The World Cup also offers recognition to the tournament’s best performers
While the main focus of the World Cup remains who gets their hands on that golden trophy, there is also the chance for individual players to pick up honours for their displays. Prizes such as the Golden Boot for top goal scorer, Golden Gloves for best goalkeeper and Golden Ball for the best individual player are also handed out and, of course, can win you money.
First things first
Before you go any further, swing by the Oddsshark website, find your favourite betting agency and get your account sorted with your credit card. As a brand new customer and the World Cup entering its final stretch, there should be several offers and promotions available to you.
Where should I be investing my money?
One of the biggest prizes up for grabs is the Golden Boot – who will finish as top scorer at the competition? Right now, it looks to be down to two names – Harry Kane of England and Belgium’s RomeluLukaku.
The English forward has six goals to his name and is the odds-on favourite to scoop the prize. Kane scored five of those girls in his first two matches, bagging a brace against Tunisia before netting a hat-trick against Panama.
Kane is now at just 1.062 to take the award and join other prestigious names such as Garrincha, Eusebio and Ronaldo to win the prize. Lukaku, whose Belgium side lost to France in the semi-final, will have one more chance in the third-placed play-off to stake his claim this coming Saturday (14 July).
With four goals to his name already, he is at 21.00 to overtake Kane at the top of the charts. The French pair of Antoine Griezmann and KylianMbappe, both on three goals thus far, are further out at 34.00 to take the Golden Boot, according to Oddsshark.
However, to win greater prize money you can double up, choosing the Golden Boot winner as well as who you think will win the World Cup. You can pick France, who are the favourites to lift their second global crown, to win the title and Harry Kane to finish as top scorer at a price of just 1.72.
England to win the World Cup with Kane finishing as top scorer is higher at 3.60, while a Croatia World Cup win with Kane taking the Golden Boot comes in at 6.50. For those feeling a little more daring, you can back favourites France to win the world title and RomeluLukaku to snatch the Golden Boot at the long price of 34.00.
The race is also on to take the Golden Ball prize, awarded to the player considered the best at the tournament. Previous winners have included Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Diego Forlan and Lionel Messi, but some different names are in the mix this time.
French teenage sensation KylianMbappe is the outright favourite to take the Golden Ball. The PSG forward has looked sensational in the knock-out phase and is at just 2.10 to win the Golden Ball.
It will also be of little surprise to learn that the six goals Harry Kane has netted have left him with a chance of scooping the Golden Ball as well. The 24 year old is behind Mbappe in the running for this award, however, and you ca back the Englishman at 5.00.
One player with a real chance of winning you some prize money is Luka Modric. The Real Madrid playmaker has been the best midfielder at the tournament so far and his ability to dictate play is second to none.
Big things will be expected of him of Croatia are to reach the final and beyond, but he has already had plenty of plaudits at this World Cup. He is at 8.00 to win best player in Russia.
The final individual prize belongs to the men between the sticks. The Golden Gloves is awarded to the best goalkeeper at the tournament, and this year’s contest looks to be a very close run thing indeed.
The best goalkeeper at the tournament so far has been Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois. The Chelsea stopper has made no fewer than 18 saves at the World Cup, yet is priced at 34.00 to win the Golden Gloves.
Given his performances and that high price – a US$10 dollar investment would bring in a US$340 pay off – it may well be worth backing the Belgian. The only thing counting against Courtois is his side’s semi-final exit.
England’s Jordan Pickford, meanwhile, can stake his claim after excellent showings in the penalty shoot-out against Colombia and in the second half of the quarter-final against Sweden. The Everton stopper is at 2.87 to win the Golden Gloves, meaning that backing Pickford could almost triple your investment.
Croatia’s veteran goalkeeper, DanijelSubasic, has stopped no fewer than four penalties at the World Cup so far. He has been instrumental in his country’s progress and is priced at 5.00 to win the individual award.
The favourite, however, is France’s Hugo Lloris. He was shaky against Argentina but put in a more solid showing against Uruguay, and is at 1.83 to win the award.
GOLDEN BOOT
Harry Kane (1.062)
RomeluLukaku (21.00)
GOLDEN BALL
KylianMbappe (2.10)
Harry Kane (5.00)
Luka Modric (8.00)
GOLDEN GLOVES
Hugo Lloris (1.83)
Jordan Pickford (2.87)
DanijelSubasic (5.00)
Thibaut Courtois (34.00)
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