He exploded onto the World Cupstage at Russia 2018 with an electrifying performance and two goals against Argentina in the Round of 16.
Kylian Mbappe was just 19 years old and the first teenager to score a World Cup brace since the great Pele in 1958 and we knew we had witnessed something special.
Four years later here in World Cup 2022, and the PSG star is ready to take on the mantle of the best player on the planet now that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are reaching the twilights of their careers. And the way he played in France’s 3-1 win over Poland, Mbappe looks ready to win the Golden Boot and lead Les Bleus to another World Cup win.
But the World Cup 2022 betting odds make Brazil the favourites to lift the 2022 title after a Selecao destruction of South Korea on Monday night and that gives Mbappe a big incentive to continue the spectacular scoring form which has already brought him five goals in the competition.
Who can catch him? Well, there is a good supply of sharpshooters at this World Cup so let’s take a look at the players who might make it to the magic six, though Mbappe may well push the bar higher over the next couple of weeks.
Harry Kane, England (1)
The 2018 Golden Boot winner opened his account in England’s win over Senegal and Three Lions fans will hope Harry Kane is finding his range at the right time, as they are unlikely to go all the way of he doesn’t.
A quarter-final clash with France gives England a chance to stop the frontrunner, but Kane needs to smash home another five in the last three rounds to take the Boot home again.
It’s a tall order for the England skipper and teammates Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford, with three goals each, don’t have as far to climb.
Lionel Messi, Argentina (3)
After one of the biggest shocks of the tournament, losing to Saudi Arabia in their opener, Argentina’s World Cup 2022 results have been impressive, beating Mexico and Poland 2-0 and Australia 2-1.
The latest SBOTOP odds make the Albiceleste joint-second favourites with France to win the tournament and it would be an amazing sight in world football to see Messi lift the legendary trophy.
The PSG star has been in superb form, dominating each of the last three games, and he could easily have had a couple more goals. I believe he is best placed to catch his club-mate and that would be some story.
Richarlison, Brazil (3)
The Selecao have such strength in depth, particularly up front, and another PSG man Neymar was expected to lead the Brazil charge.
But injuries to the striker have left him to watch his teammates rip open opposition defences, playing some of the best Samba football we have seen in decades.
And of all the megastars in Tite’s squad, the super confident Richarlison has been the most lethal.
Alvaro Morata, Spain (3)
His chances of winning the Golden Boot depend on Spain negotiating their clash with Morocco on Tuesday, while hoping that England can beat France in the quarter-finals.
But Atletico Madrid star Alvaro Morata has been in fine form and he could be a dark horses if Spain reach the last four of the competition as expected.
If they beat the Atlas Lions, they will face Portugal or Switzerland in the quarter-finals and La Roja are on the opposite side of the draw to Brazil and Argentina.
Morata is one to watch.
Olivier Giroud, France (3)
Mbappe is the man of the moment in France. But with 52 goals for Les Bleus, Olivier Giroud has become his nation’s top scorer of all time, surpassing the great Thierry Henry.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea man is one of the most underrated strikers in modern history and he is probably the mist inventive in front of goal, with a spectacular range of volleys and clever headers in his locker.
Hs main problem, though, is that for him to get anther three goals would mean France have probably reached the final and I can’t see Mbappe running out of steam any time soon.
Cody Gakpo, Netherlands (3)
The breakout star of this competition has come from an unlikely source as Louis van Gaal’s Holland have been criticised, mainly at home, for playing a boring brand of football.
The head coach is unrepentant as you’d expect after the Oranje topped their group with seven points and then turned on the style to sweep the USA aside, 3-1, in their Round of 16 clash. Gakpo has been in sensational form so far and the attacking midfielder has pace to burn. At 23 years of age, he still has a decade of top-flight football to come and PSV Eindhoven will do well to keep hold of their star next summer.
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