Euro 2024 betting guide: Top Goalscorer analysis and predictions
Excitement is building ahead of Euro 2024's big kick-off on June 14 — but who will come out on top in the battle for the Golden Boot?
We take a closer look at the leading candidates and some dark horses to lead the European Championship scoring charts as 24 nations bid for glory.
Euro 2024 top goalscorer tips — Market leaders
First, let's take a closer look at the players who lead the top goalscorer betting market heading into the tournament.
There's plenty of big stage pedigree among this quartet, who have collectively notched 57 goals between them at major tournaments so far.
Kylian Mbappe - 5/1 (William Hill)
Despite failing to find the net at all at Euro 2020, French superstar Mbappe more than made up for that misfire at the 2022 World Cup.
His 8 goals was the highest return of any player and included a hat-trick in a thrilling final which saw France suffer an agonising defeat on penalties to Argentina.
Mbappe’s rich scoring form at international level also continued throughout qualifying, where he mustered another 9 strikes to help his nation finish top of their group with just two points dropped.
Buoyed by recently completing a dream move to Real Madrid, the Les Bleus forward is understandably tipped to come out on top in the Golden Boot battle again.
Harry Kane - 6/1 (10Bet)
While his search for a first major trophy goes on, Kane still enjoyed a record-breaking first season in Germany.
A shining light in a stumbling Bayern Munich side, the Englishman netted an oustanding 36 goals in the German top-flight to shatter Uwe Seeler’s previous record of 30, which had stood since the 1963-64 season.
Eventually ending the campaign with 44 across all competitions, Kane also bagged 9 for his country during qualifying, to leave him the third-highest scorer across all nations.
The 30-year-old has the golden touch right now and, with England entering the tournament as outright favourites, he will fancy his chances of adding to his 2018 World Cup Golden Boot in his new home of Germany.
Above: Kane has already scored 12 goals at major tournaments and won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. (Photo by Alamy Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo - 14/1 (Betway)
A move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia last year might have seen Ronaldo step away from the European limelight at club level, but ‘CR7’ remained a potent threat for his country in qualifying.
Only Romelu Lukaku bettered his 10-goal tally, though Portugal admittedly found themselves in a relatively weak group.
Nevertheless, Ronaldo already boasts 22 goals at major tournaments and will fancy his chances of adding to his tally in Group F.
Both Turkey and the Czech Republic are established at European Championships but will rightly enter underdogs against Portugal, who also come up against the lowest-ranked competing side in Georgia.
Many Golden Boots are settled during the group stage and even at 37 years of age, Ronaldo will expect to throw his hat into the ring in 2024.
Romelu Lukaku - 18/1 (Bet365)
Lukaku might have struggled settling at the various clubs he’s played for throughout his career, but the Belgian marksman has rarely had trouble finding the back of the net.
His 14 goals in qualifying made him the continent’s highest-scoring player and, alongside the 21 netted in Roma colours this season, leaves him in strong stead to continue his rich form in Germany.
Belgium are firm favourites to top Group E and come up against seemingly inferior opposition in the likes of Slovakia and Romania. That should be music to the ears of a player already boasting 11 goals at major tournaments.
However, the Red Devils' apparent weakness at the back may hinder their progression to the latter stages — and in turn limit Lukaku’s game time.
A flying start will therefore be crucial but that does not appear beyond the realms of possibility. Coming in at a juicy 18/1, Lukaku arguably holds the most value out of the four players discussed so far.
Above: No player scored more than the 14 goals Lukaku netted during EURO 2024 qualifying. (Photo by Alamy Images)
Euro 2024 top goalscorer tips — Dark horses
Next, let's take a look at four players who might not immediately spring to mind but, based on their recent history at club and international level, could prove a shrewd pick at bigger odds.
Jude Bellingham - 20/1 (Paddy Power)
An £88.5 million move to one of the world’s biggest clubs in Real Madrid might intimidate a lot of players, but not Jude Bellingham.
At the tender age of 20, the ex-Birmingham City youth product comes into the tournament off the back of a scintillating debut season in the Spanish capital which left him with 23 goals and 13 assists to his name.
La Liga and Champions League winning medals will have only boosted the already sky-high confidence of a man who is a worthy contender for both the Golden Boot and Young Player of the Tournament.
Much of his goal return will depend on the role granted to him in Gareth Southgate’s England side. In Madrid, he has thrived in an advanced midfield position but tends to feature in deeper roles for his country.
Nevertheless, he still has two goals in his last four matches in England colours, carrying over his rich scoring form at club level.
Kai Havertz - 33/1 (Bet365)
After a tumultuous start to his Arsenal career, Havertz is now blossoming into the player so many sung the praises of during his time at Bayer Leverkusen.
Difficult memories from his time at Chelsea threatened to continue to haunt the German in North London, but Havertz regrouped to finish the season with 14 goals as the Gunners came agonisingly close to a first Premier League title in 20 years.
Though the 24-year-old is far from prolific, he averaged a healthy 19% conversion rate in Arsenal colours and is expected to lead the line for a Germany side many are tipping to reach the latter stages this summer.
Providing he is able to replicate the scoring form found in the second half of the season, Havertz could be a worthy man to keep on side at 33/1.
Above: Havertz shook off any initial lingering demons from his time at Chelsea to finish with an impressive goal haul for title-chasing Arsenal this season. (Photo by Alamy Images)
Goncalo Ramos - 45/1 @ 10Bet
The aforementioned Ronaldo might have the greater starpower out of Portugal’s forward options, but Goncalo Ramos was the player many were talking about following his exploits at the Qatar World Cup.
In his first ever match at a major tournament, Ramos hit a hat-trick during a 6-1 win over Switzerland to send his nation into the quarter-finals.
His heroics earned him a blockbuster move to Paris Saint-Germain, for whom he netted 14 goals last season as the French side captured their 12th Ligue 1 title.
And with former teammate Mbappe’s recent departure to Real Madrid, Ramos will be eager to remind the Paris outfit of his abilities to shine on the continental stage this summer.
At 45/1, Ramos is a genuine contender providing he is given enough minutes by Roberto Martinez.
Rasmus Hojlund - 45/1 @ 10Bet
Not mentioning Hojlund would be an injustice given his impressive return of seven goals during qualifying for the Danes.
Only the four market leaders found the net with more frequency as the young Manchester United striker helped Denmark qualify for a fourth consecutive major tournament.
Having completed a blockbuster move to Old Trafford last summer, the 21-year-old initially struggled to find his feet before hitting stride during the second half of the campaign.
Eventually finishing with 16 goals in all competitions, Hojlund will head to Germany confident of making a telling impact.
Above: Only the four 'market leaders' scored more goals in qualifying than Højlund's seven. (Photo by Alamy Images)
Euro 2024 top goalscorer pics - Value outsiders:
Finally, let's touch on three man who may appear a long shot in the betting odds but could make for an astute pick ahead of the tournament.
Aleksandar Mitrovic - 66/1 @ Coral
Any player who’s able to net 57 goals for their country is deserving of praise — but to do it for a nation of Serbia’s size is even more impressive.
Ex-Fulham marksman Mitrovic has made a habit of scoring goals wherever he goes and has continued that pattern for Al-Hilal this season, netting 39 times in the Saudi Arabia Pro League.
His five goals during qualifying also made him Serbia’s top-scorer, despite Dragan Stojkovic also having the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Luka Jovic in his ranks.
With many tipping Serbia to make it out of Group C, Mitrovic is likely to be at the centre of any success they enjoy and makes for a solid option at 66/1.
Artem Dovbyk - 66/1 @ bet365
Dovbyk has played just 14 minutes of tournament football to date but that was all he needed to catch the eye.
The 26-year-old came off the bench to net a late winner for Ukraine in a 2-1 win over Sweden in the last 16 three years ago and has gone from strength to strength since.
At club level, he was a pivotal member of a Girona side which battled to a third-placed finish in La Liga, largely thanks to the 25 goals he mustered up.
Dovbyk has also built a strong relationship with fellow countryman Viktor Tsyhankov at club level, who will also feature for Ukraine. They will hope to transfer that telopathic understanding to the international stage in Germany.
Above: Dovbyk finished as La Liga's top-scorer in 2023/24, netting 24 goals in total. (Photo by Alamy Images)
Patrik Schick - 66/1 @ BetVictor
Few careers have typified the sometimes cruel nature of football than that of Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick.
Enjoying a breakout tournament at Euro 2020, where he finished with an impressive haul of five goals, Schick only missed out on winning the Golden Boot to the legendary Ronaldo.
Nevertheless, the now 28-year-old looked set for huge things before several serious injuries over the subsequent three seasons threatened to derail his career entirely.
Fortunately, Schick returned to his best during the second-half of the 2023-24 campaign in a record-breaking Bayer Leverkusen side, netting 13 goals in total as Xabi Alonso’s men captured a stunning Bundesliga title.
Providing he can remain fit between now and the tournament’s start, backing Schick to repeat his Euro 2020 heroics in Germany could prove a very shrewd move indeed.