Ahead of England’s semi-final matchup against Netherlands, the competition for the Euro 2024 Golden Boot is intensifying.
With Georges Mikautadze of Georgia, Jamal Musiala of Germany, and Ivan Schranz of Slovakia having already packed their bags and gone for home, there are presently five players locked on three goals. The two remaining players are Dutch sensation Cody Gakpo and Dani Olmo of Spain.
Right now, Olmo is leading the Golden Boot race. The star of RB Leipzig scored for the third time in as many games during Tuesday’s exciting semifinal victory against France. His two assists also helped him move up the charts over Gakpo.
As of this writing, the Liverpool striker has just one assist to his credit.
Naturally, if Gakpo increases his total against England tonight, he will have the opportunity to take the lead.
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane will also be vying for the prize.
Both players have scored twice: Kane’s goal in the group stage match against Denmark and his thrilling winner against Slovakia in the round of 16.
Bellingham meanwhile got his nation’s tournament up and running in the opener against Serbia before that stunning overhead kick that kept them in it.
Here is how the Golden Boot rankings currently stand…
Euro 2024 top scorers
- Dani Olmo (three goals, two assists)
- Cody Gakpo (three goals, one assist)
- Georges Mikautadze (three goals, one assist)
- Jamal Musiala (three goals)
- Ivan Schranz (three goals)
The chasing pack
- Fabian Ruiz (two goals, two assists)
- Jude Bellingham (two goals)
- Harry Kane (two goals)
- Donyell Malen (two goals)
Not including players from eliminated nations
Harry Kane still in Golden Boot contention
Harry Kane has scored 65 goals in 96 appearances for England with two of those coming in Germany. However, perhaps for the first time in his England career, the captain is coming under mounting pressure.
Kane’s performances in England’s five games so far have been criticised, with two of his predecessors up top in Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer among those questioning what the Bayern Munich star has offered up so far.
Kane was the top scorer at the 2018 World Cup, netting four at the last Euros as the Three Lions lost in the final at Wembley.
While the Golden Boot remains firmly in sight, the former Tottenham star believes it has been more difficult for strikers to hit their stride.
Kane said: ‘Hopefully I’ll score a couple of goals and you’re looking at me in a totally different way.
‘I’d be top goal scorer, through to a final and it’s a different perspective. I’d like to have scored more goals but the tournament has been a low scoring one for different reasons.
‘The pitches are part of that reason. Teams are more organised and, from a manager’s point of view, they are more structured and they make it difficult for the favourites or better teams to exploit.
‘You know that you’re never as bad as you think — and you’re never as good as you think on your good days.’