Features

Who will win the Golden Boot?

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 19/02/2010
Football betting

Miroslav Klose ended the last World Cup as the leading goalscorer and was the recipient of the coveted Golden Boot.

The Germany striker helped himself to five goals in World Cup 2006 to finish two ahead of a host of other stars names including David Villa, Fernando Torres, Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry.

The competition for the tournament's top-scorer is likely to be a closer run affair in South Africa with several more star names entering the equation.

But who will be holding aloft the Golden Boot come the Final in Johannesburg on July 11?

The obvious answer is one from the Spain duo of Villa and Torres, who were the stars of their Euro 2008 winning side.

Villa is the sportsbook favourite after ending the tournament in Austria and Switzerland with a leading haul of four goals compared to Torres' two.

Spain also benefit from being in a weak-looking group which contains Switzerland, Honduras and Chile, so the early stages of the competition could prove to be telling.

Will David Villa win the World Cup 2010 Golden Boot? - Latest Football Betting

England's hopes rest on the broad shoulders of Wayne Rooney and the Manchester United striker is certainly playing the type of football which could see him top the standings in South Africa.

Rooney scored nine goals in ten games during England's impressive qualifying programme and could follow in the footsteps of compatriot Gary Lineker, who won the 1986 award.

Brazilians are torn as to whether Luis Fabiano and Alexandre Pato will end the tournament as their leading marksman. Sevilla striker Fabiano netted six goals during qualifying compared to the AC Milan starlet's three.

FIFA's world player of the year Lionel Messi cannot be ignored as he is the attacking fulcrum around which the Argentina team is based.

However, although he is prolific for club side Barcelona - he scores a goal every other game in La Liga - his greatest attribute appears to be laying on goals for team-mates.

Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez would therefore appear to be better bets as they are likely to be the main beneficiaries of Messi's magical wing play.

Elsewhere, a trio of established names are expected to feature heavily on the scoresheets in South Africa.

Klose, with his 48 goals in 93 international appearances for Germany, Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and France stalwart Henry will all be heavily fancied.

Then there's Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been on fire since his world record £80million transfer to Real Madrid last summer.

Few players in Europe have been more prolific than the Portugal star during the past three seasons but Ronaldo does have the unhappy knack of not performing to his best on the world stage.

BET NOW