'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The World Cup has been blessed with fantastic goalscorers over the years.
Gerd “The Bomber” Muller (West Germany) Paolo Rossi (Italy), Ronaldo (Brazil), Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina), Marco Van Basten (The Netherlands) are among the great scorers who have graced the World Cup at various stages and lit up the global spectacle with their amazing scoring exploits.
Russia 2018 promises to be one of the better ones as a host of sharpshooters will be leading the line for various nations.
Injury and fitness permitting, these ten players should be high on the list for the Golden Boot come Russia 2018.
#10 André Silva (Portugal)
One of the new generation of strikers on the list, Silva will be looking to fill a role that has been a problematic one for Portugal; a top goal-scoring striker.
Ever since the retirement of the last good goal scorer that A Selecção had; Pauleta in 2006, it has been a struggle that has been ameliorated by the out-of-this-world exploits of Cristiano Ronaldo.
In Silva, Portugal seems to have finally found a top goal-scoring striker who can propel the team to victory at crucial times.
With his instinctive finishing abilities, good hold up technique and aerial prowess, he will look to do great things at the World Cup and should be one of the stars of the European Champions (behind Cristiano Ronaldo of course).
He has scored 11 goals in 17 outings for Portugal, though a lot have come against mediocre opposition.
#9 Timo Werner (Germany)
The new Klose, Werner is the new kid on the block and will be confident of leading the line for a Mannschaft team that is geared to go all the way at the World Cup finale.
A sharpshooter who is dangerous in the box, Werner possesses a phenomenal work rate and has the hold-up play of a more seasoned pro. The unassuming Werner has had a phenomenal rise to the top since his transfer to RB Leipzig from VfB Stuttgart.
Werner will be confident of having a decent shout for the Golden Shoe given the quality of the German midfield and the confidence that playing in the UEFA Champions League and his second full season at senior level with Die Roten Bullen will give the youngster.
His record of 6 goals in 8 senior appearances is phenomenal and he looks set to increase that tally when the World Cup comes around.
#8 Gabriel Jesus (Brazil)
The youngest on the list, the rise of the former Palmeiras starlet has been as rapid as it has been sensational.
For a while now, the Verde-Amarela (The Green and Yellow) as the Brazilian national team are known has been crying out for a world class number 9 in the mould of the greats; Ronaldo, Romario, Ademir, Tostao and so many more, in Gabriel Jesus, they may just have found the latest one.
Fleet of foot, smile, and thinking, Jesus’ combination with golden boy Neymar has been one of the success stories of the world cup qualifiers and is expected to continue at the World Cup.
His 7 goals in 11 appearances for the national team (all in World Cup qualifying) tells its own story about the boy’s talent.
#7 Olivier Giroud (France)
Perhaps the most understated one on the list, Giroud is seen as a favourite of Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps and will be favoured to start matches for France at the World Cup.
Offering a fantastic aerial presence, good hold-up play and possessing an unselfish attitude, Giroud is great for the France team as his presence allows the other stars; Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe among others express themselves fully.
With the French team heavily favoured for the title, Giroud will benefit from the quality of his teammates who will provide a significant number of chances for the Arsenal forward to profit from.
A very good record of 28 goals in 68 matches for France shows him as a prolific striker who should be among the goals in the World Cup.
#6 Álvaro Morata (Spain)
The replacement that Spain has been seeking since the premature decline of Fernando Torres, Alvaro Morata had been earmarked for the leading striker’s role for Spain for a long time but is only now expected to be the star man in La Furia Roja’s quest for a second World Cup title.
Now a leading man in his own right at a major European club (Chelsea), Morata has all it takes to be a leading candidate for the title of Golden Boot winner with his skillset; pace, power, precision and a very good footballing brain.
With the quality of midfielders/wingers possessed by the Spanish team, expect a very motivated Morata (with Diego Costa snapping at his heels in the battle for the No. 9 shirt) to be in amongst the top goal scorers in the tournament.
With 12 goals in 22 appearances for La Furia, Morata looks to be the real deal and is expected to lead the line for Spain for years to come.
#5 Radamel Falcao (Colombia)
El Tigre (The Tiger) is enjoying a renaissance after a few horrible years and looks set to lead the line in what might be his last tournament as Colombia’s number 9.
Falcao will be looking to do great things in Russia after missing out on the Mundial in Brazil 2014 due to a season-ending injury.
With his incredible finishing prowess and clinical finishing, Falcao should be among the top goal-getters in Russia as his 28 goals in 70 appearances for Los Cafeteros (The Coffee Growers) has proven.
#4 Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
The force of nature that is Manchester United’s number 9 will be among the favourites for the Golden Shoe thanks in part to his goalscoring exploits.
With his strength, pace, eye for goal and all-around play, Romelu will be expected to lead the line for Die Roten Teufel (The Red Devils) as the Belgian national team is called.
A definite starter whenever fit, he will have the best supporting cast of all the strikers on this list and is expected to be a strong contender for the Golden Boot.
With 25 goals from 61 caps for Belgium, expect him to add a few more goals when the World Cup comes around.
#3 Edinson Cavani (Uruguay)
El Matador (The Bullfighter) will alongside his partner-in-crime Luis Suarez lead the line for Uruguay in the World Cup and will be looking to firmly establish his world-class credentials.
Blessed with everything that a modern striker needs to be successful, Cavani will hope to be among the top scorers in the tournament.
With his all-action style of play coupled with an amazing ability to find space at the right time, Cavani will be one of the most feared strikers in the tourney.
With 38 goals in 98 appearances including being the joint highest goalscorer in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying history (21 goals), Cavani is up there with the very best and will prove a handful.
#2 Harry Kane (England)
Harri-cane, as he is affectionately called, will carry the hopes of England fans on his broad shoulder and based on what he has done so far, he is more than capable of delivering.
The Tottenham Hotspur star striker will be hopeful of going into the tournament as England’s captain but even if he is not given the nod, expect Kane to be the first name on the team sheet.
With his unerring eye for goal and top class striking instincts, Kane will be looking to break into the world-class bracket with a great performance at the Mundial.
With 12 goals in 23 England appearances, Kane’s stats are right up there with the best in the business.
#1 Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
The king of Polish football and undoubtedly one of the top 3 strikers in the world, Robert Lewandowski will be looking to put his seal on a major tournament for his Poland team.
A very deadly finisher capable of finishing with both feet, Lewandowski has been generally recognised as one of the best strikers in Europe in the past couple of years and as captain will be looking to lead a Poland team with a good mix of experienced and upcoming stars to a respectable outing.
The top goalscorer in European World Cup qualifying with 16 goals, Robert has scored 51 goals in 91 appearances for Or?y (The Eagles) as the team is known.
