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Who Will Finish as the Top Scorer at UEFA Euro 2024?
The anticipation for UEFA Euro 2024 is rapidly building, with fans eagerly looking forward to the showdown at Berlin's Olympiastadion on July 14, where the European Champions will be crowned. Yet, there's another interesting subplot that's capturing the interest of many: the battle for the Golden Boot. This award has been won by some of Europe's most illustrious marksmen in recent installments of the event.
Cristiano Ronaldo took home the trophy most recently back in 2021, despite his reigning champions Portugal being eliminated in the second round. Antoine Griezmann was victorious on home turf with six goals in 2016, proving he was the man for the big occasion with five of them coming in the knockout stages. Finally, Fernando Torres claimed the illustrious prize over a decade ago as he netted three times en route to Spain successfully claiming their second straight European Championship.
As this summer's tournament approaches, speculation mounts over which player will secure this prestigious accolade this season. So, let's take a look at the frontrunners.
Previously, Harry Kane was a key figure at Tottenham Hotspur, where he became the club's all-time top scorer with a mighty 280 goals. Today, he dons the famous number nine for Bayern Munich, Germany's record champions. Despite a challenging season for the Bavarian giants, the English skipper's remarkable goal-scoring exploits across his new homeland positions him as the man to beat this June and July. With an impressive tally of 37 goals in just 35 appearances across all competitions in Germany this season, Kane's prolific scoring record will only boost his confidence as he heads into the Euros.
Furthermore, England's talisman carries a significant drive to excel on the international stage. The memory of his penalty miss in the final moments of the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against France - a miss that led to his side's early exit departure from the Qatar showpiece, while the French advanced to their second straight final - fuels his determination. He immediately put that memory behind him as he netted a penalty against Italy in Naples in his first game for England after the World Cup, and he is set on erasing that memory even further with each goal he nets this summer.
Kane hopes to end the campaign with both the Golden Boot and his first-ever career winner's medal, and the bookies certainly think both he and his country are up to the task. A prominent sports gambling site has made the Three Lions the +325 favorites for the crown this year, and it remains to be seen whether they will live up to the billing.
Turning the spotlight onto England's conquerors 18 months ago, France and their sensational leader Kylian Mbappe consistently dominate on the grandest stages. That most recent final in the Arabian Gulf unfortunately didn't go the way of Les Bleus, with Lionel Messi's Argentina ultimately running out victorious. However, despite the Inter Miami man's crowning moment, it was Paris Saint-Germain's superstar who managed to grab a share of the headlines, delivering a thrilling hat trick that electrified fans and lit up the Lusail Iconic Stadium. At merely 25 years old, he already ranks as the sixth all-time top scorer in World Cup history, boasting 12 goals across 14 matches. Additionally, he holds the record for the highest number of goals scored in World Cup final matches, with a total of four.
Yet, on the European front, his achievements have not been as impressive. In the postponed Euro 2020 three years prior, it was his failure to convert from the spot in a shootout against Switzerland during the round of 16 that consigned the French to an early exit. Like Kane before him, he will be keenly focused and intent on mirroring his World Cup success in the European arena, aiming to guide his nation to its first European Championship victory since the turn of the millennium.
Belgian hitman Romelu Lukaku comes in for plenty of stick from fans and perhaps rightfully so. Nowadays he finds himself plying his trade for Roma, rather than lighting up the Premier League with Chelsea or challenging for the Scudetto with Inter Milan. Despite facing criticism for his touch and finishing at club level, the 30-year-old powerhouse has consistently proved his detractors wrong, especially when donning the Belgian red.
Lukaku's international record speaks for itself. As of right now, he stands as Belgium's all-time top scorer with 83 goals in just 113 games. His remarkable physical strength, combined with an astute sense of positioning, makes him a nightmare for defenders. Moreover, Lukaku's understanding with midfield maestros like Kevin De Bruyne creates plenty of scoring opportunities, while group stage matches at Euro 2024 against the likes of Slovakia, Romania and either Ukraine or Iceland mean that goals will be flowing in abundance.
Despite the skepticism he faces, particularly regarding his performances during his second stint at Chelsea, the Gallorossi frontman has a knack for silencing critics with goals on the international stage. For Belgium, Lukaku remains the main man and has even been made vice-captain, and finding the back of the net with regularity this summer will only add to his legacy
