World Cup 2022 top goal scorer: Updated rankings in the Golden Boot race

That’s the way you start a World Cup. Ecuador forward Enner Valencia scored two goals in the first half of the 2022 inaugural match against Qatar to stake himself out to an early lead in the Golden Boot race.

If not for a VAR decision to erase a goal after just four minutes for offside, Valencia could’ve potentially had a hat-trick as Ecuador were explosive to start the tournament and Qatar simply had no response.

On Monday it will be 2022 Golden Boot favorite Harry Kane taking the field for England against a defensively solid Iran. The only other player involved on Monday who is also among the top 20 favorites is Netherlands forward Memphis Depay, but he’s not expected to start the match due to injury.

As more names are added to the list below, page 57 of the official FIFA World Cup tournament rules explains what happens in case players are tied on goals. There are two layers of tiebreakers: (1) most assists, (2) fewest minutes played.

The table below is updated after every match and will take into account the above tiebreakers.

MORE: 

FIFA World Cup 2022 Top Scorers

The table below is updated as of Sunday, November 20.

Note: There have been two (2) goals scored in the World Cup thus far.

Odds to win 2022 Golden Boot

Harry Kane is the leading contender to repeat as winner after claiming it four years ago with six goals in England’s run to the semifinals. But history is against him, given no one has ever repeated as Golden Boot winner.

Karim Benzema was third favorite (+1000) to win the 2022 award at one point, but was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury. Romelu Lukaku is also battling an injury with Belgium.

Odds below are via Caesars (USA), Sports Interaction (Canada), SkyBet (UK), and Ladbrokes (Australia). Odds current as of November 20, 2022.

Who won World Cup 2018 Golden Boot

England’s Harry Kane played the maximum seven matches as England made it all the way to the semifinals and also featured in the third-place match.

Kane’s six goals were two better than the rest of the field, which included Cristiano Ronaldo and the French duo of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, who helped their team to the World Cup title.

World Cup Golden Boot winners all time

There have been 21 men’s World Cup tournaments and 21 different winners of the Golden Boot.

And a scan of the all-time winners below makes it clear that it’s not always the star players who come away with the prestigious award.

How many Golden Boot winners also won the World Cup?

There have been 21 previous editions of the men’s FIFA World Cup, but only on three occasions has the champion also had a player atop the Golden Boot rankings.

The first one came in 1978, as Mario Kempes helped lead Argentina to triumph on home soil, including two goals in the final against the Netherlands.

The following edition it was another goal poacher, this time Italian forward Paolo Rossi, who also scored in the final to help the Azzurri cap their magical run with the title.

Another 20 years passed before the next player to do it, and it was one of the all-time greats. Brazil forward Ronaldo was the star of the 2002 World Cup and he delivered for his country, scoring both goals in the final against Germany.

Ronaldo’s eight goals in that 2002 tournament are the most scored in a single tournament since Germany’s Gerd Muller hit double digits in 1970.

Who has the most goals in World Cup history?

There are only 13 players who can boast to have double-digit goal totals in FIFA World Cup history. And there’s just one active player on that elite list, who is also heading to Qatar 2022.

Germany’s Thomas Muller is getting set to play in his fourth consecutive World Cup. He enters the tournament knowing that just two goals in the FIFA 2022 tournament would have him even with legendary Pele of Brazil.