Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller and Cristiano Ronaldo: Euro 2016 Golden Boot race
SunSport previews open battle to be leading marksman in France as hottest strikers prepare to lock horns
EURO 2016 is creeping up on us — and it is one of the most open tournaments in recent memories, with no stand-out favourite.
Just like the battle for the Golden Boot.
Maybe it’s a sign of the changing of football’s style, but there are few out-and-out goal-scorers who you could guarantee will make the latter stages of the tournament in France.
SunSport has asked Ladbrokes to provide the odds on the favourites to finish as the top scorer at Euro 2016
Thomas Muller — who won the Golden Boot at the 2010 World Cup — is the best-priced at 7-1: he’s German, so he will probably, at least, make the final.
His form for Bayern Munich this season has been sensational, though somewhat overlooked by the goalscoring prowess of team-mate Robert Lewandowski, who can be backed at 11-1.
The Pole is arguably the best centre-forward in the Europe at the moment.
However, will Poland get far enough for him to score the quantity needed?
Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been voted the best European player in eight of the last nine seasons, is another who should be there or thereabouts.
The Real Madrid superstar has really failed to really shine in any major tournament in the last ten years — yet is still second favourite at 8-1.
Portugal impressed during qualifying — but they will have to produce something special to progress in France.
And what about England players?
Harry Kane is the best hope at 18-1 — the Tottenham man is the Premier League’s top goal-scorer with 21.
While Three Lions team-mate, Jamie Vardy, has just two less for Leicester this season, but is much further out at 33-1.
Wayne Rooney is sandwiched in between the pair at 28/1.
Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud is the Prem star most likely to win the Golden Boot with odds of 14/1, with Everton frontman Romelu Lukaku is just behind him at 16/1.
Manchester United’s star man, Anthony Martial, could be an interesting prospect with odds of 40/1.
And, given how crazy this season has been so far, it’s worth pointing out that club team-mate Marcus Rashford can be backed at 500/1.
But, that’s never going to happen, is it?
Well, Leicester were ten times that price to win the Prem at the beginning of the season.
Ladbrokes odds
Top ten favourites
Muller 7-1
Ronaldo 8-1
Benzema 10-1
Griezmann 11-1
Lewandowski 11-1
Giroud 14-1
Lukaku 16-1
Kane 18-1
Costa 20-1
Ibrahimovic 25-1
Wild cards
Vardy 33-1
Alli 100-1
Extreme wild card
Rashford 500-1