Top Scorer Odds Tracker – 2018 FIFA World Cup
- Track each player’s odds to lead the 2018 FIFA World Cup in goals
- See how the odds have changed since being released
- Sort players by their country or alongside others with similar odds
While World Cup futures betting is certainly the most popular, picking the top goalscorer is another favorite among both serious and casual soccer fans.
If you shop around you can likely find odds for almost any player in the tournament, but we’ve narrowed our tracker down to those worth a wager.
Top Contenders to Lead World Cup in Goals
Lionel Messi, Argentina
Argentina’s Lionel Messi has held steady as the favorite to score the most goals during the tournament.
The sad thought of a World Cup without The Magic Man was nearly a reality, as Argentina needed the last game of qualifying to secure their place. Messi netted a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Ecuador to finish third in CONMEBOL.
Messi scored 34 goals in 32 appearances with Barcelona in La Liga this year and is a threat to put one in the back of the net every time he touches the ball.
Brazilian Strikers
The Brazilians are one of the favorites to lift the 2018 FIFA World Cup trophy, and it’s largely thanks to Neymar (PSG) and Gabriel Jesus (Man City), two of the top contenders to lead the tournament in goals.
Each have seen their odds shorten, though Jesus at an average of +1500 may present the better value with Neymar recovering from a broken foot, and still not in full training.
Belgium and Lukaku’s Easy Draw
The other nation with four contenders on this list is Belgium, joining Argentina and Brazil.
In a group that includes Tunisia and Panama, The Red Devils could have the opportunity to pad their stats early in the World Cup.
Belgium completely steamrolled their competition through qualifying, posting a 9-1-0 record with 43 goals for and only six allowed. Romelu Lukaku lead the way with 11 goals and can be had for around +1800 odds to win this prop.
Diego Costa
Since seeing odds as high as +4600 back in March, Spain’s Diego Costa has seen the biggest movement in his odds, which now hover around +2600.
With the recent announcement of Spain’s final 23-man roster, Costa finds himself as the most accomplished striker on the team to lead the line alongside Rodrigo and Iago Aspas.
Value Top Goalscorers
(06/01/18) Outside of players from some of the top contenders, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah is an interesting option.
Salah recently won the English Premier League’s Golden Boot award scoring 32 goals. He will certainly be the main man for Egypt, but that will be contingent on his fitness, having suffered a dislocated shoulder in the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
His odds have since drifted as high as +5000.
It should come as no surprise that the list of top contenders is full of the stars from the tournament’s favored teams. The more games a team plays, the better chance they have at scoring more goals.
Of this list, Argentina, Brazil and Belgium have the most players with four each. But Belgium currently sits outside of the top five contenders for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which is why you don’t see them above.
Colombia’s James Rodriguez led the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with six goals, in just five matches, as a 22-year-old. Germany’s Thomas Muller tied for the most gols in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, being honored as the Best Young Player in the tournament.
Muller also recorded a hat-trick in a group stage match against Portugal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The only other player participating in the 2018 World Cup who has also recorded a hat-trick in the tournament is Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain, who did it in 2010 in a group stage match against South Korea.
