The 2022 FIFA World Cup final is set, and the decisive goal in Sunday's final could also be the decisive goal in the Golden Boot race.
Lionel Messi slotted home a penalty in the semifinal to draw level with Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race — and after Mbappe failed to add to his tally in France's semifinal victory, it's Messi favored to win the honor in World Cup odds.
Find our full 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot odds breakdown below and check out our World Cup picks page for more.
2022 World Cup Golden Boot odds
| Player | Odds to win Golden Boot |
|---|---|
 Lionel Messi |
-110 |
 Kylian Mbappe |
+105 |
| Olivier Giroud |
+1,000 |
| Julian Alvarez |
+1,000 |
Odds courtesy of bet365 as of December 16, 2022.
Looking to bet on some 2022 World Cup action? Here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New users at FanDuel can get a no-sweat first bet up to $1,000! Sign Up Now
B) New users at DraftKings can get a deposit bonus up to $1,000! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only. Also, check out our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2022.
Tiebreaker scenarios
Entering the final, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are deadlocked with five goals apiece in the tournament, which brings tiebreaker scenarios into play. There are two tiebreakers in case neither player scores or if they each score one — or if either Julian Alvarez or Olivier Giroud can match them.
The first will be total assists. Messi has tallied three while Mbappe has two, giving the Argentinian the edge should Mbappe fail to score or grab an assist. The other tiebreaker is fewest minutes played, which is where the Frenchman is far and away in the lead. Mbappe has played 477 minutes in the tournament while Messi has played 570.
2022 Golden Boot favorites
Lionel Messi (-110)
Lionel Messi made it three goals in three knockout games, and five overall, as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to advance to the World Cup final. With Mbappe going scoreless for a second game in succession, Messi took over as the betting favorite.
Kylian Mbappe (+105)
Mbappe scored his second brace of the tournament in the Round of 16 win over Poland but he's been held out since, unable to score against either England or Morocco — though he has remained at the heart of France's attack.
Olivier Giroud (+1,000)
The beloved all-time scorer for France is on four goals, last scoring the winner against England. The No. 9 does the thankless work for France's attack, pops up with stellar goals every now and then, and delivers when needed.
Julian Alvarez (+1,000)
Alvarez stole the show in Argentina's semifinal, scoring twice including a brilliant individual effort in their 3-0 win over Croatia. Alvarez's brace drew him level with Giroud, one goal behind the leaders.
Golden Boot trends
- No player has ever won the Golden Boot more than once.
- Since its introduction in 1982, only two players have won the Golden Ball (Tournament MVP) and Golden Boot in the same tournament.
- Just Fontaine holds the record for most goals scored in a single World Cup with 13 in 1958.
- The average number of goals scored at the World Cup by the Golden Boot winner is seven.
2022 World Cup Golden Boot FAQs
France's Kylian Mbappe is the favorite at -125.
Harry Kane won the 2018 World Cup Golden Boot with six goals in the tournament.
The Argentine superstar has +150 odds to win the Golden Boot.
