In the 2019 World Cup, USA’s Megan Rapinoe won the Golden Boot – but who could claim it this year? (Picture: Getty Images)
With just one game left of the Women’s World Cup 2023, we’re facing a slightly unprecedented feeling as a nation – England are still in the competition.
The Lionesses have made it all the way to the final – their first time in the final since FIFA launched an official world cup for women in 1991. (For context, the FIFA-sanctioned men’s world cup started in 1930).
The hopes of a nation are riding on the likes of Lauren Hemp and Lauren James – who could play again after her red card – to cinch glory (but, alas, not a bank holiday), but what about some personal glory?
Could one of England’s Lionesses claim the Golden Boot, the award given to the player who has scored the most goals throughout the competition?
Who’s the top goal scorer of the Women’s World Cup?
As it currently stands, Japan’s Miyazawa Hinata is leading the race for the Golden Boot.
Hinata scored five goals and landed one assist during Japan’s tenure in the 2023 competition, which came to an end during the quarter finals.
Even though Japan are out, Hinata will have something on the line during Sunday’s final (Picture: Getty)
Sweden knocked them out 2-1.
France’s Kadidiatou Diani is currently second on the list, with four goals and two assists.
Sweden’s Amanda Illestedt is third with four goals and one goal assist.
As all of these teams are out, they can, obviously, not change their position on the table now, so what could change the outcome?
England’s Lauren James could pull off a Golden Boot coup with one redemptive hattrick performance (Picture: Getty)
That would be England’s Lauren James, Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp or Spain’s Aitana Bonmati, Jenni Hermoso and Alba Redondo.
These players are all tied with three goals scored each – Lauren James also has three assists, Bonmati and Hermoso have two assists and Redondo has the one.
So, in tomorrow’s final, if any of these players can score at least two goals, they could take over the top spot – totalling five goals but with more assists than Japan’s Hinata.
Women’s World Cup 2023 top goal scorers
5 goals
Hinata Miyazawa, Japan
4 goals
Kadidiatou Diani, France
Alexandra Popp, Germany
Jill Roord, Netherlands
Amanda Ilestedt, Sweden
3 goals
Hayley Raso, Australia
Ary Borges, Brazil
Lauren Hemp, England
Lauren James, England
Alessia Russo, England
Eugénie Le Sommer, France
Sophie Román Haug, Norway
Aitana Bonmatí, Spain
Jennifer Hermoso, Spain
Alba Redondo, Spain
Rebecka Blomqvist, Sweden
Fridolina Rolfö, Sweden
MORE : Sarina Wiegman has no plans to quit England job after Women’s World Cup final
MORE : How much do Lionesses get paid? England star salaries revealed
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Can England’s Lionesses stick the (Golden) Boot in during their first ever World Cup final?
