World Cup top scorer odds: Messi new favourite in tight battle with Mbappe
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Alvarez and Giroud both 14/1 in World Cup top scorer odds
Argentina and France are bidding to win the World Cup for a third time in Sunday’s final, but the Golden Boot is also up for grabs.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe top the World Cup top scorer charts with five goals apiece and we have compared the two players ahead of the showpiece.
Olivier Giroud and Julian Alvarez are still in the running on four goals as we look at the latest World Cup top scorer odds with the tournament reaching a thrilling climax.
Lionel Messi
Argentina captain Messi was 11/4 to finish as the tournament’s top scorer, but his penalty against Croatia means he is now odds-on favourite to bag the most goals at what is likely to be his final World Cup.
Three of Messi’s goals have come from the penalty spot, but he produced moments of magic to open the scoring against both Mexico and Australia.
The fact he has one more assist than Mbappe has put the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner in the box seat to land the Golden Boot, but he is likely to need one more goal to win it outright.
Kylian Mbappe
France forward Mbappe was 1/2 to be top scorer heading into the semi-finals, but his failure to score against Morocco on Wednesday night means he is level with Messi heading into Sunday’s showpiece.
The PSG striker has been playing out on the left with Giroud occupying the central striker role, but scored against Australia before hitting doubles against both Denmark and Poland.
Mbappe was well marshalled by Kyle Walker in the quarter-final victory over England and failed to have a shot on target against the north Africans on Wednesday.
Olivier Giroud
Giroud has been leading the line in the absence of injured striker Karim Benzema and he has not let France down with four goals making him the national team’s all-time top scorer with 53.
The AC Milan striker is expected to start against Argentina, although Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps refused to answer a question about whether Benzema was fit and ready to return to Qatar in what would be an almighty shock if he started Sunday’s final.
Julian Alvarez
Alvarez’s price has plummeted from 66/1 to 14/1 after he scored twice in the 3-0 victory over Croatia to take his tally to four.
The Manchester City star was on the bench for the first two group games, but took his opportunity by scoring on his first start against Poland and then added another against the Aussies.
Alvarez is set to play up front with Messi in the World Cup final and looks an interesting option at a big price, but will need to score at least twice if he is to finish outright top scorer.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
