The battle for the Euro 2024 Golden Boot is heating up ahead of England’s semi-final showdown against Netherlands.
There are currently five players tied on three goals with Dutch star Cody Gakpo and Spain’s Dani Olmo the only players left standing with Georges Mikautadze (Georgia), Jamal Musiala (Germany) and Ivan Schranz (Slovakia) having already packed their bags and headed home.
As things currently stand, Olmo is the Golden Boot leader. The RB Leipzig star scored for his third game in a row in the thrilling semi-final win over France on Tuesday with his two assists lifting him above Gakpo in the standings.
The Liverpool striker has just one assist to his name at the time of writing.
Of course, Gakpo will have the chance to move out in front if he adds to his haul against England tonight.
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham will also have their eye on the award too.
Both have two goals to their name, with Kane scoring in the group stage clash against Denmark before that dramatic winner in the last 16 stage against Slovakia.
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.’
