World Cup top team goalscorer predictions: Five to follow in Qatar

My favourite betting aspect of a major tournament is to pick out a few top team goalscorers.

At Euro 2016 I told absolutely everyone that Nicolae Stanciu was on the verge of becoming something special and backing him to be Romania's top scorer was the nap of the finals.

Stanciu, who didn't score, now plays for Wuhan Three Towns so clearly didn't live up to the hype and to make matters worse the top Romanian scorer honours went to somebody called Bogdan Stancu. Perhaps I can claim that's who I meant ...

Better was to come at the last World Cup as two of the four tips in the Racing Post included 7-1 Sergio Aguero and 11-4 Heung-Min Son, and their goals that won the market outright came in the third and sixth minutes of second-half stoppage time respectively, which were both beautiful moments given it came as both their teams were also knocked out.

Here's the pick of this year's top scorers which can hopefully have as much luck this time around.

Mexico
Alexis Vega 14-1

Raul Jimenez looks a vulnerable favourite in the Mexican market given his form and fitness in the past couple of years. However, his standing in the squad might still keep him in the team throughout.

That would impact Henry Martin and Rogelio Funes Mori, possible replacements for Jimenez, and leave a battle between attacking wingers Hirving Lozano (11-2) and Alexis Vega (14-1).

There should not be such a big difference in prices given Vega has scored in Mexico's last three games and is being tipped to make the move to Europe by next summer.

Germany
Jamal Musiala 14-1

An international record of one goal in 17 caps doesn't sound great, but Jamal Musiala is still a teenager and could be one of the stars of this World Cup if Germany go well.

Musiala's magic for Bayern Munich - nine goals in 14 Bundesliga games - highlights his enormous talent and, while there is a competitive battle to make the German starting 11, the way he is playing could make it impossible for Hansi Flick to leave out the 19-year-old attacking midfielder.

Japan
Kaoru Mitoma 10-1

Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma wins the award for the best player I had never heard of until a couple of months ago but he is a major threat.

Japan scored only 12 goals in the final round of Asian qualifying and Mitoma was joint-top scorer with two, despite playing only three of the ten games.

Belgium
Kevin De Bruyne 7-2

Romelu Lukaku heads the top Belgium goalscorer betting and with 68 goals in 102 internationals it is easy to see why.

However, he has not started a match since August, and even if he can get himself injury-free there is a seismic difference between being fit and match fit.

Lukaku might need a bit of time to sharpen up and Kevin De Bruyne appeals more given he usually plays in a front three for Belgium rather than his deeper conductor role at Manchester City.

Cameroon
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting 5-1

Former Stoke and Paris Saint-Germain striker Eric Choupo-Moting deserves to be favourite over Vincent Aboubakar.

He has scored in eight of his last nine appearances for Bayern Munich and was on target for Cameroon against Panama this week.