Julius OkorieThis year’s UEFA Champions League is over. With Real Madrid smiling to the bank and also claiming the bragging right, the next big thing is the Euro 2024, which kicks off in Germany, on June 14.
The month-long championship, which will end on July 14, will be another battle royal for European countries and top players to show the class and stuff they are made of.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAside from the trophy and the financial largesse that goes with it, there are also prizes for individual players, especially the golden boot or highest goal scorer award.
The likes of Marco van Basten, Alan Shearer, Fernando Torres and Gerd Muller are some of the players who topped the scoring charts, in the competition, in its 64 years of existence.
As usual, there are scores of players who will be in contention for the prestigious golden boot award, but here are five players, who are likely to be top finishers from where one will emerge.
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This of course does not preclude the possibility of surprises, like they say, football is like biscuits, you never know from where it breaks.
Some stars get to top championships like even the world cup and fail to click, so the element of surprises is always there.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Portugal Super Star and Al-Nassr forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, is showing little sign of slowing down even at the age of 39.
The former Manchester United star is international football’s all-time top scorer with 128 goals for Portugal and the record appearance maker with 206 caps.
This summer will be his 12th international tournament and gives him the chance to win back-to-back Golden Boots, after topping the scoring charts at Euro 2020 with five goals. Known for his quest for goals there is no doubt that he will be dreaming more goals ahead of the championship.
Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
Romelu Lukaku scored 14 goals in the qualifiers, leading to this year’s championship thus accumulating 14 goals to break the scoring record for a single European Championship qualifying campaign.
The 31-year-old is Belgium’s all-time top scorer with 83 goals in 114 appearances and this summer’s Euros will be his sixth major tournament with the Red Devils.
He took home the Bronze Boot at the 2018 World Cup after scoring four times in seven appearances. The Roma loanee is currently being eyed by Jose Mourinho who took over Fenerbahce few days ago, an indication that he might attempt to woo him to his new club after Euro 2024.
Harry Kane (England)
Currently plying his trade with Bundesliga giants,Bayern Munich, the England’s all-time top scorer, Harry Kane, will again be central to their hopes of ending 58 years of hurt this summer.
The Three Lions’ captain will be heading into the tournament off the back of an impressive first season with Bayern Munich, where he scored 45 goals in 45 games. He was inspirational in the last final against Italy where a lot of book makers believed it was coming home, but alas it was Italy that clinched victory after 1-1 draw and going ahead to win 3-2 on penalties. Harry sure has goal sense and will be hoping to hit hard when the opportunity comes.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
The Barcelona forward and Poland strong man broke Welsh hearts with a play-off victory on penalties to become one of the final sides to secure their place in Germany.
The 35-year-old certainly knows where the net is. He is Poland’s all-time top scorer with 82 goals in 148 appearances and has scored more than 600 times for club and country over his 19-year career.
He scored three goals in as many appearances at Euro 2020 and this summer’s Euros will be his sixth major international tournament.
Kylian Mbappe (France)
World Cup winner and latest addition to the Real Madrid family, the former PSG talisman is book maker’s favourite to be top scorer at Euro 2024.
The 25-year-old has scored 46 goals in just 77 appearances for Les Bleus, who are aiming to lift the trophy for a third time after victories in 1984 and 2000.
Mbappe won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup with eight goals – including a hat-trick in that epic final defeat by Argentina.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
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