Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Euro 2024 Golden Boot: Kane to benefit from removal of rule that helped Ronaldo

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Harry Kane is a contender to win the Euro 2024 Golden Boot this weekend after benefitting from a huge UEFA rule change.

The England captain has led the Three Lions to within one win of ending their 58-year major international title drought.

Kane equalised for England from the penalty spot against the NetherlandsCredit: Getty

Winning the Euros for his country on Sunday night will be his main aim of course, but Kane can also pick up a personal accolade in Berlin. 

He has scored three goals at the tournament and is the joint-top scorer alongside five other stars, one of which is Spain’s Dani Olmo.

Cody Gakpo, Georges Mikautadze, Jamal Musiala and Ivan Schranz all have three goals to their name too, however, they’re all out now. 

It leaves Kane and Olmo fighting it out for the Golden Boot, with Jude Bellingham and Fabian Ruiz sitting behind on two goals each. 

Kane will want to score and claim the award for himself, however, if things remain as they are it would mean there is a six-way tie.

Previously, UEFA would then decide the winner on how many assists each player had.

This benefited Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2020 after he was awarded the trophy due to having more assists than Patrick Schick who was level on goals with the Portugal icon.

Had the rule persisted, Kane would need to have outscored Olmo in the final with the Spaniard on two assists to his zero – as a blank in front of goal would see him miss out.

Olmo is aiming to beat Kane to the Golden BootCredit: Getty
But the England captain may benefit from a rule that saw Ronaldo win the accolade being changedCredit: Getty

Fortunately for Kane, that rule has been changed for Euro 2024 and instead, the Golden Boot will be shared by the six players on three goals should they all remain level. 

And that rule change helps the Bayern Munich striker most as he was also in danger of being overtaken by Spain’s Fabian Ruiz, who has two assists and just a goal fewer than him.

Whereas, Olmo will consider himself hard done by having usually been ahead in the standings if UEFA had continued with their typical way of deciding the winner.

Of course, this all only matters if players are level by the end of play on Sunday night, with the main trophy the prize that truly counts.

Olmo said: “The Golden Boot, it’s a motivation but if we win I don’t care who scores – me or [goalkeeper] Unai Simon!

“The only important thing is to win but always with the objective to try to keep scoring.

“I’ve felt good in the tournament and in a good moment so I’ve got to make the most of it. I know we’re level but there are others who have helped us get there with goals and great play. Alvaro [Morata] can get a hattrick and share it too. As I said, winning collectively is what we want.

“I know it’s true about Kane [not winning trophies] but that isn’t something we think about. We’re focused on ourselves and we’ve got the opportunity to win. That’s the only objective.”

Euro 2024 top scorers

Harry Kane – Matches: 6, Goals: 3

Dani Olmo – Matches: 5, Goals: 3

Cody Gakpo – Matches: 6, Goals: 3

Georges Mikautadze – Matches: 4, Goals: 3

Jamal Musiala – Matches: 5, Goals: 3

Ivan Schranz – Matches: 4, Goals: 3

Fabian Ruiz – Matches: 5, Goals: 2

Jude Bellingham – Matches: 6, Goals: 2

Emotional talkSPORT caller tells England to win for his late friend and claims that ‘it would mean everything’ to him

With that trophy jibe, Kane will have extra motivation to be ahead of his rivals after scoring in the final.

If there isn’t a fourth goal from anyone at the top of the standings though, it would mean that this would be the lowest tally for a Euros Golden Boot winner since 2012.

talkSPORT will bring you live commentary of the Euro 2024 final on Sunday as England bid to make history against Spain. Tune in via the website or the app, and follow our live Euro 2024 blog for all the build-up.

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