Top 5: Contenders for Euro 2016’s Golden Boot award

With it now just one week before the 2016 European Championships kick off in France, discussion about the competition is really hotting up. Some of the world’s finest strikers will go head-to-head as they attempt to fire their team to glory.

Believe it or not – back in 2012, there was a six-way tie for the Golden Boot award and due to providing more assists than the other five players, Fernando Torres eventually claimed the prestigious award having only scored three goals.

UEFA EURO 2016 begins on Friday, June 10 – Photo: Offside / L’Equipe.

Other winners over the most recent competitions include David Villa (4 goals) and Milan Baros (5).

The award this year will be another tough one to call with many of Europe’s top strikers battling it out.

In amongst the names are many of the Premier League’s finest strikers, including the likes of Jamie Vardy, Harry Kane, Oliver Giroud, Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial.

Those in with a shout outside the Premier League are Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thomas Muller, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Alvaro Morata, Mario Gomez and Antoine Greizmann – to name just a few.

The players will have a maximum of seven games to score as many goals as possible and, if previous competitions are anything to go by, anyone scoring more than four will be in with a shot.

Here are five of the most likely contenders who will lead the race for the Golden Boot award this year…

Tottenham’s Kane finished as the 2015/16 Premier League’s top goalscorer with 25 strikes – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

5. Harry Kane (England)

Kane is set to lead the line for Roy Hodgson’s men and has been in fantastic form for Tottenham all season.

England will play Wales, Russia and Slovenia in the group stages and he should easily be able to bag at least a couple of goals here, especially as there’s a chance that he’ll be on penalty duties.

One of the reasons that I selected Kane over fellow countryman Vardy is because he will be able to continue his blossoming partnership with Dele Alli, whilst Vardy will be without his Algerian teammate, Riyad Mahrez.

If the Spurs striker is able to replicate his club form at international level, he will undoubtedly stand a great chance in competing for the Golden Boot.

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