Every player is dreaming of Euro 2024 glory in Germany but for a handful of forwards, some personal glory is up for grabs too.
The Golden Boot at a major international tournament is one any goalscorer would be proud of and there looks to be a hotly-contested battle for this year’s award.
With some usual suspects and some outsiders staking a claim, we run through the main contenders.
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Kylian Mbappe (France)
Probably the most talked-about footballer in the world who has just joined the biggest team in club football in Real Madrid.
Great things are expected for Mbappe’s first season at the Bernabeu but he will be firmly focused on making an impact for France this summer first.
Les Bleus’ skipper has 12 international tournament goals to his name though, interestingly, none of those have been at the European Championship after failing to net in four Euro 2020 appearances.
Even so, you would still expect him to end that drought pretty quickly in Germany and with France one of the favourites to go the distance, Mbappe will have plenty of chances to find the net.
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— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) June 6, 2024
Harry Kane (England)
Another captain of a country with a huge of chance of winning, Harry Kane is once again key to England’s hopes of success.
The Three Lions striker has just ended a stunning first season at Bayern Munich in which he scored an extraordinary 44 goals in 45 games.
Sadly for him, though, it was another trophyless season for the former Tottenham ace and he will be desperate to secure the first silverware of his career with England this summer.
Individual accolades are no such issue for the 30-year-old and is undoubtedly Mbappe’s best challenger for the gong.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Though 39 and no longer playing at the top level, it would be foolish to count Cristiano Ronaldo out of the running.
The Portugal captain is the all-time top scorer at the European Championship with 16 goals and collected the Golden Boot three years at Euro 2020 with five goals in four games.
Ronaldo is still fighting fit after a full season for Al-Nassr, though an increased battle for a place in the Selecao’s forward line may hinder his hopes.
Both Goncalo Ramos and Diogo Jota are capable goalscorers and may well be favoured by Roberto Martinez.
Kai Havertz (Germany)
Germany will be desperate to perform in front of a home crowd and Kai Havertz could replicate his impressive maiden campaign for Arsenal this summer.
Though not a traditional No9, Havertz regularly played up front for Mikel Arteta’s men in 2023-24, with his efforts garnering a respectable 14 goals – including nine in his final 14 Premier League games.
He has 15 goals in 45 games for his country, including four in six games at major tournaments.
Die Mannschaft look to be finding their way under Julian Nagelsmann and in Havertz, they have a goalscorer who arrives in as good form as any.
Other challengers
Elsewhere, both Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku will need to have their shooting boots on if Spain or Belgium are to enjoy success.
Champions League finalist Niclas Fullkrug is a handy German alternative to Havertz, as is France’s leading scorer Olivier Giroud.
The same can be said for England duo Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden after superb goalscoring campaigns for their clubs.
Other outsiders include Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund, Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca and the aforementioned Portugal duo Ramos and Jota.
Prediction
Golden Boot predictions are a thankless task – but your money is probably safest going on either Mbappe or Kane.
The duo are regularly among the goals at major tournaments, while their teams have been regularly involved in the latter stages of recent tournaments.
Of the two, England’s more rounded set of goalscorers means we’ll go with Mbappe to take the gong.
