Reuters
Messi is followed by his Barcelona teammate Neymar (Brazil) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) who plays professionally for Barcelona's top rival, Real Madrid, in Spain's La Liga.
Here are the odds for the top 20 players:
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 7/1
- Neymar (Brazil) -10/1
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) -12/1
- Sergio Aguero (Argentina) -14/1
- Luis Suarez (Uruguay) -18/1
- Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina) -20/1
- Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) -22/1
- Fred (Brazil) -25/1
- Karim Benzema (France) -25/1
- Robin Van Persie (Netherlands) -25/1
- Thomas Muller (Germany) -25/1
- Diego Costa (Spain) -28/1
- Edinson Cavani (Uruguay) -33/1
- Hulk (Brazil) -33/1
- Mario Balotelli (Italy) -33/1
- Miroslav Klose (Germany) -33/1
- Fernando Torres (Spain) -40/1
- Jo (Brazil) -40/1
- Olivier Giroud (France) -40/1
- Wayne Rooney (England) -40/1
To be the top goalscorer at the World Cup, a player must not only be great, but it helps if he plays for a team that is expected to go deep into the tournament.
Brazil and Argentina are the two top favorites to win the Tournament. The two favorites to be the top goalscorer are from those countries as well as five of the top eight favorites.
That is also why there are no Americans in the top 40.
Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore are both 150/1 to be the top goalscorer in the tournament.