Big Question: Who will be the Golden Boot?

A little bit of luck, a whole lot of skill and a team that advances deep into the tournament. All of these things usually factor into the race for the Golden Boot – the player that scores the most goals at the World Cup. The race this year should be wide open with experienced international goal scorers competing against newcomers with loads of talent. Here’s who I see as the main contenders and who I think will walk away with the precious footwear.

I went back and looked at the last six World Cups to remind myself who scored the most goals in each. As you can see, the Golden Boot does not require playing on a championship team, but for the most part a player needs his team to make at least as far as the quarterfinals.

2002 – Ronaldo, Brazil, champion
1998 – Davor Šuker, Croatia, third place
1994 – Hristo Stoitchkov, Bulgaria, fourth place
Oleg Salenko, Russia, first round
1990 – Salvatore Schillaci, Italy, third place
1986 – Gary Lineker, England, quarterfinals
1982 – Paolo Rossi, Italy, champion

With that in mind, I have selected players that play on teams that I think give them the best shot of becoming the Golden Boot.

5. Hernan Crespo, Argentina
Argument for: Argentina’s attacking style should give him plenty of scoring opportunities.
Argument against: Argentina has plenty of other goal scorers and could have an early exit from the Group of Death.

4. Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine
Argument for: A featured attacker playing in a defensively weak group, he could go on a tear and put four in against teams like Saudi Arabia.
Argument against: Does he have the supporting cast to avoid being shut down by multiple defenders?

3. Wayne Rooney, England
Argument for: The kid’s got serious game.
Argument against: Owen and others might steal his goals. England could crash and burn early.

2. Ronaldo, Brazil
Argument for: The defending Golden Boot wants to set the all-time World Cup scoring record and his team should play plenty of games.
Argument against: Not in great form, surrounded by elite players who are likely to do their own goal scoring.

1. Adriano, Brazil
Argument for: It’s his turn to inherit the boot from his teammate.
Argument against: Not in great form, surrounded by elite players who are likely to do their own goal scoring.

Big Question: Who will be the Golden Boot?
Big Answer: Adriano

Does this shoe not fit? Go ahead and fire away your thoughts.

Tomorrow’s Big Question: How do you Beat Brazil?

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