Golden Boot Betting Updated After Key Injury - 06-09-10

Fans of the 32-year-old Ivory Coast striker could not believe it when Drogba fractured his arm last Friday in a friendly match against Japan, which will likely put paid to his 2010 World Cup chances as well as his Golden Boot betting odds.

It's no secret that one of the most popular World Cup betting lines is the Golden Boot award which goes to the top goalscorer in every World Cup. And before his injury, Drogba was one of the favourites at top online sportsbook Victor Chandler.

Now that he's likely to miss the World Cup (although this has not yet been confirmed), Drogba has dropped down the odds at Victor Chandler to 25/1, to tie with Miroslav Klose (Poland), Nilmar (Brazil), Sergio Aguero (Argentina) and Elano (Brazil).

Meanwhile, topping VC's Golden Boot betting is Spanish star David Villa at 15/2, who is not that far ahead of 9/1 Argentinean 'wunderkind' Lionel Messi. Behind Messi at joint 10/1 odds is Brazil's Luis Fabiano and England's Wayne Rooney.

And the list goes on. But the fact that Drogba is still listed in Victor Chandler's Golden Boot betting odds tells us that the 2010 World Cup fate of Ivory Coast's most important player and biggest goalscorer has ultimately still not been decided.

Fans of Didier Drogba and the Ivory Coast national football team will no doubt be holding thumbs that the striker will be given the green-light to play in this competition, which is historical because it is the first World Cup ever to be hosted in Africa.

Here are the current Golden Boot betting odds available at Victor Chandler:

David Villa 15/2
Lionel Messi 9/1
Luis Fabiano 10/1
Wayne Rooney 10/1
Fernando Torres 12/1
Robin Van Persie 12/1
Cristiano Ronaldo 16/1
Gonzalo Higuain 16/1
Didier Drogba 25/1
Miroslav Klose 25/1
Nilmar 25/1
Sergio Aguero 25/1
Elano 25/1
Diego Milito 28/1
Carlos Tevez 33/1
Jermain Defoe 33/1
Kaka 33/1
Nicolas Anelka 33/1
Thierry Henry 33/1
Alberto Gilardino 40/1
Alexandre Pato 40/1
Karim Benzema 40/1
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 40/1
Lukas Podolski 40/1
Mario Gomez 40/1
Robinho 33/1
Samuel Etoo 40/1
Peter Crouch 40/1
Adriano 50/1
Andre Pierre Gigac 50/1
Antonio Di Natale 50/1
Liedson 50/1
Luis Suarez 50/1
Diego Forlan 66/1
Dirk Kuyt 66/1
Frank Lampard 66/1
Frank Ribery 66/1
Giampolo Pazzini 66/1
Giuseppe Rossi 66/1
Salomon Kalou 66/1
Steven Gerrard 66/1
Vincenzo Iaquinta 66/1
Homberto Suazo 66/1
Marko Pantelić 80/1
Salvador Cabanas 150/1
Robert Vittek 150/1
David Suazo 200/1

Note that goals scored in penalty shoot-outs do not count.