World Cup top scorer betting tips: Four in Golden Boot contention
Published:![Lionel Messi, World Cup top scorer betting tips, World Cup 2022](https://sports.coral.co.uk/news/cdn/img/6aafaf21-1557-433b-aa6b-fb626647e486.jpeg?w=1920&fm=webp&q=75)
World Cup top scorer betting tips and odds
The World Cup 2022 is heading towards a thrilling conclusion as we prepare for Sunday’s final so it is time to look at the latest Golden Boot betting ahead of Argentina v France.
The battle to be the top scorer looks a four-horse race heading into the decider and we look at the updated odds to help punters with World Cup top scorer betting tips.
Lionel Messi
Messi was a popular pick for World Cup top scorer betting tips ahead of Qatar 2022 and he now leads the way at 10/11.
Winning the World Cup for the first time would be a fitting achievement as one of the greatest ever players comes towards the end of his career and adding the Golden Boot would be the icing on the cake.
Messi’s penalty in the semi-final against Croatia means he is level with Kylian Mbappe on five goals and he has scored in five of Argentina’s six matches, with Poland the only team to keep him out.
Few would begrudge him winning everything on Sunday given Messi’s World Cup record and he will be roared on by a huge following of Argentina fans in Sunday’s showpiece.
Kylian Mbappe
The France flyer was as short as 1/2 in the Golden Boot betting ahead of the semi-finals when his five goals looked like they may be enough to top the goal charts but he is now second favourite at evens.
He failed to add to his tally in the 2-0 victory over Morocco though, 24 hours after his PSG team-mate Messi scored his fifth, and this is now a fascinating sub-plot in Sunday’s final.
Morocco and England showed it is possible to keep Mbappe quiet but he is France’s biggest threat and his pace can cause problems for Argentina’s defence.
Julian Alvarez
The battle for the World Cup Golden Boot looked a three-horse race ahead of the semi-finals but Alvarez has been cut from 50/1 to 14/1 after his double against Croatia put him in the mix.
Your @Budweiser player of the match Lionel Messi lauds Julian Alvarez for "carrying the team" into the #FIFAWorldCup final 👏 #Budweiser #POTM #YoursToTake #BringHomeTheBud @budfootball pic.twitter.com/j7BjKdFX5B
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 14, 2022
The Manchester City striker started Argentina’s first two games on the bench but has since replaced Lautaro Martinez as first-choice striker. He netted against Poland and Australia before his semi-final brace, with his second showing the benefit of having magician Messi supplying the service.
Alvarez looks certain to start the final and could snatch the top scorer prize with another double on Sunday.
Olivier Giroud
Giroud is now France’s all-time leading scorer and has netted four goals at Qatar 2022 but faces a tough task just leading the scoring charts for France at this tournament.
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He gained ground on Mbappe with his headed winner against England but also blanked in the semi-final when he was substituted after 65 minutes.
Like Alvarez, Giroud is 14/1 with two goals needed to top the goal charts alone while one goal could see him force a tie. Either way, it has been an impressive tournament for the former Arsenal and Chelsea striker who may have hardly featured had it not been for Karim Benzema’s injury absence.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication