3 Players Who Can Beat Cristiano Ronaldo to the Golden Boot

Cristiano Ronaldo put the rest of the world on red alert with his hat trick in Portugal's Group B opening match against Spain. With the first round of group fixtures completed (plus one more match in Group A), Ronaldo leads the race for the Golden Boot with 3 goals. Tied with him is Denis Cheryshev but Russia have already played two games. Behind the two, there are three players on 2 goals each - Harry Kane, Diego Costa and Romelu Lukaku. The race to be the top scorer at the World Cup is hotting up.

Ronaldo remaining two group games are against relatively easier opposition in Morocco and Iran. And Portugal should be able to easily navigate their way to the quarter finals at least. So a minimum of four more matches for Ronaldo to increase his tally. In the last ten World Cups, the Golden Boot winner has only once scored more than 6 goals - Cristiano's namesake Ronaldo Nazario in 2002 with eight goals. On current form CR7 should reach the tally of six at least which puts him in pole position to win the Golden Boot.

But this race has just begun and there is a long way to go. Here is a list of three player's who can challenge Ronaldo for the Golden Boot.

#3 Diego Costa

The Spanish Bull

Spaniards love their bull fighting or 'corrida de torros' as much as they love their football. And Diego Costa is a true bull leading the line for the Spanish Armada. Unfortunately for most defenders (read picadors) he is too hot to handle when on form. And in his first game against Portugal he was a rampaging bull who took apart the Portuguese defense.

Costa can be a gamble. He is temperamental, to say the least. He also has a knack of rubbing opposition players the wrong way - and sometimes even his own teammates. But he is a gamble worth taking because he guarantees you goals. He has done that all throughout his career at Athletico Madrid then Chelsea and now back at Atletico. Inside the box, there are few better strikers than him.

With matches against Iran and Morocco to come in the group stage and a likely last eight or last four finish, Costa has enough games to increase his goal count. Bet against him at your own risk.

#2 Neymar

Neymar was disappointing against Switzerland

In 2014 Neymar carried the hopes of the host nation Brazil on his shoulders. He scored five goals in as many games before succumbing to injury in the quarters against Colombia. Without Neymar, Brazil suffered their worst ever defeat to Germany in the semis - losing 7-1. On home soil that was as embarrassing as it could get. The Selecao came into Russia 2018 with a desire to banish the ghost of 2014. And once again all hopes rest firmly on Neymar.

Brazil started their World Cup campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Switzerland. Neymar was almost always man marked and had a marginal impact on the game. He is yet to get off the work in this campaign. But things can change rapidly. Brazil's next two games are against Costa Rica and Serbia. That should give Neymar a chance to move within striking distance of Ronaldo.

Despite their performance in the first game, Brazil should go further into the knockout stages than Brazil which should give Neymar more games and more chances. Add to that the fact that they like to play attacking football and would want to do so even more after a poor start.

This is Neymar's chance to prove on the big stage that he is better than Ronaldo and Messi. Expect him to take this opportunity with both hands or should we say both legs (and head).

#1 Romelu Lukaku

Lukaku scored a brace against Panama

Many experts predicted Belgium to be the dark horses for this World Cup. I believe that if they play to their potential they can be more than dark horses. With the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku in their ranks - they are serious title contenders. Their performance in the opening game against Panama only strengthens my belief.

Lukaku is their main target man and he proved his worth with two goals in that first game. For Belgium to succeed the team needs to play off him. Hazard and KDB will have to continue to feed him inside the box. And both the Belgian wizards are more than capable of doing this with their creative prowess, dribbling ability and passing finesse.

I suspect that Lukaku will continue to score goals for fun. Belgium's remaining two group games are against Tunisia and England. Against the former it should be a comfortable run out. England might offer sterner resistance but the Belgian attacking trio know the team inside out having played against them week in week out in the Premier League. On current form they should be able to get to the semis at least meaning three more games after the group stage.

This is the time for Belgium's golden generation to finally shine on the international stage like they have done with their domestic league teams. My money is on Romelu Lukaku to take home the Golden Boot. And if he does Belgium might just lift the trophy this time.