When it comes to the World Cup, every honour counts. And so, even if one’s nation doesn’t win a trophy, there are other accolades such as the Golden Ball or Golden Glove. Here, we’ll be focusing on the Golden Boot - the top scorer of the World Cup and three players who could possibly win it.

Lionel Messi

The Barcelona and Argentina striker is arguably the best player in the world and with him in a side, anyone’s chances of winning automatically increase. 26-year-old Messi has won everything that can be won with Barcelona but has yet to make his mark in a World Cup, only scoring one goal in the last two editions of the tournament. He’ll be hungry to perform this time and if Argentina want to win the World Cup, they’ll need Messi firing on all cylinders. Even without winning the World Cup however, the Argentine has a chance of ending the tournament as top scorer with teams like Nigeria, Bosnia and Iran in the group.

Atletico Madrid manager and fellow compatriot, Diego Simeone recently said of Messi:

"After winning so much in Europe, it's normal that a World Cup could be tempting for him; that it could pose him extra responsibilities and pressures. Few players have had the chance to win it [from] our country. So that's why he and his team-mates will try to take Argentina to the best place in the world."

Despite what would be called a great season in many strikers’ books, if Messi’s worst season was a result of him saving himself for the World Cup, then teams have much to fear as Messi has a good chance of winning the Golden Boot with odds of 8.50 @ bet365.

Neymar

As the talisman and hope of an entire nation, 22-year-old Neymar will have to meet expectations this summer or risk letting his country down. The occasion didn’t get to him last year in the Confederations Cup as he led Brazil all the way to final before helping demolish arguably the best team in the world in Spain, 3-0 while scoring four goals enroute. The Barcelona man might play second fiddle to Messi at club level but he is the main man for Brazil and his record for the Seleção is an impressive 30 goals in 47 games.

The World Cup is a different beast though as the last two winners of the Confederations Cup - coincidentally Brazil - failed to get past the quarterfinal stage. However, Neymar and his compatriots will have home support throughout and if he can emulate his past performances for Brazil, he has every chance of finishing as top scorer, eventually clinching the Golden Boot as his odds of 11.00 @ bet365.

Cristiano Ronaldo

While Portugal’s chances of winning the World Cup are 29.00, their captain and talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo could drag them as far as possible if he brings his A-game. The 2013 Ballon d’Or winner will come into the World Cup after a simply spectacular year where the Portuguese forward not only scored 51 goals in 47 games and broke the record for most Champions League goals in a single season with 17, but also helped Real Madrid finally win their coveted La Decima.

Ronaldo’s sights are now set on Brazil and despite the fact that his nation winning the tournament is pretty much a long shot, there’s every chance that the former Manchester United star can leave the tournament with the Golden Boot as his odds of 13.00 @ bet365 - even with tough group opposition in Germany, USA and Ghana.