Top scorers competing for 2018 Golden Boot

With the last round of group games wrapped up at the 2018 World Cup, several players are leading the race for the Golden Boot ahead of the Knockout Stage.

Top 1: Harry Kane – 5

Harry Kane celebrates after scoring during a Group G match between Tunisia and England at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, Russia, Monday, June 18, 2018. [Photo: AP]

The captain of England national team topped to the World Cup goal-scoring charts with a hat-trick in England's stunning 6–1 win over Panama.

The game, records England's biggest ever win at the World Cup finals and secures the team a place to the last 16, also marks Kane as the third England player to fire in three goals in a World Cup match since Geoff Hurst in 1966 and Gary Lineker in 1986.

The Tottenham striker previously contributed two goals in Three Lions' opening match of Group G, with his last-ditch winner in injury time helping England battle to victory over Tunisia 2-1.

Harry Kane of England reacts after scoring the 2-0 goal during the FIFA World Cup 2018 Group G preliminary round soccer match between England and Panama in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, June 24, 2018.[Photo: IC]

The 25-year-old currently ranks the first place in Top Scorer Standings, leading ahead of Portugal's Captain Cristiano Ronaldo and Belgium's raising star Romelu Lukaku.

If Kane continues his impressive scoring rate and wins the scoring competition, he will become the second man to bring the World Cup Golden Boot to England, following Gary Lineker's success 32 years ago.

"KANE HE DO IT?" A report title with The Sun is quoted as asking.

Top 2: Cristiano Ronaldo – 4

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal scores from the penalty spot, Portugal v Spain, Group B, 2018 FIFA World Cup football match, Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Russia, June 15, 2018. [Photo: IC]

The Portugal captain, who's making his fourth appearance at the World Cup tournament, has four goals to his name so far.

The Real Madrid top scorer started his World Cup show with an impressive hat-trick, rescuing a 3:3 draw for his country against star-studded Spain.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner powered in a penalty only 4 minutes after the referee's opening whistle, but Spain soon equalized through Diego Costa's low shot in the 23rd minute.

On the stroke of halftime, Ronaldo fired a left foot shot from outside of the penalty area. The goal slipped into the net through the fingers of Spain keeper David de Gea, helping Portugal retake the lead.

After halftime, Spain led the game most of the time, as a second goal from Costa and a volley from Nacho Fernandez seemingly promised La Furia Roja a winning start of their 2018 World Cup campaign.

However, Ronaldo, the hero of Portugal and man of the match, stood out and saved his team, again.

In the 88th minute, the captain's last goal of the thrilling match, a spectacular free kick, awarded him a hat-trick, while also rescuing his team with a precious 1 point.

The magical performance by the 33-year-old Ronaldo continued in Portugal's following game against Morocco.

The four European Golden Shoes winner scored a fourth-minute bullet header, which constituted the only goal of the game and beat Morocco 1-0.

Ronaldo Cristiano of Portugal scores a goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Group B match between Portugal and Morocco at Luzhniki Stadium on June 20, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. [Photo: PressFocus/MB Media/Getty Images/Lukasz Laskowski]

The early diving header at Luzhniki Stadium was Ronaldo's 85th goal for his country, breaking the record held by Hungarian great Ferenc Puskas, made the Portuguese star Europe's highest ever scorer in international football.

Despite of the player's missed penalty and a yellow card in Portugal's last group-stage match against Iran that ended with a 1:1 tie, Portugal has advanced to the round of 16, hand in hand with Spain, the country's Iberian Peninsula derby rival, which topped Group B.

Will Ronaldo manage to claim the Golden Boot on Russian soil, and how far will his Portugal go at the World Cup?

We shall see.

Top 2: Romelu Lukaku – 4

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku , right, scores his side's third goal past Tunisia goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha during a Group G match between Belgium and Tunisia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at Spartak Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, June 23, 2018. [Photo: AP/Hassan Ammar]

The 25-year-old, with his four strikes, levels with glitzy Portugal footballer Cristiano Ronaldo on top of the World Cup scorer list.

The Manchester United forward contributed two goals in Belgium's 3:0 win over Panama in its opening match, and another two scores in the Red Devils' 5:2 win over Tunisia.

He is therefore regarded as a "raising star" of the 2018 World Cup, and a potential Golden Boot contender.

Romelu Lukaku scores his side's third goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Group G match between Belgium and Panama at Fisht Stadium in Sochi, Russia, June 18, 2018.[Photo: IC]

Denis Cheryshev of hosts Russia and Diego Costa of Spain each have netted three goals so far, ranking third on the top scorer standings.

With players of different nationalities heading for the Golden Boot, BBC is "warning" that their strongest rival in the award chase may actually be…own goals.

Nine own goals have been scored during the group stage in Russia, breaking the previous record of most own goals in a World Cup, in France in 1998. That year, there were six in the entire tournament - all 64 games.