The Champions League will move into the Round of 16 starting on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, and the Golden Boot is wide open.
Through the group stage, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and PSG’s Kylian Mbappé, the reigning World Cup Golden Boot winner, lead the UCL with seven goals each.
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Right behind them is Premier League juggernaut Erling Haaland, who is tied with FC Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski and FC Porto’s Mehdi Taremi with five goals each.
Unfortunately, Lewandowski is no longer in the running due to Barca being prematurely ousted from the tournament in the group stage.
So who is the best bet to take home the Golden Boot in this year's Champions League? Let’s look at current betting odds to make our prediction.
Champions League Golden Boot Odds 2023
Note: All EPL betting odds are current as of Monday, Dec. 19, at 5 p.m. ET on BetMGM Sportsbook unless otherwise noted.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City (+160)
Kylian Mbappé, PSG (+200)
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool (+250)
Lionel Messi, PSG (+2500)
Vinícius Juníor, Real Madrid (+3300)
Sadio Mané, Bayern Munich (+4000)
Olivier Giroud, AC Milan (+4000)
Neymar, PSG (+5000)
Karim Benzema, Real Madrid (+6600)
Darwin Núñez, Liverpool (+6600)
Roberto Firmino, Liverpool (+6600)
Harry Kane, Tottenham (+10000)
Heung Min Son, Tottenham (+10000)
Julián Álvarez, Manchester City (+10000)
Pierre-Ermerick Aubameyang, Chelsea (+10000)
Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich (+10000)
Christopher Nkunku, RB Leipzig (+10000)
It should come as no surprise that the top contenders for the Golden Boot are among the current leaders. Sportsbooks have Haaland in front, even though he is in a two-goal deficit behind Salah and Mbappe.
Champions League Golden Boot Winner Best Bet
Erling Haaland, Manchester City (+160)
The Norwegian striker has been a menace in the Premier League all season and sits at five goals heading into the Champions League Round of 16.
I am giving an edge to Haaland due to his talent and opportunity. However, it is due to the challenging road his competition needs to navigate.
Haaland will take on RB Leipzig in the next round, who conceded nine goals during the group stage. Meanwhile, Salah will take on Real Madrid, while Mbappé is tasked with scoring on Bayern Munich (who has conceded just two goals).
Manchester City stands a better chance of moving on than Liverpool and PSG, so Haaland is the deserved favorite for the Golden Boot.
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Champions League Golden Boot Contenders
Kylian Mbappé, PSG (+200)
The reigning Golden Boot winner at the World Cup is arguably the best player in the world today. Mbappé has the talent to score on any defense while carrying a team on his back.
The immediate hurdle for the PSG forward is his aforementioned date with Bayern Munich, who will not make life easy for the Frenchmen. Not only are they difficult to score upon, but there is no guarantee that PSG will even defeat the German team.
To win the Golden Boot, you need the opportunity to score goals. Currently, Haaland has a better chance of getting those opportunities long term.
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool (+250)
Salah is the heart of the Liverpool side, and if anyone is going to drag them into the next round of the Champions League, it’s him.
Unfortunately, the same as Mbappé, the Reds find themselves in the difficult position of taking on Real Madrid in the Round of 16.
I have no doubt Salah can reach the back of the net against the Spanish juggernaut, but I have severe doubts about whether or not Liverpool can defeat them in aggregate.
Lionel Messi, PSG (+2500)
You can call this an honorable mention, but there is no way you discuss the Golden Boot without discussing the goat.
Messi has an uphill battle for several reasons. First of all, the PSG striker faces the same challenges that teammate Mbappé does regarding getting by Bayern Munich.
Secondly, Messi already finds himself at a three-goal disadvantage in the Golden Boot race.
Then finally, in addition to being in direct competition for goals with the greatest goal-scoring threat in the world, Mbappé, PSG also houses another fierce competition in Neymar.
You can never count out Messi, and at +2500, it may seem like a tempting wager. However, he may have one too many obstacles to clear this time through.