Before we talk about World Cup 2014 Top Scorer: Someone tweeted the other day that this is probably the best World Cup ever. I felt compelled to re-tweet since I’m agreeing with that fellow. There were so many dramas, end-to-end actions and of course goals galore that keep football fans like me awake in the middle of the night till dawn. It is sad to see that some of the world’s finest such Wayne Rooney and Xavi Hernandez will be heading home very soon. However, with the way the football is being played in Brazil at the moment, you bet no one will ever miss them. Except of course, the English and Spanish fans.
Pic credit: www.aliexpress.com
All Time Leading Scorer: Miroslav Klose
One player who surely will not be leaving Brazil very soon is Germany’s Miroslav Klose. The joint top scorer in 2010 World Cup had just equaled Brazilian legend, Ronaldo’s 15 world cup goals after scoring a late equaliser for his team in their Group B match against Ghana yesterday. It arrived with Germany trailing Ghana 2-1 and only 19 minutes left to play in a pulsating Group G match. The 36-year-old had only been on the field for 112 seconds and had not yet touched the ball. Yet, when the moment arrived, Klose was ready, as always. I don’t think anyone will bet against him to better the record now. With Germany having one of the stongest squad in 2014 World Cup and could go all the way, Klose certainly have enough games to get that one goal that will make him the sole all time FIFA World Cup leading scorer.
However, Miroslav Klose is unlikely to finish this year’s World Cup as the top scorer and winning the Golden Boot award. With age catching up with the German’s great, Klose only arrived in Brazil to play second fiddle to current German’s No.9, Thomas Müller. Still, a player with Klose’s experience and goal scoring instict is such a valuable asset to any team. He already made a telling contribution with that goal against Ghana. He will come up with more, mark my words.
Golden Boot: The Contenders
As for this Golden Boot award, there are several contenders for the title. Currently, there are five players leading the goal scoring chart with three goals apiece. The five are:
- Karim Benzema (France)
- Thomas Müller (Germany)
- Robin van Persie (Holland)
- Arjen Robben (Holland)
- Enner Valencia (Ecuador)
The most surprising name on the list is probably the little-known Ecuadorian striker, Enner Valencia. Valencia plays for Pachuca in Liga MX in MEXICO. The striker who is not related to his famous namesake, Antonio Valencia of Manchester United initially began his career as a winger. He was only converted as a striker by national team coach Reinaldo Rueda after the death of Ecuador’s main striker, Christian Benítez. What an impact he has made since.
Trailling the five with two goals are a group of nine players that includes four time FIFA World Player Of The Year, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, England’s destroyer, Luis Suarez of Uruguay and Brazil’s superstar, Neymar.
Who Will Be The Top Scorer For World Cup 2014?
I fancy Robin van Persie or Karim Benzema to win the golden boot due to their team’s style of play. Both teams (Holland and France) have made their strikers as focal point of their attack and we can expect the two to get plenty of chances in front of the goal. With the quality of both players plus the support that they’ll get from two powerful football nations, they can rake in more goals before the World Cup is over.
Other than the two, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Thomas Müller, Arjen Robben, Luis Suarez and Mario Mandzukic are among those to be watched. Arjen Robben for example is in the best form of his life and probably the best player in this World Cup so far. He definitely could score more goals. Messi, Suarez and Neymar can come up with spectaculars and can also score from set-pieces. Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller and Mario Mandzukic are top class goal scorers and will be lethal in front of the goal.
Those are just my predictions. I’m certain that many of you have different opinions. As always feel free to leave a comment or two.
– World Cup 2014 Top Scorer
Ismail N
ISMAIL N is the Chief Blogger/Blog Owner. An HR practitioner in his normal daily life & a casual blogger in his free time. Addicted to coffee, Man Utd and Pokemon Go (TL40). Most easily accessed via his Twitter account.
