The prestigious Henri Delaunay Trophy is considered the most coveted award at the upcoming European Championship. However, aside from the team accolades, individual players also have the opportunity to claim the title of top scorer and win the Golden Boot.
Gerd Muller, Marco van Basten, Alan Shearer, and Fernando Torres are just a few of the notable names who have achieved this feat in the past.
The question remains: Who will emerge as the top scorer this time around?
Romelu Lukaku’s impressive performance, scoring 14 goals to set a new record for a single European Championship qualifying campaign, will undoubtedly make him a popular choice among many. With 83 goals in 114 appearances, the 31-year-old is Belgium’s all-time leading goal scorer. This upcoming Euros will mark his sixth major tournament with the Red Devils. Lukaku also received the Bronze Boot at the 2018 World Cup, having scored four goals in seven matches.
2. Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
Cody Gakpo appears to be the frontrunner for the Golden Boot representing the Netherlands. He emerged as the top scorer for his team during the 2022 World Cup, netting three goals in all three group stage matches. With a total of nine goals in 23 international games, the 25-year-old forward has proven to be a key player for his national team.
3. Gianluca Scamacca (Italy)
Fans who frequently tune in to the Premier League may recall Gianluca Scamacca’s brief stint at West Ham in the 2022-23 season, where he only scored three goals in the league.
However, the 25-year-old has found his top form again after going back to Atalanta, netting 19 goals in various competitions to contribute to the Italian team’s triumph in the Europa League.
In October, he netted his inaugural goal for Italy during their qualifying loss to England at Wembley.
4. Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Poland, led by Robert Lewandowski, shattered Welsh hopes by triumphing in a penalty shootout during the playoffs, thus earning their spot in Germany as one of the last teams to qualify.
Undoubtedly, the 35-year-old possesses an exceptional goal-scoring ability. With 82 goals in 148 matches, he holds the record for the highest number of goals scored for Poland and has surpassed the 600-goal mark throughout his illustrious 19-year career for both club and country.
Having netted three times in as many appearances during Euro 2020, this upcoming European Championship will mark Lewandowski’s sixth major international tournament.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Cristiano Ronaldo, a renowned figure in the world of football, requires no formal introduction. Despite being 39 years old, he continues to display exceptional skills and shows no signs of slowing down.
Ronaldo holds the remarkable title of being the highest goal scorer in international football, having scored an impressive 128 goals for Portugal. Additionally, he holds the record for the most appearances, with 206 caps to his name.
As he prepares for his 12th international tournament this summer, Ronaldo has the opportunity to achieve consecutive Golden Boots. This comes after his remarkable performance at Euro 2020, where he topped the scoring charts with five goals.
6. Harry Kane (England)
Harry Kane, England’s leading goal scorer of all time, will once again play a pivotal role in their quest to end 58 years of disappointment this summer.
As the captain of the Three Lions, Kane enters the tournament after an incredibly productive debut season with Bayern Munich, where he found the back of the net 45 times in 45 matches.
Although Kane enjoyed personal success during the campaign, his pursuit of a first major title continues as Bayern concluded the season without any silverware.
7. Kylian Mbappe (France)
Kylian Mbappe, the highly productive French forward, is the leading contender according to bookmakers to claim the title of top scorer at Euro 2024. With an impressive record of 46 goals in 77 matches for Les Bleus, the 25-year-old is a key player in their quest to secure a third championship title, following their triumphs in 1984 and 2000. Mbappe previously secured the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup by netting eight goals, which included a memorable hat-trick during the final match against Argentina.
8. Rasmus Hojlund (Denmark)
Rasmus Hojlund, a promising talent in Danish football, has seamlessly transitioned to the international level. In his debut match against Finland in March 2023, the 21-year-old impressed by scoring a hat-trick. By the end of the season, he emerged as the top scorer for his team with seven goals in eight matches. Despite a fluctuating performance, he managed to find the back of the net 16 times in 43 games across all competitions for Manchester United, who acquired him from Atalanta for £72m last summer. This contribution played a part in the Red Devils’ FA Cup victory.
9. Scott McTominay (Scotland)
Scott McTominay emerged as a key player for Scotland throughout the qualifying campaign, leading the Tartan Army to their second consecutive European Championship appearance. He ended as the top scorer for his country during qualifying, netting seven goals, trailing only Lukaku, Kane, and Ronaldo in the scoring charts. Alongside his club teammate Rasmus Hojlund, McTominay heads to Germany with high spirits following Manchester United’s victory over rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
10. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia)
Aleksandar Mitrovic plays a crucial role for Serbia as they gear up for their inaugural European Championship as an independent country. The 29-year-old is Serbia’s leading goal scorer of all time, having netted 57 goals in 89 matches, and was the top scorer during the qualifying rounds with five goals. Mitrovic has had a successful season domestically, scoring 39 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League after departing from Fulham in August.
11. Zeki Amdouni (Switzerland)
Zeki Amdouni emerged as a standout player during European qualifying, netting six goals in only five matches as Switzerland secured their spot in their sixth consecutive major tournament. Despite this consistent qualification record, Switzerland has only advanced past the last 16 stage once, making it to the quarter-finals in Euro 2020. Looking ahead to 2024, Amdouni, who scored six goals in 36 appearances for Burnley last season, is expected to play a crucial role if Switzerland aims to make a deep run in the tournament.
12. Alvaro Morata (Spain)
In addition to spearheading the attack, Alvaro Morata will assume the role of captain for Spain as they strive to secure their third championship title. The seasoned Atletico Madrid striker, who previously played for Chelsea from 2017 to 2020, has impressively netted 34 goals in 74 matches representing his country. None of the other players in Spain’s Euro 2024 squad have managed to surpass ten goals thus far.
13. Niclas Fullkrug (Germany)
Niclas Fullkrug had to wait until he reached the age of 29 before making his debut on the international stage. However, he has truly capitalized on this opportunity. The 31-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker has impressively scored 11 goals in 15 international matches and is poised to lead the hosts’ offensive line this upcoming summer. Last season, he netted 15 goals for Dortmund, playing a crucial role in their journey to the Champions League final, although they were ultimately defeated 2-0 by Real Madrid.
