Throughout the market, Fabiano is ranked either fourth or fifth shortest odds with the bookmakers, with some being unable to pick between the Brazilian and Spain and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres.
The longest odds on offer at the time of writing for Luis Fabiano to attain the top goal scorer accolade are with Expekt.com, who are offering 13-1 (they are also offering 13-1 on Torres). The shortest are from Sportingbet, Tote and William Hill at 10-1, with most others offering 12-1 on the player.
Despite controversy during his early career with Sao Paolo where he was known for his, sometimes worryingly, aggressive approach (he received a three match ban for kicking a player during a match against River Plate), and a disappointing spell playing for Rennes in France, Fabiano has gone on to cement himself as one of the best strikers in the game after some impressive performances both for his country and Eurpoean clubs Porto and Sevilla.
He was the top goal scorer in the 2009 Confederations Cup with five goals. This equals the five that Miroslav Klose won to win the World Cup Golden Boot in 2006. A similar performance in South Africa could be enough for him to win this.
Whilst Brazil are second favourites to emerge as outright winners, one factor counting against Fabiano in the Golden Boot stakes is that compared with other front runners like Lionel Messi from Argentina, Rooney from England and David Villa and Torres from Spain, Fabiano’s Brazilian side has drawn an incredibly tough group.
Brazil’s Group G is definitely this year’s “group of death”, with opposition from Portugal and the Ivory Coast. With high scoring wins usually coming out of the group stages in a World Cup, Fabiano only has one weak team, North Korea, to play – racking up lots of goals against the teams boasting other Golden Boot contenders Christiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba will not be an easy task.
A double bet for Fabiano to win the Golden Boot and Brazil to win can get you odds of an exciting 40-1 from Paddy Power. The majority of others offering this bet will give you 25-1, with Ladbrokes only paying out 18-1 on this.
For Fabiano to emerge as top goal scorer but with England winning the cup, Paddy Power will give you odds of 80-1.
