DBasia.news – The 2022 World Cup will run from November to December. The 2022 World Cup will be held in Asia for the first time and this time in Qatar.
32 teams participated in it including the defending champions, the French national team, as well as the overseer of the most World Cup titles, the Brazilian national team. Unfortunately, the winner of the second most World Cup trophy, the Italian national team would not participate.
Four years ago when France became world champions, their sharpest strikers were Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe who scored 4 goals each. While the tournament’s top scorer was England’s captain, Harry Kane, with 6 goals.
Ahead of the 2022 World Cup, BolaSkor has predicted strong candidates to become the top scorer, assuming the names mentioned are called into the squad for the World Cup. Here are the eight candidates:
1. Lionel Messi
The 2022 World Cup could be the last for him as he is now 35 years old. Even though he is no longer young, La Pulga is still La Pulga. At his best, Messi can make the difference through his assists or goals.
Argentina are in group C with Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia. Without reducing respect for Saudi Arabia, if their defense is weak then Argentina can score goals and Messi would gain a lot of goals in that match.
2. Neymar
Now or never. At the age of 30, Neymar is the backbone of the Brazilian national team and Brazil legend, Ronaldo Nazario, believes that Brazil’s chances of winning will depend on the performance of the PSG star.
Neymar is not a prolific goalscorer who scores a lot of goals, but at his best he is hard to stop. Neymar can make a difference with his creativity, goals and assists.
3. Romelu Lukaku
Another player is Romelu Lukaku who is at the other club level as well as in the Belgian national team. Lukaku had a hard time defending Chelsea and is now back at Inter Milan. Despite frequently changing clubs, Lukaku has always consistently appeared in Belgium.
Because there are names that are familiar to him such as Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard. Moreover, his teammates also know him, so Lukaku in Belgium is more dangerous if he receives a pass from his team-mate.
Four years ago Lukaku also scored four goals in the World Cup. Belgium are in Group F of the 2022 World Cup along with Canada, Morocco and Croatia. Now the Belgian fans are hoping that Lukaku will recover soon with Inter Milan and be fit for the World Cup.
4. Harry Kane
More mature at the age of 29 years. Judging by the quality that England have, if Harry Kane gets the passes he needs then he has great potential to convert them into goals. Kane’s game is also developing.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker is no longer just waiting for the ball in the penalty box to score a goal, but he also moves a lot to pick up the ball and contribute in the offensive phase. Kane could again be the top scorer at the 2022 World Cup.
5. Kylian Mbappe
Four years ago when he became world champion with France, Kylian Mbappe scored 4 goals. Now at 23 years old Mbappe is growing with a combination of speed and good finishing.
Especially now that Mbappe is with Karim Benzema on the front lines, Benzema is a player who also often provides assists and Mbappe can maximize the ‘service’ he provides. Mbappe is definitely one of the top scorer candidates.
6. Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is no longer ‘exiled’ by France and Didier Deschamps. It is clear that the 34-year-old player will be one of the strong candidates for top scorer along with Mbappe. Last season, Benzema brought Real Madrid to the Champions League and LaLiga titles.
If his momentum and confidence have been formed since the start of the 2022 World Cup match, Benzema’s tap of goals can continue with France’s steps.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo
Though 37 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo proved last season with Manchester United that age is just a number. Ronaldo is now not running much but he is efficient in the opponent’s penalty box.
Assisted by his team-mates in Portugal, Ronaldo could be one of the top scorer candidates and in 2018 he was also the second top scorer with four goals, just like Lukaku, Mbappe, Griezmann and Denis Cheryshev.
8. Lautaro Martinez
Argentina have Lionel Messi but they also have 25-year-old striker, Lautaro Martinez. Martinez is the spearhead of Inter Milan’s mainstay and if he maintains consistency in playing at club level, then continues to Argentina, it is possible for Martinez to be the top scorer.
Martinez is a sharp striker outside and inside the penalty box. Among the line of attackers that Argentina currently has, only Martinez and Messi have the potential to be the top scorers.