2022 World Cup predictions: Top Celtic player, golden boot and more

It is perhaps the most underwhelming World Cup in history - and certainly the most controversial, held as it is amid corruption scandals and human rights abuses.

Four Celtic players are in Qatar with their national sides. Cameron Carter-Vickers, Josip Juranovic, Aaron Mooy and Daizen Maeda will be facing off against the likes of Gareth Bale, Kevin De Bruyne, Kylian Mbappe and Pedri... and even the legendary Lionel Messi if they get out of the group stages.

Who will be the best-performing Celt? What team are the dark horses for a deep run? Is it finally time for another England group-stage exit?

Our writers make their predictions...

Tournament winner

Sean Martin: Argentina. Why? Because I recently watched that BBC iPlayer documentary about the great Lionel Messi and am now convinced he's away to finish off the most decorated football legacy of all-time by adding the one serious trophy that's eluded him (and even then, it only eluded him by the width of a Mario Gotze volley). Aside from sentimentality they're the reigning Copa America champions and, like Italy going into Euro 2020, are on a formidable run with a clear identity. That counts for a lot in international football.

Tony Haggerty: Belgium. It's too easy to opt for Brazil or Argentina so I am going to go against the grain and say Belgium. Fabrique Belgique, as Del Boy Trotter would say. It's now or never for their golden generation of players.

Aidan Macdonald: Argentina. While they have the obvious star power of Lionel Messi, their squad is littered with talents such as Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez and Juventus forward Angel Di Maria. Under manager Lionel Scaloni, the country won their first major trophy for 28 years last summer when they lifted the Copa America. By getting that monkey off their back, La Abilceleste are poised to have a successful tournament and win the competition for the third time. 

Golden Boot

Sean Martin: Karim Benzema (France). Assuming France overcome the holders' curse and progress out of the group stages, I think they'll go as far as the semis. That gives the reigning Ballon d'Or titlist up to seven matches to accumulate the six or so it usually takes to net the golden boot. Plenty of time.

Tony Haggerty: Romelu Lukaku (Belgium). The big fella is a unit and then some and has impressed greatly since he re-signed for Inter Milan. Lukaku can bludgeon his way to the top of the goalscorers charts come the end of the tournament in Qatar.

Aidan Macdonald: Kylian Mbappe (France). The PSG forward has been in electric form this season, scoring 19 goals and providing five assists in 20 appearances across all competitions. Given the quality of the French national team he is bound to have plenty of chances to find the back of the net. France are likely to go far in the tournament and the 23-year-old will be one of the main reasons for that. He is the star man for his country and, after scoring four times at the last World Cup, he will no doubt be in among the goals this time as well.  

Golden Ball

Sean Martin: Lionel Messi (Argentina). Reckon my answer in question one covers most of it but, for word count's sake, best footballer in the world wins best footballer at the World Cup... hardly a hot take from myself really.

Tony Haggerty: Vinicius Jnr (Brazil). Get your money on the Real Madrid man to upstage Neymar. Despite scoring only one goal for Brazil in World Cup qualifying I think Vinicius Jnr emerges to lead the charge at glory.

Aidan Macdonald: Lionel Messi (Argentina). The former Barcelona man has unfinished business in this competition after losing in the final eight years ago and having a disappointing tournament last time out in Russia. Arguably the best player of all time, he will be desperate to add the World Cup to his extensive trophy collection and that drive will him to a second Golden Ball award. He will undoubtedly be near the top of the scoring and assist charts come the end of play in Qatar.

Golden Glove

Sean Martin: Emiliano Martinez (Argentina). On the basis no keeper since Belgium's Michel Preud'homme in 1994 has won this award unless their team gets to the semi-finals at least, I'm going for Argentina's Emiliano Martínez. He has been a revelation for the national side and, since I think they'll get to at least the last four, he seems a decent bet.

Tony Haggerty: Thibaut Courtois (Belgium). The Real Madrid goalkeeper is the best custodian and shot-stopper in the world. He'll prove his class on the greatest stage of them all.

Aidan Macdonald: Hugo Lloris (France). While not the best goalkeeper technically at the World Cup, the Tottenham shot-stopper is playing in a team that will no doubt have a lot of the ball and give up very little chances. Therefore, he will receive plenty of protection for most of the tournament. Given that Les Bleus are likely to reach the latter stages, keeping clean sheets will be an important factor and thus he will be a main contender for the Golden Glove award. 

Flop of the tournament

Sean Martin: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal). That Portugal squad should be among the favourites, they're absolutely loaded with talent. Can they utilise it at another tournament with the 37-year-old as the figurehead though? I'm not so sure. Their section is a low-key group of death with South Korea, Ghana and Uruguay all capable sides, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if, rather than another deep run, they actually exit at the group stages and Ronaldo is held most responsible.

Tony Haggerty: Harry Kane (England). This is probably wishful thinking more than anything else. If Harry Kane flops then so will England. My logic really is that simple. 

Aidan Macdonald: Brazil. I'm going for a team rather than a player. The record five-time winners boast a squad full of world-class players such as Neymar, Vinicius Jnr and Casemiro but they have tended to disappoint at recent World Cups. With the exception of when they hosted the tournament in 2014, they have not been past the quarter-finals of the competition for 20 years. There is no doubting the talent they have in their squad but I feel they will once again fall short of expectations.  

Dark horses

Sean Martin: Cameroon. Initially I had Senegal going to the quarters (eliminating England en route) for this but, with the news Sadio Mane will miss the whole tournament, I have revised that and gone with Cameroon instead. They are in a tough but qualifiable section alongside Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland and have a decent nucleus. Olivier Ntcham progressing further nets Celtic some added money too, which doesn't hurt.

Tony Haggerty: Wales. Yma o Hyd and the sons of Speed and all that. They are making their first World Cup finals appearance since 1958 and the halcyon days of John Charles and Ivor Allchurch. Get behind the Welsh and I believe they surprise a few people.

Aidan Macdonald: Denmark. Kasper Hjulmand’s side had a great tournament last summer as they reached the semi-finals of the delayed Euro 2020. They were close to reaching the final on that occasion and they are positioned to have a strong showing in Qatar. While not a team full of superstars, they are a well-oiled machine that tends not to lose many games. They recently beat World Cup holders France twice in the Nations League, which shows they can mix it with the very best that the game has to offer.

Celtic player who will go furthest

Sean Martin: Daizen Maeda (Japan). I actually think Croatia and the USA could get out the groups too but I had to pick one so I'll go Maeda. I do this on the basis of two things: I don't trust either of the Spanish or German teams to be as formidable as tournaments past and Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu must have some outrageous talents at his disposal since he neglected to call up Kyogo Furuhashi or Reo Hatate. Not that I'm harbouring any grudges or anything.

Tony Haggerty: Cameron Carter-Vickers (USA). The US have a real chance of reaching the last 16. The draw has been kind to them and while Aaron Mooy's Australia might also surprise a few I think the Stars and Stripes can have a very good tournament and go further than Josip Juranovic's Croatia and Daizen Maeda's Japan.

Aidan Macdonald: Josip Juranovic (Croatia). The Hoops right-back has the best chance out of the Parkhead players. Croatia are always a force at major competitions, which they showed when they reached the final four years ago.

This piece is an extract from today’s Celtic Digest newsletter, which is emailed out every weekday evening with a round-up of the day's top stories and exclusive analysis from The Celtic Way team. 

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