Sports Desk :
The race for the Golden Boot is hotting up as the World Cup heads into the knockout stages, with Thomas Muller’s stunning finish against USA taking him to four goals for the tournament and on level pegging with Neymar and Lionel Messi.
After Messi’s brace against Nigeria on Wednesday, it looked as though the battle to be this tournament’s top scorer would be a Barcelona affair – Neymar having struck twice for Brazil the day before versus Cameroon.
But Muller’s clinical strike for Germany means he joins the pair at the top of the leaderboard, and there is a growing group of players on three who will also have their eyes on the individual prize.
Here is an update on the current Golden Boot race standings.
Round Three:
1) Neymar, Lionel Messi, Thomas Muller (4 goals)
2) James Rodriguez, Karim Benzema, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie,
Xherdan Shaqiri, Enner Valencia (3 goals)
3) Ahmed Musa, Jackson Martinez, Islam Slimani, Memphis Depay (2 goals and still in the tournament)
Xherdan Shaqiri vaulted into contention by scoring a hat-trick as Switzerland beat Honduras 3-0 on to qualify second in Group F.
He joined Karim Benzema and Enner Valencia, who could not add to their three tournament goals each as France played out a 0-0 draw against 10-man Ecuador that ensured the French won Group E.
Dutch pair Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie are also breathing down Muller, Messi and Neymar’s necks, having scored three in the group stages, the latter reaching that tally in just two games after missing their last match against Chile through suspension.
A dark horse to win this year’s Golden Boot is Colombia forward James Rodriguez. The Monaco player is another on three goals from three games, and playing in a Colombia team brimming with confidence going forward he could easily add to that tally.
Neymar had drawn a blank in round two, but added his second brace of the tournament in Brazil’s 4-1 over Cameroon.
Meanwhile, Messi, is only one of two players who scored in all three group stage games and has also added a brace to his tally, leading Argentina to a 3-2 win over Nigeria.
Thomas Muller, caught up with the two superstars after scoring his fourth goal in Germany’s 1-0 over the USA.
We currently have six players tied in second spot, but only five of them are still in the tournament.
While Ecuador’s Enner Valencia has no chance to add another goal, Karim Benzema, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Xherdan Shaqiri can all still hunt the top three.
Colombia’s James Rodriguez is also still in the race for the prestigious award, being the only other player to Lionel Messi who scored in all three group stage games.
The race for the Golden Boot is hotting up as the World Cup heads into the knockout stages, with Thomas Muller’s stunning finish against USA taking him to four goals for the tournament and on level pegging with Neymar and Lionel Messi.
After Messi’s brace against Nigeria on Wednesday, it looked as though the battle to be this tournament’s top scorer would be a Barcelona affair – Neymar having struck twice for Brazil the day before versus Cameroon.
But Muller’s clinical strike for Germany means he joins the pair at the top of the leaderboard, and there is a growing group of players on three who will also have their eyes on the individual prize.
Here is an update on the current Golden Boot race standings.
Round Three:
1) Neymar, Lionel Messi, Thomas Muller (4 goals)
2) James Rodriguez, Karim Benzema, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie,
Xherdan Shaqiri, Enner Valencia (3 goals)
3) Ahmed Musa, Jackson Martinez, Islam Slimani, Memphis Depay (2 goals and still in the tournament)
Xherdan Shaqiri vaulted into contention by scoring a hat-trick as Switzerland beat Honduras 3-0 on to qualify second in Group F.
He joined Karim Benzema and Enner Valencia, who could not add to their three tournament goals each as France played out a 0-0 draw against 10-man Ecuador that ensured the French won Group E.
Dutch pair Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie are also breathing down Muller, Messi and Neymar’s necks, having scored three in the group stages, the latter reaching that tally in just two games after missing their last match against Chile through suspension.
A dark horse to win this year’s Golden Boot is Colombia forward James Rodriguez. The Monaco player is another on three goals from three games, and playing in a Colombia team brimming with confidence going forward he could easily add to that tally.
Neymar had drawn a blank in round two, but added his second brace of the tournament in Brazil’s 4-1 over Cameroon.
Meanwhile, Messi, is only one of two players who scored in all three group stage games and has also added a brace to his tally, leading Argentina to a 3-2 win over Nigeria.
Thomas Muller, caught up with the two superstars after scoring his fourth goal in Germany’s 1-0 over the USA.
We currently have six players tied in second spot, but only five of them are still in the tournament.
While Ecuador’s Enner Valencia has no chance to add another goal, Karim Benzema, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Xherdan Shaqiri can all still hunt the top three.
Colombia’s James Rodriguez is also still in the race for the prestigious award, being the only other player to Lionel Messi who scored in all three group stage games.
