This World Cup prediction is difficult to make given the vagaries a team sport has on individual honors, but you can narrow the choices by taking World Cup performances from the past into account. The official award only goes back to 1982, but a list of top goal scorers dates to the first competition in 1930 when Uruguay legend Guillermo Stábile notched eight goals. In 1964, there would have been six winners as Flórián Albert, Valentin Ivanov, Garrincha, Vavá, Dražan Jerkovic, and Leonel Sánchez tied with four goals each. Frenchman Just Fontaine holds the record for most goals in one tournament at 13 while clinical German finisher Miroslav Klose has scored the most World Cup goals in all competitions with 16.

So, who are the favorites to lift the cherished trophy in Russia this summer?

The star!

Cristiano Ronaldo - a greedy goal scorer in the best sense, of historic proportion, and determined to make a mark given this is probably Ronaldo's last world cup appearance. The Golden Boot is the only non-team award Ronaldo does not have in his trophy cabinet and is something Ronaldo fans would love to use in their argument against Lionel Messi. Ronaldo has a favorable bracket aside from facing Spain’s David de Gea and should score multiple goals in games against Morocco and Iran. He should score again versus the weak group A winner or runner-up, but will four games be enough to net a high tally?

A repeat performance?

James Rodriguez - the winner of the 2014 Golden Boot, Rodriguez is rounding into great form for Bayern München in the home stretch of the Bundesliga season and Champions League competition. The attacking midfielder is the focus of Colombia’s young and talented attack force allowing him to get plenty of service.

Plus, Colombia is a hot pick to make it to the semi-finals, which gives Rodriguez plenty of opportunities to shine. Another positive for Rodriguez is that he will take the spot and penalty kicks. If he gets on a hot streak against the likes of Senegal and Japan, in the group stages, Rodriguez may wrap up the goal race early as he did in 2014.

The dark horse

Timo Werner - given their team play it is hard to judge who will lead the line for Germany in a competition they are perennial favorites to win? The choice comes down to a "false nine," Werner, or true number nine Sandro Wagner. I am going with the smaller, but faster and more mobile Werner to get the call from coach Joachim Löw. Werner will get plenty of service from the playmaking duo of Mesut Ozil and Toni Kroos, and may catch easy rebounds to put in the net from Leroy Sané, Thomas Müller, and maybe Marco Reus? No team has won more world cup games than Germany, because they have reached the semi-final stage a record amount, which ensures their players get plenty of minutes and opportunities to score.

It is why two Germans make this list.

Another Brazilian ace

Neymar - the question looming over the Brazilian talisman is whether Neymar will be 100 percent fit? If so, the trickster is a sound bet given he will be rested and able to aid the Seleção's return to beautiful football. In their last three World Cup outings, Brazil relied on wing play and cynical fouling, but Neymar has changed that with his flair and undoubted brilliance in the box. Brazil, along with Germany, is a favorite to reach the final, but the pair is likely to meet in the semifinal stages if both perform as expected. This gives the loser’s team players fewer chances to score goals.

The Poacher

Thomas Müller - most players competing in their third world are past their physical best, that is not the case with Müller who is in his athletic prime at age 28.

Although, with Müller, it is his brains and ability to find holes in a defense that set him apart from the rest of the pack. A tireless worker and proven big game performer, Müller does not hide in big games scoring for Germany in the qualification rounds despite sitting on the bench for his club side Bayern München under coach Carlo Anchelotti. That is behind him, and Müller is in great form even earning the captains armband for Bayern. Not only can Müller win this year's Golden Boot, there is a chance the German walks away with the all-time scoring record (he has ten, and the record stands at 16 with countryman Miroslav Klose) given Müller may play a role in the 2022 World Cup.