The 2010 World Cup is down to just eight countries as the round of 16 wrapped up with a Spanish victory over Portugal on Tuesday. With just eight games remaining on the schedule, one of the most popular props all tournament long at Bodog’s online sportsbook is getting down to the short strokes:

Who will be the 2010 World Cup’s top goal scorer?

Three players currently lead the race with four goals each: Gonzalo Higuain of Argentina, David Villa of Spain and Robert Vittek of Slovakia.

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Obviously, Vittek can’t score anymore, but Higuain and Villa are still very much alive and are the clear favorites in the race for the Golden Boot Award. Prior to the round of 16, their odds to lead all goal scorers were 9/4 and 3/1, respectively.

After the group stage finished , we also received a significant amount of action on Argentina’s Lionel Messi at 25/1. Many soccer experts consider Messi the best player in the world; however, he still hasn’t hit the back of the net in South Africa. Not that he hasn’t had his chances – he’s had plenty of shots on goal – but as it stands, a minimum five goals in a maximum of three games is likely too much to ask, even for a player of Messi’s quality.

Brazils’ Luis Fabiano, with three goals in the tournament so far, has also been a popular pick with our players. Fabiano was at 7/2 after scoring in his country’s 3-0 defeat of Chile on Monday, and Brazil appears to be kicking it into gear as the competition progresses.

Two more Brazilians – Elano (2 goals) and Robinho (1 goal) – have also been receiving good action as long shots, both of them at 66/1.

Another long shot that has an outside shot of winning this prop is Wesley Snejder (40/1), who’s scored twice so far for the Netherlands. The Dutch are fairly heavy underdogs (+270 to win in regulation time) in their quarterfinal match versus Brazil but they definitely have the skill to pull off the upset.

Thomas Muller, with three goals for Germany, comprised part of the Field at 7/1.

Meanwhile, Luis Suarez of Uruguay, also with three goals, was at 11/1.

Biggest disappointment of tournament when it comes to this prop? Has to be England’s Wayne Rooney, who was one of the pre-competition favorites, only to go home without a single goal. A number of bettors are still cursing Rooney’s name, not to mention England’s performance, today.

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