now coming up against a France team that have only kept one clean sheet in five games at this tournament.
Messi could well add to his tally, as France conceded two penalties against England, and there really should have been more.
Prior to the semi-finals, we advised readers to back Messi at 3/1 instead of Mbappe at 1/2, but the tide has now turned, and it is the Frenchman that offers greater value on World Cup betting sites.
Kylian Mbappe
Our top tip for the World Cup Golden Boot is still in with a great chance of clinching the award ahead of Monday’s final.
A few days ago, he was the odds-on favourite, but Mbappe has now drifted out at 11/8 with betting apps after drawing a blank in his last two games
Yet it has been a very productive tournament thus far for a man expected to take on Messi’s mantle as the world’s best player over the next couple of years.
The PSG forward was on target in France’s 4-1 win against Australia, and he then scored twice to put Denmark to the sword in Les Bleus’ second match.
He was rested in the final group stage match against Tunisia, making only a brief cameo appearance off the bench.
However, Kylian Mbappe returned to the starting XI in the Round of 16, scoring twice in a 3-1 win against Poland.
Kyle Walker managed to keep the superstar forward quiet for the majority of France’s quarter-final clash with England, and he did not have a great deal of joy against fellow speedster Achraf Hakimi in the semi-finals.
However, Mbappe is a man for the big occasions, as he proved by firing in a long-range strike when France won the last World Cup final against Croatia.
A bet on him at 11/8 now looks appealing, as most bookmakers should pay half the odds if he finishes level with Messi in a dead heat, but it is worth checking the terms and conditions at your bookmaker to confirm.
Olivier Giroud
Giroud did not find the back of the net once when France won the 2018 World Cup, despite leading the line in all of their games.
The veteran striker has been a lot more prolific this time around, with four goals from five matches thus far.
He scored twice against Australia in the opener, and he was also on target against Poland and England in the knockout stages.
Giroud nearly added to his tally in France’s 2-0 victory against Morocco, but his fierce drive smashed into the woodwork in the first half.
Opposition defences are doubling up on Mbappe, which leaves his teammates with more space in which to weave their magic.
Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele have been supplying Giroud with some tantalizing balls into the box, and he has looked very sharp.
However, it will be difficult for him to overtake both Mbappe and Messi now, so this looks like one to avoid at 16/1 with the best football betting sites.
Julian Alvarez
The hardworking Man City forward has fired himself into contention for this award after hitting four goals in four games.
He did not start in Argentina’s first two games, with Inter’s Lautaro Martínez preferred alongside Messi in attack.
However, Alvarez was given a chance to lead the line against Poland and he grasped the opportunity with both hands.
He was on target in that match, and he scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 2-1 win against Australia in the Round of 16.
He did not score against the Netherlands, but Alvarez hit a brace against Croatia last time out to significantly close the gap on his rivals.
Another two-goal haul in the final could see the 22-year-old striker win the award, so a small stake at 25/1 may appeal.
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