World Cup golden boot 2018: Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku or Kylian Mbappe - who will win race to be top goal scorer?

The latest on who is winning the race to be top goal scorer in Russia

The race for the World Cup 2018 Golden Boot is hotting up.

In 2014 Colombia’s James Rodriguez went home as the top scorer with just six goals – but his tally is likely to be well beaten in Russia.

Some of the best forwards in the world – from Kylian Mbappe, to Romelu Lukaku to England’s very own Harry Kane – are all in goal-scoring form, with records likely to be broken.

So far, the top goal scorer in Russia is England’s Harry Kane.

Kane is on course to become England’s first winner of the Golden Boot since Gary Lineker in 1986, after his penalty against Colombia took his tally this tournament to six goals.

The Tottenham striker opened the scoring against Colombia from the spot and also netted in the shootut - although only goals in normal time count to his golden boot tally.

Meanwhile Lukaku and Cristiano Ronaldo are tied on four goals each, although it is impossible for Ronaldo to win the award given that Portugal crashed out in the Round of 16 to Uruguay.

Lukaku has scored two in each of Belgium’s games so far, the first time that had happened for 32 years before Kane repeated the feat 24 hours later against Panama.

Who will win the race for the Golden Boot? (Independent)

Kane’s five goals would have been enough to win the Golden Boot in two of the last three World Cups (Diego Forlan in 2010 and Miroslav Klose in 2006) with six goals being the winning tally in every tournament except three since 1974.

Race for the Golden Boot

Top goal scorers

6 goals: Harry Kane (England)
4: Denis Cheryshev (Russia)
4: Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
4: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
3: Antoine Griezmann (France)
3: Artem Dzyuba (Russia)
3: Diego Costa (Spain)
3: Kylian Mbappe (France)
3: Yerry Mina (Colombia)
3: Edinson Cavani (Uruguay)