Race for World Cup Golden Boot tightens

MANILA, Philippines - No player has ever claimed the Golden Boot in the FIFA World Cup more than once and this year, Germany’s Thomas Muller has a chance to make history in Brazil. Three stars were on top of the leader board for most goals at the end of the group stage and Muller joined the party with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Neymar.

When the World Cup was inaugurated in 1930, there were no tiebreakers to determine the winner of the Golden Boot. In 1962, the award was shared by six players with four goals apiece and in 1994, two players were co-winners with six goals each. But since 1998, only one player has been declared winner with the rule that ties are broken by first, most assists and second, least playing time.

Muller, 24, claimed the Golden Boot at the last World Cup in South Africa four years ago with five goals and three assists. He tied with Spain’s David Villa, the Netherlands’ Wesley Sneijder and Uruguay’s Diego Forlan but took the trophy with his three assists.

So far, 136 goals have been scored in this year’s World Cup or an average of 2.83 a match. That’s a new record for most goals in the group stage with 32 teams competing. Curiously, 128 yellow cards have been issued or an average of 2.67. Nine red cards have been flashed. The games have been physically-challenging and with the referees clamping down on roughhousing defenders, scoring has picked up. That has allowed a lot more spacing and opportunities for shots on goal. So far, the tournament has registered two hat-tricks and 11 braces.

Muller and Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri have booked hat-tricks. Muller did it in Germany’s 4-0 win over Portugal. He also knocked in the decider in Germany’s 1-0 decision over the US. If Muller goes on to capture the Golden Boot, he goes down in football history as the only player to win back-to-back awards and the first to clinch more than one trophy. His quest continues when Germany battles Algeria in the Round of 16 on Tuesday morning (Manila time) at Porto Alegre.

Writer Christopher Harris said the product of Bayern Munich’s youth system “has shown consistency in scoring and creating goals for both club and country … he is renowned for his pace, composure and precision and can play as a second striker, winger or attacking midfielder.”

Messi, 27, is widely considered the world’s No. 1 player today and showed remarkable consistency in the group stage, scoring in every match, once in Argentina’s 2-1 triumph over Bosnia-Herzogovina, once in the 1-0 victory over Iran and twice in the 3-2 thriller over Nigeria. Messi’s chances of taking the Golden Boot hinge on how far Argentina advances. Argentina takes on Switzerland in the Round of 16 on Wednesday morning (Manila time) at Sao Paolo.

Battling thigh and hamstring injuries last year, Messi was in fighting form in his comeback and scored twice in his first game since sitting out international friendlies with Ecuador and Bosnia Herzegovina in November. At the World Cup qualifiers, he sat out matches against Peru and Uruguay but still managed to score 10 goals in 14 outings. Before this year’s competition in Brazil, Messi had scored only once in eight matches in two previous World Cups. Argentina was eliminated by Germany in the Round of 16 in both tournaments. In 2010, Germany was particularly unforgiving in booting out Argentina, 4-0.

Messi is determined to push Argentina to the top. Argentina won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986 but since losing in the final in 1990, the team has not played beyond the quarterfinals. “It will be extra special, well above the other World Cups, it is in Brazil with everything that means for us,” said Messi whose son’s name Thiago is inscribed on his left calf with the boy’s handprints. “Our supporters will be there in the thousands.”

Then, there is Neymar who wears No. 10 just like Pele did. Neymar, known as Joia (jewel), is a flamboyant, often irreverent, striker. He’s making his World Cup debut at 22 and a hot favorite to claim the Golden Boot with the homecrowd behind him. “His shooting ability and ball control skills are exceptional and will cause problems for defenses,” wrote Harris. “On the international stage, his claim to fame is his incredible goal in the final of the 2013 Confederations Cup against Spain, using his left foot to score at a right angle. He scored four goals in the tournament and was awarded the Golden Boot. After Messi and Ronaldo pass their peak as the best players in the world, Neymar is the player most likely to ascend to the throne.”

In this year’s World Cup, Neymar scored twice against Croatia and twice against Cameroon. Argentine legend Mario Kempes, who took the Golden Boot in 1978, said Brazilian coach Luis Felipe Scolari uses a formation that’s tailor-made for Neymar to deliver. “Scolari’s tactics of pressuring opponents from all sides of the pitch allow the new No. 10 space up top to roam with teammates from defense, midfield and both wings sending him through,” said Kempes. “Neymar’s impact for this team is big but Brazil is not Neymar plus 10. There is seasoned talent all over the squad. They get experience from the goalie, they have defenders who can score.”

Of the three leading Golden Boot contenders, Messi is the highest-paid, earning the equivalent of P960 Million a year. Neymar’s salary is P528 Million and Muller, P120 Million. Messi and Neymar both play for Barcelona in the Spanish league while Muller suits up for Bayern Munich. Messi is 5-7 and Neymar 5-9 so they’re considered to be of Filipino size. Muller, however, is 6-1.