Race for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot
To finish a World Cup as the tournament’s top scorer is an achievement in football eclipsed by few others.
The likes of Gerd Müller, Paolo Rossi and Ronaldo will forever have their names in the record books after achieving the feat which every international striker dreams about.
Now at the quarter-final stage of the 2010 World Cup finals, who will be the player to cement his name alongside a host of former greats on the coveted list at this year’s tournament?
The most likely duo are Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain and Spain’s David Villa. Both have four goals to their names, and have each displayed their killer instinct in front of goal. Slovakia’s Robert Vittek had a fantastic World Cup, having also scored four goals, but his side were eliminated by the Netherlands in the second round, meaning that his chances of ending the tournament as joint Golden Boot winner are now slim.
On three goals going into the last eight, you have Brazil’s Luis Fabiano, who has rediscovered his scoring boots in South Africa. And with the Brazilians going strongly this summer, he’ll surely be a decent bet going into his side’s quarter-final against the Dutch.
Germany’s Thomas Müller grabbed a brace against England in the last 16 and that took his tally to three goals. The 20-year-old midfielder has impressed in South Africa, but given his tender age and the fact he plays in midfield, he’s likely to remain an outside bet for the Golden Boot.
Perhaps a more likely proposition is Uruguay’s Luis Suárez. His side face Ghana on Friday evening and Suárez has been a key part of their run to the quarter-finals – scoring both goals against South Korea in the last round. The 23-year-old has alerted the interest of Europe’s biggest clubs after a phenomenal season, and if he can add to his three goals in Uruguay’s next match then interest levels will continue to grow.
His strike-partner, Diego Forlán, is also deadly in front of goal. Having scored two goals this summer, the former Manchester United striker can’t be ruled out of the reckoning - and the Ghanaians will be wary of his ability.
Ghana have a free-scoring striker of their own, though, who also promises to play a key role in this match. Asamoah Gyan has been the Black Stars’ standout player over the course of the World Cup and has also hit the back of the net three times so far.
These are the most likely candidates to end the tournament with the prestigious Golden Boot. However, with three matches still left to play for the finalists, several other players will fancy their chances of making a late surge for the top-scorer award.
Argentina’s Carlos Tévez scored a brace against Mexico in the last 16. The striker is lethal in and around the penalty area and could easily grab himself another several goals before the tournament’s over.
As could his teammate, the great Lionel Messi. However, the world-class 23-year-old has yet to find the net this summer despite having over 20 shots, and will need to score a brace in every match between now and the final to stand a chance. He’s certainly capable.
Germany duo Lukas Podolski and former Golden Boot winner Miroslav Klose have two goals each and certainly know how to find the back of the net at international level. After their performances against England, neither would be a particularly bad shout.
If Klose is to become the 2010 World Cup’s top scorer, he will become the first player in World Cup history to win back-to-back Golden Boots. Also, with three more goals he will equal Ronaldo’s record as the tournament’s all-time top scorer – an incentive if ever he needed one.
Villa is likely to be the firm favourite, presuming Spain can fulfil their potential and reach the final of the competition. But with stiff competition from Higuain of Argentina and Fabiano of Brazil, this year’s race for the Golden Boot promises to be one of the most competitive in years.
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