As Euro 2024 approaches its final match between England and Spain, UEFA has revealed that the Golden Boot award will be shared between six players if no clear winner emerges. Among the top goal scorers in the tournament are Harry Kane and Dani Olmo, who are currently tied on three goals each. The other contenders in the running for the prestigious award include Cody Gakpo, Georges Mikautadze, Jamal Musiala, and Ivan Schranz.
This decision marks a significant departure from the previous edition of the tournament, where Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded the Golden Boot despite being level on goals with Patrik Schick. Ronaldo’s one assist in Euro 2020 gave him the edge over Schick, who missed out on the award due to the lack of an assist. However, UEFA’s new policy for Euro 2024 states that the top scorer prize will be shared among players with an equal number of goals unless a player can break the four-goal mark.
Heading into the final match, Jude Bellingham and Fabián Ruiz are also in contention for the Golden Boot, having scored two goals each. However, Kane and Olmo are the favorites to pull ahead in the standings and potentially clinch the award with at least four goals. If none of the players reach the four-goal threshold in the final, the winner will have the lowest tally for a Golden Boot recipient since Euro 2012.
In 2012, three players – Fernando Torres, Mario Gomez, and Alan Dzagoev – shared the Golden Boot with three goals each. Torres was ultimately awarded the prize due to playing fewer minutes than the other two players. If the scenario repeats itself in Euro 2024, the tournament will see a joint winner with a relatively low goal tally compared to previous editions.
Overall, UEFA’s decision to implement a shared Golden Boot policy adds an element of unpredictability and excitement to the final match of Euro 2024. As fans eagerly await the outcome of the England vs. Spain showdown, the race for the top scorer award remains tight and could culminate in a historic shared victory among the tournament’s standout performers.