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Who Could Have Been Top Scorer at Euro 2020?
UEFA Euro 2020 was supposed to see some of European football's best players competing at an international level in 12 host cities this coming summer.
All that has changed, however. Which country would lift the trophy was just as lively as the betting market for top goalscorer at the tournament. With that in mind, who were the leading contenders for the Golden Boot?
Harry Kane
England captain Harry Kane was leading marksman at the last World Cup in Russia and declared himself fit to lead Gareth Southgate's side into this European Championship.
Kane is sixth on the Three Lions' all-time top scorer list with 32 goals in just 45 caps. That is a better than 70 per cent strike-rate in an England jersey for the Tottenham Hotspur star striker.
Although he has had an injury-hit club campaign, Kane may actually be relatively fresh for international duty as a result. He was 11/2 favourite in the latest UEFA Euro odds on the tournament top scorer, so, provided he could've got himself up to his usual sharpness in front of goal, Kane was a leading contender to take home another international Golden Boot.
Kylian Mbappe
France were prominent in the outright betting on the Euros because of their World Cup win in 2018. Kylian Mbappe announced himself on the global stage during that tournament two years ago in Russia with four goals, including one in the final.
With further development at PSG since then, the 21-year-old would've taken the Euros by storm and was 15/2 to be top scorer. Mbappe has taken the burden on himself at club level during a stop-start season for fellow mega-money signing Neymar.
He again has over 30 goals for PSG to date and is central to Les Bleus national boss Didier Deschamps' plans. Mbappe has the perfect foils in fellow France forwards Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann, who occupy defenders and create openings he exploits.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal captain and icon Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest international goalscorer in European football history. He looks certain to surpass a century of strikes in his lengthy career representing his country.
Ronaldo is the first name on Fernando Santos' teamsheet, so will be hoping to lead Portugal by example. He has scored nine across four previous European Championship finals starting as a precocious teenager in Euro 2004. It was at odds of 8/1 that he'd top the goal charts at Euro 2020.
An in-form Ronaldo means Portugal could've gone well at the tournament despite what was a tough-looking group. They are the reigning European champions too, so it would've have done to underestimate their chances.
Romelu Lukaku
Belgium record goalscorer Romelu Lukaku is a familiar face to English fans following many years playing in the Premier League. Although he is now in Italy with Inter Milan, he has continued the habit of a lifetime and found the target often at the San Siro.
Lukaku was all set to play a leading part for Belgium with illustrious teammate Eden Hazard facing a race to be fully fit for the Euros. With supply courtesy of Kevin De Bruyne, many chances should've fallen the big, bulky striker's way at the tournament.
Another 8/1 chance to have been top scorer at the European Championship, Lukaku was well worth considering when the market was open. He netted twice at Euro 2016 and four at the last World Cup so can deliver at tournaments.
Football can change a lot in a year, so perhaps next summer, things may look a little different. However, if these players remain in good form, we may see them all dominate for another year yet.
UEFA Euro 2020 was supposed to see some of European football's best players competing at an international level in 12 host cities this coming summer.
All that has changed, however. Which country would lift the trophy was just as lively as the betting market for top goalscorer at the tournament. With that in mind, who were the leading contenders for the Golden Boot?
Harry Kane
England captain Harry Kane was leading marksman at the last World Cup in Russia and declared himself fit to lead Gareth Southgate's side into this European Championship.
Kane is sixth on the Three Lions' all-time top scorer list with 32 goals in just 45 caps. That is a better than 70 per cent strike-rate in an England jersey for the Tottenham Hotspur star striker.
Although he has had an injury-hit club campaign, Kane may actually be relatively fresh for international duty as a result. He was 11/2 favourite in the latest UEFA Euro odds on the tournament top scorer, so, provided he could've got himself up to his usual sharpness in front of goal, Kane was a leading contender to take home another international Golden Boot.
Kylian Mbappe
France were prominent in the outright betting on the Euros because of their World Cup win in 2018. Kylian Mbappe announced himself on the global stage during that tournament two years ago in Russia with four goals, including one in the final.
With further development at PSG since then, the 21-year-old would've taken the Euros by storm and was 15/2 to be top scorer. Mbappe has taken the burden on himself at club level during a stop-start season for fellow mega-money signing Neymar.
He again has over 30 goals for PSG to date and is central to Les Bleus national boss Didier Deschamps' plans. Mbappe has the perfect foils in fellow France forwards Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann, who occupy defenders and create openings he exploits.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal captain and icon Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest international goalscorer in European football history. He looks certain to surpass a century of strikes in his lengthy career representing his country.
Ronaldo is the first name on Fernando Santos' teamsheet, so will be hoping to lead Portugal by example. He has scored nine across four previous European Championship finals starting as a precocious teenager in Euro 2004. It was at odds of 8/1 that he'd top the goal charts at Euro 2020.
An in-form Ronaldo means Portugal could've gone well at the tournament despite what was a tough-looking group. They are the reigning European champions too, so it would've have done to underestimate their chances.
Romelu Lukaku
Belgium record goalscorer Romelu Lukaku is a familiar face to English fans following many years playing in the Premier League. Although he is now in Italy with Inter Milan, he has continued the habit of a lifetime and found the target often at the San Siro.
Lukaku was all set to play a leading part for Belgium with illustrious teammate Eden Hazard facing a race to be fully fit for the Euros. With supply courtesy of Kevin De Bruyne, many chances should've fallen the big, bulky striker's way at the tournament.
Another 8/1 chance to have been top scorer at the European Championship, Lukaku was well worth considering when the market was open. He netted twice at Euro 2016 and four at the last World Cup so can deliver at tournaments.
Football can change a lot in a year, so perhaps next summer, things may look a little different. However, if these players remain in good form, we may see them all dominate for another year yet.
