As the World Cup reaches its pinnacle, the individual race is on to take home the Golden Boot. So as we wait for the semi-finals, here’s a look at the key challengers still involved in the World Cup.

6 goals – Harry Kane, England

The Three Lions’ media darling, the boy next door, the housewife’s favourite, the clean-cut man to take home to Mummy, Harry Kane couldn’t be any more endearing if he started rescuing kittens from Russian trees. He’s the favourite to win the Golden Boot, but not an overwhelming one, despite his two-goal lead.

Strangely, the Tottenham forward hasn’t played particularly well, by his lofty standards. His goals mostly came from penalties and set-pieces and he was largely anonymous against Sweden in the quarter-final. His problem is also England’s major problem against Croatia. They’ve struggled to find him. The Three Lions’ link play between Kane and the forwards around him has been patchy at best. There’s every chance that England could reach the final without him scoring another goal, if their recent pattern of play is any indication. On the other hand, he just doesn’t miss from the penalty spot. If England get just one more spot-kick, the Golden Boot is his.

4 goals – Romelu Lukaku, Belgium

Lukaku has an obvious advantage and disadvantage, compared to Kane. He’s two goals behind, but more involved in his side’s attacking play. Under Roberto Martinez, Belgium’s positive approach suits Lukaku. His role is pivotal, even playing out wide against Brazil, with a licence to cut inside and exploit any space. In that quarter-final, everything went through Lukaku. It’s hard to see how Belgium could find the net without Lukaku’s name ending up on the scoresheet. He may well score against France and reach the final, but time is against him. In the end, Lukaku might just run out of games.

3 goals – Kylian Mbappe, France

In the round-of-16, the teenager looked like he’d win the Golden Boot in a single game. He was a revelation, terrifying the Argentines with every touch. But he was a peripheral figure in the quarter-final and his biggest problem may prove to be his manager. Didier Deschamps prefers a disciplined line-up and Mbappe is often cast out wide and away from goal. He flies when he’s given his freedom, which is unlikely to happen against Belgium.

3 goals – Antoine Griezmann, France

Like Mbappe, Griezmann has to make the most of a cautious tactical approach, taking the few chances that come his way. But the elder forward has one advantage over the teenager. All French roads usually lead to Griezmann. He has retained his talismanic presence from Euro 2016 and will fancy his chances of finding the target in the semi-final. But he’s still three goals behind Kane. There’s a chance that both Griezmann and Mbappe could go further than the Englishman in the tournament, but they won’t catch his Golden Boot.

Golden Boot prediction: Harry Kane (one goal ahead of Lukaku)

Neil Humphreys
Singapore’s best selling author and Football columnist