Harry Kane celebrates after scoring against Panama

World Cup betting: Harry Kane could win tournament, Golden Boot & Golden Ball awards

21:51 · SUN July 08, 2018

England making the semi-finals means Harry Kane remains in the hunt for one of the most rare hat-tricks in football history as he could win the World Cup, Golden Boot and Golden Ball at the same tournament.

Kane has helped fire England into the semi-finals with now just Croatia standing between them and the World Cup final! The Three Lions are 5/2 second favourites to win the World Cup as they're fancied to win their semi-final clash.

Kane’s tally in Russia remains at six, but crucially he's two ahead of Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku who failed to find the back of the net in Belgium's brilliant win over Brazil, meaning Tottenham man Kane is almost home and dry as the 1/7 favourite to win the Golden Boot award.

Along with goals, Kane’s been a terrific leader on the field for a young England side and he also leads the betting market for the Golden Ball award at 7/2, alongside Kylian Mbappe, to be crowned the best player in the tournament.

Only twice before has one player claimed the best hat-trick in world football, but can Kane join the most exclusive club in the sport? He'll never have a better chance..

Harry Kane's odds for World Cup honours

Harry Kane converts his penalty against Colombia

1/7 Kane to win Golden Boot

With six goals already he looks to have this all sewn up going by the odds. Lukaku is two behind and could not score against Brazil, and while he'll go up against France feeling he can score, there are goals elsewhere in this Begium side - he's also crucially not on the penalties. Mbappe was shackled, as expected, by Uruguay and although Antoine Griezmann scored he's still too far back you;d imagine to catch Kane - this one looks done and dusted.

5/2 England to win the World Cup

England fans are now actually realising that this could happen, England have as good a chance as anyone as they now stand just two wins away from immortality. Croatia will offer their biggest test to date but they've been taken to penalties against both Denmark and Russia - hardly stand-out results and it has surely taken its tool on their energy reserves. Facing England will be something of a relief for Croatia as the Danes and Russians sat back and defended for their lives - England will come on to them and that could play into their hands. Even if England come through then the talented French of Belgians await, but this World Cup has already shown that anything can happen.

7/2 Kane to win Golden Ball

This might be the toughest one to call given a FIFA shortlist is drawn up before being handed to the media to vote on, so this one can go either way. Kane has been a terrific leader as well as goal scorer for England, and although Mbappe was incredible against Argentina that was arguably his only influential game, it's hard to see why he's even close to Kane in the betting. A Griezmann, De Bruyne or Modric could well take this accolade if their team lifts the trophy, but Kane's got a great chance in this market as well - if England get to the final he's got to be right up their in the thinking of the voting media.

So who are the only men to have truly conquered the World Cup?

Technically, the awards for World Cup top scorer and best player were only introduced in 1982 but FIFA lists the best player award at each tournament and that has been used in this instance.

Mario Kempes (Argentina, 1978)

Mario Kempes won the World Cup with Argentina in 1978

The long-haired Kempes became a national hero as Argentina won the World Cup on home soil in 1978. Kempes failed to score in the initial group stage, but braces against Poland and Peru helped Argentina in to the final. He then scored twice in the 3-1 final victory over Holland to make it six goals - one clear of Rob Rensenbrink and Teofilo Cubillas - and also won the Golden Ball for the player of the tournament.

Paolo Rossi (Italy, 1982)

Paolo Rossi won the World Cup with Italy in 1982

Italy were World Cup outsiders in 1982 after scrambling through the first group stage, but Rossi's hat-trick eliminated favourites Brazil and there was no stopping the Azzurri after that. Rossi scored both goals in the 2-0 semi-final win over Poland and claimed the first in the 3-1 final win over West Germany. His six-goal haul saw him finish one ahead of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as he also took home the Golden Ball.

Special mentions

Garrincha (Brazil, 1962)

Brazilian legend Garrincha has been named as the player of the tournament by FIFA as his side lifted the World Cup in Chile, but he was not the outright top scorer. He was part of a six-way tie on four goals in what was just a 16-team tournament back then, so not quite enough to join Rossi of Kempes in this most exclusive of clubs.

Ronaldo (Brazil, 2002)

Ronald was at his brilliant best in the Far East as he banged in eight goals, including two in the final victory over Germany to fire Brazil to another World Cup triumph. Ronaldo gets a special mention here as it was such an impressive display that not winning the Golden Ball was such a bizarre result – especially given Germany goalkeeper Oliver Khan was handed that honour. The absurdity of it all was that Ronaldo had won the award four years earlier in France despite his Brazil being demolished by the hosts in the final.