Golden Boot Contenders for the 2019 Women's World Cup
The 2019 Women's World Cup is almost upon us, with 552 players from 24 countries hoping to write their in history in France this summer. Of that group, a select bunch of elite scorers will challenge for the most goals and the Golden Boot title.
Aside from Michelle Akers's 1991 total of 10 goals, all Golden Boot winners have landed between the five- and seven-goal range, with Germany's Celia Sasic edging the USA's Carli Lloyd on a tiebreaker in 2015 after both scored six.
Here's are nine prime contenders who could finish the 2019 edition of the Women's World Cup with the Golden Boot:
Stina Blackstenius (Sweden)
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Still only 23 years of age, the Swedish forward already has a track record of netting in major tournaments after scoring twice at the 2016 Olympics and Euro 2017.
With legendary forward Lotta Schelin now retired, the time has come for a new Sweden star to come to the forefront, with Blackstenius seemingly well placed.
Mana Iwabuchi (Japan)
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Iwabuchi is Japan's most likely source of goals this summer, having recently enjoyed her most prolific year to date at the international level in 2018.
The 26-year-old was a fringe player for Japan at the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, but she has really come into her own now that older stars from those past squads have retired.
Lea Schüller (Germany)
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Schüller is definitely a young star to watch this summer, with the 21-year-old already a lethal international forward after scoring eight goals since her senior debut in 2017.
Earlier this year, the prolific Essen starlet scored the winning goal in a friendly against France on French soil, a statement win for a German side expected to go far in the World Cup.
Christine Sinclair (Canada)
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This will more than likely be Sinclair's last World Cup, and the Canadian captain will hope to go out with a bang after previously scoring in the 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 tournaments.
The 35-year-old could also break the international goal record held by Abby Wambach. She needs just four more goals to surpass the retired USA legend's total of 184.
Alex Morgan (USA)
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Morgan is arguably the most well known and recognizable female player on the planet and goes into the World Cup as the USWNT's premier forward in a loaded starting front line.
Morgan scored her 100th international goal earlier this year, although she may have a point to prove on this grandest of stages after netting just three times in two previous World Cups.
Sam Kerr (Australia)
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Discount Australia from challenging for World Cup glory at your peril, with Kerr in fine form after a blistering start to the 2019 NWSL season with the Chicago Red Stars.
Kerr, who went to the 2011 and 2015 World Cups as a very young player, has scored 23 of her 31 international goals in the last 22 months alone.
Nikita Parris (England)
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Nikita Parris finished the 2018-19 club season with 19 Women's Super League goals for Manchester City and winning the FWA Footballer of the Year award, earning a high-profile transfer to Lyon as a result.
For Parris, who scored six goals for England in qualifying, this is her first World Cup. It is also her first major tournament as the Lionesses' chief goal threat after a fringe role at Euro 2017.
Eugenie Le Sommer (France)
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Lyon's Le Sommer comes into this, her third World Cup, fresh off the back of a sixth Women's Champions League title at the club level and will be the home favorite this summer.
International strikers don't come much more experienced than the 30-year-old, who has scored 74 times for France in 159 appearances to date.
Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands)
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Netherlands' No. 9 has emerged as one of the hottest strikers in world football over the last couple of years, scoring four goals en-route to Euro 2017 glory.
Her 2018-19 club season with Arsenal was record breaking, as she scored 22 times - more than a goal per game - as the Gunners lifted the title. Remarkably, she's still only 22 years old.
