While lifting the trophy on July 14 is every player's ultimate aim for Euro 2024 this summer, the goal-hungry strikers amongst them will also have their sights set on the possibility of winning the Golden Boot.
The great and good of European football are descending upon Germany for the 17th edition of the Euros, and some of the world's very best - indeed, some of the best of all time - will be in the running for top scorer at the tournament.
It is an award won in the past by legendary figures such as Gerd Muller, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten and Alan Shearer, while the last two winners - Antoine Griezmann and all-time Euros top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo - will both be looking to become the first two-time claimants of the award this summer.
However, there have also been some unfancied Golden Boot winners - the likes of Milan Baros, Henrik Larsen and Tomas Brolin spring to mind - raising hope for those beyond the star names that individual glory could await them in Germany.
The likes of Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Ronaldo are undoubtedly the front-runners though, while a mention must also go to Euro 2024 qualifying top scorer Romelu Lukaku, who has the best international goals-to-game ratio of any player at the Euros.
With the start of the tournament now just one day away, here the Sports Mole team predicts who they believe will come away with the Golden Boot at Euro 2024.
Who will win the Euro 2024 Golden Boot?
Barney Corkhill, Editor - Kylian Mbappe
© Reuters
Not an original choice but, having predicted France to win the tournament, I struggle to look past Kylian Mbappe as the top scorer too.
Harry Kane is the obvious main contender, while you can never rule out Cristiano Ronaldo, but Mbappe is coming off yet another prolific club campaign in which he scored 44 goals in just 48 games, and he may still have something to prove after his switch to Real Madrid was confirmed.
Scarily, the 25-year-old is probably still not even in his prime, despite also being the reigning World Cup Golden Boot winner, last season's Champions League top scorer and also the leading goal-getter in Ligue 1 a staggering six seasons in a row.
The all-time France scoring record - held by teammate Olivier Giroud - is already in his sights, albeit probably not during this tournament, and he also has a Nations League Finals Golden Boot to his name too.
If France get to the final then they will play seven games. Only twice in Euros history has it taken more than five goals to win the Golden Boot. I certainly would not back against Mbappe hitting that ratio at least, and so he gets my nod to pick up a golden pair of boots from the World Cup and Euros in succession.
Matt Law, Football Editor - Kylian Mbappe
It is difficult to look past Kylian Mbappe here, and I am expecting the 25-year-old to have a very strong tournament. France should win all three of their Group D matches, and there are likely to be goals on offer for Mbappe against Austria, Netherlands and Poland.
The likes of Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku have to be mentioned as challengers, while Alvaro Morata is an outsider, but Mbappe will have a clear head, with his club future now being sorted out, and having tipped France to go all the way in Germany, I am expecting the attacker to star.
Mbappe failed to find the back of the net at all at Euro 2020, but he struck eight times at the 2022 World Cup, including a stunning treble in the final, and he should claim the Golden Boot this summer.
Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter - Harry Kane
© Reuters
It is difficult to back against England's all-time record goalscorer, who has scored in nearly 70% of his international appearances, from winning the Golden Boot at Euro 2024.
Three Lions captain Harry Kane enters this summer's tournament in Germany after scoring 44 goals in all competitions for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich last season to win the European Golden Shoe.
Kane found the net four times at Euro 2020 and he won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup after scoring six goals. The 30-year-old also made the net ripple on eight occasions in Euro 2024 qualifying - only bettered by three players.
England should go deep into the tournament if Kane finds form in front of goal, and I would be surprised if he is not in the mix for this year's Golden Boot.
Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter - Kylian Mbappe
Before their two nations potentially meet in a semi-final of titanic proportions, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane ought to rack up the goals in the earlier rounds, leaving the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku in their wake.
Both superstars enter the Euros on the back of phenomenal domestic campaigns, but as I am tipping France to go all the way to glory too, it only seems right to give Mbappe - sure to be spurred on by his Euro 2020 dismay - my vote for the Golden Boot.
Darren Plant, Senior Reporter - Kylian Mbappe
© Reuters
Kylian Mbappe may be going into this tournament having never scored at a European Championship, but his 12 goals from 14 World Cup appearances suggest that it is a mere anomaly.
In his last 10 starts for France, the new Real Madrid forward has only failed to contribute a goal or assist on one occasion, and with his transfer saga having reached a positive conclusion, I expect Mbappe to deliver for Les Bleus on their way to the trophy.
Jonathan O'Shea, Reporter - Cristiano Ronaldo
After his woeful World Cup in Qatar, it seemed CR7 was in terminal decline, and a subsequent move to the Saudi Pro League appeared to confirm this.
However, his goal record for one of the Euro 2024 favourites was brilliant in qualifying, and a recent brace against the Republic of Ireland showed that the Al-Nassr striker is still Portugal's main man up front.
With Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva supplying plenty of bullets, the evergreen 39-year-old can fire his way to one final Golden Boot.
Ben Sully, Reporter - Kylian Mbappe
© Reuters
For me, it's hard to look past Mbappe. The forward travels to Germany as a man in form after racking up 44 goals in his final season in the French capital.
Having been named France's captain, Mbappe will have that added incentive to lead from the front and make amends for his goalless performance at Euro 2020.
With France expected to go deep into the tournament, Mbappe should have plenty of opportunities to add to the Golden Boot award he won in Qatar.
Joel Lefevre, Reporter - Kylian Mbappe
After a disappointing Euros the last time around, I'm looking for big things from Kylian Mbappe in 2024. In 2022, he proved he can consistently perform at an elite level internationally.
Given how stiff the competition always is at the Euros and his move to Real Madrid, I expect to see a highly motivated French skipper eager to cement his status as the best in the game by capturing another Golden Boot title.
Harry Kane will give him a run for his money, but I believe the Frenchman has a lot more in his tank. Mbappe also knows that capturing the Golden Boot and/or the Euros may win him the Ballon d'Or, so he's got more than enough incentive heading into this tournament.
Devesh Jaganath, Reporter - Cristiano Ronaldo
© Reuters
I'm expecting one last hoorah from the Portugal legend in what is likely to be his final major competition for his nation.
CR7 set a new Saudi Pro League record of 35 goals in a single season in 2023-24 and notched up 10 goals during qualifying, which was the second most of any player only behind Romelu Lukaku.
A sixth Ballon d'Or is in his sights and it would take a brave soul to write off the great man from achieving that feat.
Carter White, Reporter - Kylian Mbappe
After scoring 14 times during qualifying, Romelu Lukaku is an interesting pick - the Chelsea striker's stellar record on the international stage, coupled with Belgium's favourable-looking group, makes him a solid shout for Golden Boot, however I'm going to play it safe and back Kylian Mbappe.
Despite featuring in arguably the toughest group of the Euros, Mbappe will surely find the back of the net on multiple occasions during the first three matches, and with France likely to go deep in the competition, the Real Madrid-bound sensation should have enough opportunities to keep the hands of Harry Kane and Lukaku off the Golden Boot trophy.
Sam Varley, Reporter - Harry Kane
© Reuters
While I see him being run close by Kylian Mbappe and Romelu Lukaku, I am unable to look past Harry Kane for the Golden Boot at this summer's tournament.
The Bayern Munich man plays a crucial role in an England side full of attacking talent and is bound to be presented with plenty of chances should the Three Lions progress towards the final.
With an almost unmatched finishing ability and the opportunity to convert any penalties won along the way, I see England's talisman reigning supreme with support from the likes of Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham.
Marvellous Adepoju, Reporter - Kylian Mbappe
The Frenchman ended the recently-concluded season with the most goals of any player in Europe's top-five leagues (alongside Harry Kane) and I'm backing him to carry over that form onto the international scene.
Ellis Stevens, Reporter - Kylian Mbappe
© Reuters
My prediction for the winner of the Golden Boot at Euro 2024 is Kylian Mbappe.
The forward is coming in to the tournament on the back off his most prolific goal scoring season of his career and has already proven himself on the world's biggest stage with four goals in two World Cup finals.
France are also one of the favourites to go all the way in the competition, and I expect Mbappe will be the main source of their goals.
Lewis Nolan, Reporter - Harry Kane
Harry Kane is no stranger when it comes to picking up Golden Boot awards, and with Trent Alexander-Arnold and other exceptionally creative players set to provide service to Bayern Munich's talisman, it would be no surprise to see him end Euro 2024 as the tournament's top scorer.
