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#2: Leo Messi (Argentina)
Although the little Argentine may not be thinking about individual recognition at the moment, he is one of the strongest contented to lead the goalscoring charts in Russia. In what will be his last International duty for Argentina, Messi's sole focus is to lift the trophy, although he himself accepts the facts that his country aren't favorites this time and everyone shall accept the same. As if Messi needs any more individual fame, a Golden Boot in the World Cup could complete his collection of World Cup Individual Awards.
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La Pulga lifted the Golden Ball in Brazil as the tournament's best player and could lift the Golden Boot in Russia as the tournament's leading scorer. He scored four in Brazil and could improve upon that tally in Russia. Messi scored seven goals for his nation in the qualifiers and his last-gasp hattrick in Quito is the only reason that a squad from Argentina is traveling to Russia in the first place.
Messi doesn't have the luxury of an easy group like other contenders for the prize, but the little man knows his way around the biggest teams and Argentina would be relying solely upon his services to advance to the knockout stages and even win the World Cup in Moscow.
