World Cup Golden Boot race - Lionel Messi leads the way ahead of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe
Updated 23/06/2026 at 09:02 GMT+1
React to this story
From Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane to Paolo Rossi and Davor Suker, the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot award has been won by an eclectic list of names. Lionel Messi currently leads the charge for the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup ahead of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
'A lot of happiness' - Messi reacts after breaking World Cup goalscoring record
Video credit: SNTV
So who will be going home with the award after the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer?
Given to the tournament's top goalscorer, with assists used as a tie-breaker, there are plenty of candidates in contention with 48 teams competing in North America at the biggest World Cup ever.
But at the moment there are three star names topping the list.
World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race: Messi leads
Argentina's Lionel Messi has five goals to his name from two games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot race, one ahead of Norway's Erling Haaland and France's Kylian Mbappe.
Messi's double against Austria saw him break the record for the most goals scored in World Cup history as he moved to 18.
Germany's Deniz Undav and Canada's Jonathan David both have three goals at the 2026 World Cup.
Click here for a list of every scorer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and read on for more about the leading contenders in the Golden Boot race.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Games played: 2
Goals scored: 5
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner came second in the scoring charts at the 2022 tournament with seven goals as Argentina won their third World Cup title - and his first.
Argentina are in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan, with the latter playing in its first ever World Cup.
And with Messi still Argentina's main man and the team geared around him, he will be a tough proposition to stop.
Algeria were unable to live with him in their opener, as Messi scored a hat-trick. His goals pulled him level with Miroslav Klose for the career World Cup record of 16 goals.
One game later, and, despite a miss from the penalty spot, Messi broke out of a tie with Klose by slotting home from the edge of the area against Austria.
Argentina laboured in Arlington, but Messi put the game safe with his second of the match in injury time for a 2-0 win and a place in the last 32.
Erling Haaland (Norway)
Games played: 2
Goals scored: 4
Haaland is making his World Cup debut this summer, with Norway last appearing at the tournament in 1998.
The 25-year-old is already the nation's all-time top goalscorer and spearheads an attacking team, with Alexander Sorloth and Jorgen Strand Larsen also in the attacking department.
Haaland has proven himself to be one of the most efficient strikers in world football over the past few years, with 162 goals in 198 appearances since joining Manchester City in 2022.
He wasted no time in scoring at the World Cup as he netted twice in the first half of Norway's opener against Iraq.
Haaland followed up with two more goals as Norway beat 3-2 Senegal to book their place in the last 32.
Kylian Mbappe (France)
Games played: 2
Goals scored: 4
Mbappe has made a dramatic impact at the two previous World Cups he has played at, winning in 2018 and finishing top-scorer as France finished runners-up in Qatar.
He had a stop-start season for Real Madrid but was still able to bag 42 goals in 44 appearances for the Spanish side.
Expectations are high for Didier Deschamps' side this summer and Mbappe's scoring could prove key if they are to have a deep run in the tournament.
He kicked off his 2026 tournament with a brace against Senegal, including a sensational long-range stoppage-time strike to become France's all-time top scorer.
He netted twice again as Iraq to move level with Miroslav Klose in the all-time standings on 16.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/06/23/image-5b41efb1-65e8-426a-8dbf-1680d234d394.jpeg)
Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring for France
Image credit: Getty Images
Deniz Undav (Germany)
Games played: 2
Goals scored: 3
The VfB Stuttgart forward has made a superb start to the World Cup, with a goal in Germany's 7-1 win over Curacao before taking centre stage against Ivory Coast.
Germany fell behind to the African side, but Undav drew them level on 68 minutes - and netted the winner for Julian Nagelsmann's side four minutes into injury time.
Jonathan David (Canada)
Games played: 2
Goals scored: 3
David struggled at club level this term following his move to Juventus from Lille.
He didn't score in Canada's opener at the World Cup, but made his mark on matchday two against Qatar, netting a treble in a 6-0 win.
Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
Games played: 2
Goals scored: 2
Vinicius Junior is looking to fill the hole an ageing Neymar will likely leave, despite the 34-year-old being included by Carlo Ancelotti in the Brazil squad.
He has often played second fiddle to Mbappe at Real Madrid this season, hampering his scoring output.
But he still remains one of the most dangerous attackers at the tournament and will be Brazil's key man in North America.
In Group C, he scored his side's only goal in their opening game against Morocco, responding when Brazil were a goal down and under the cosh.
The winger then added another on matchday two against Haiti, helping to put Brazil 3-0 up before half-time.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/18/image-64005996-8bf2-411e-a9cc-f3309d7026c3-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Vinicius mocks City fans after scoring penalty, as Silva sent off
Video credit: TNT Sports
Harry Kane (England)
Games played: 1
Goals scored: 2
Kane is coming off one of the best scoring seasons of his career, having bagged 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich this season.
The 32-year-old already has a World Cup Golden Boot to his name, having won the award at Russia 2018.
Kane and England are in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama at this year's tournament.
And with Kane arguably England's best player and definite starting striker, he began impressively by scoring twice in the 4-2 win against Croatia in Dallas.
Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain)
Games played: 2
Goals scored: 2
The Real Sociedad striker appeared in all seven Spain games as they won Euro 2024, starting just once but scoring the winner in the final against England.
He scored 18 goals in 40 appearances for Sociedad this season and his physical nature offers a perfect foil for the trickery of Yamal and Nico Williams on the wing.
Oyarzabal's ability to provide a focal point for Spain's attack could lead to him being a prolific goalscorer this summer.
He failed, however, to net in the shock opening draw against minnows Cabo Verde.
Oyarzabal was back on the goal trail in Spain's win over Saudi Arabia, as he bagged a quickfire double in the 4-0 win.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/06/21/image-4415fe0d-2f50-4a23-9a64-24a8e3485828.jpeg)
Mikel Oyarzabal celebrates during the World match between Spain and Saudi Arabia at Atlanta Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Image credit: Getty Images
Kai Havertz (Germany)
Games played: 2
Goals scored: 2
Although Havertz endured an injury-plagued club season, he comes into the World Cup as a Premier League title winner for Arsenal.
He also enters as Germany's likely starting No. 9 and a dark horse for the Golden Boot award.
Havertz is no stranger to scoring big goals for club and country - he has scored in two Champions League finals for two clubs - so getting goals at the World Cup would be no surprise for the 26-year-old.
Germany have a favourable draw in Group E, with Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador their opponents.
Havertz capitalised on starting against the tiny island nation of Curacao, scoring twice in a 7-1 victory, but drew a blank in the 2-1 win over Cote d'Ivoire.
Lamine Yamal (Spain)
Games played: 2
Goals scored: 1
Yamal exploded onto the international scene as a 16-year-old when he played a pivotal role in Spain winning the Euros two years ago.
Since then, he has established himself as one of the most dangerous attackers, scoring 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions this season.
Spain are in Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
But a hamstring injury sustained by Yamal near the end of the season saw him start on the bench in Spain's opening game against Cape Verde - a 0-0 draw - making winning the Golden Boot a tough order.
One game later, the teenager exploded onto the World Cup as he fired Spain in front 10 minutes into their 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/06/22/image-a8f4888c-1f75-46dc-9fe1-72c45f385259-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'He looks after himself' - Olmo praises Spain starlet Yamal after first World Cup goal
Video credit: SNTV
Ousmane Dembele (France)
Games played: 1
Goals scored: 1
Dembele travels to the World Cup following another successful club season, with Paris-Saint Germain retaining their UEFA Champions League title against Arsenal.
While Dembele typically plays through the middle for PSG, he has to settle for a spot on the wing for France with Mbappe operating as the central striker.
But Dembele, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, will be a threat wherever he plays, especially if Mbappe occupies most of the attention from opposing defences.
He did not net against Senegal, but got off the mark against Iraq in France's second game.
Luis Diaz (Colombia)
Games played: 1
Goals scored: 1
In his debut season for Bayern Munich, Diaz took his game to another level, benefitting from playing in a front line with Kane and Michael Olise.
The 29-year-old finished with 26 goals and 23 assists in 51 games in all competitions, as Bayern raced to the Bundesliga title and the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Colombia are in Group K with Portugal, DR Congo and Uzbekistan so it may be a battle between Colombia and Portugal for top spot.
And the South Americans are in pole position after beating Uzbekistan 3-1 in their opening match, with Diaz assisting his side's opener and then scoring the second to get off the mark at the tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Games played: 1
Goals scored: 0
Ronaldo, now 41 years old, is appearing at his sixth World Cup for Portugal this summer, one of the elder statesmen of the tournament.
He has struggled to make an impact in his 22 World Cup appearances, scoring just eight goals, including just one in Qatar in 2022.
It could be Ronaldo's last chance to claim a World Cup title, and a Group K that contains DR Congo, Colombia and newcomers Uzbekistan looked an inviting proposition for him to add to his 143 international goals.
However, he was unable to add to his international haul in the 1-1 draw against DR Congo.
Best of the rest
Though they are not quite on the same level of stardom as our main contenders above, a handful of other players have begun the World Cup with two goals.
Relegation from the Premier League has not stopped Crysencio Summerville from making a flying start to the World Cup, as he netted a goal in each of Netherlands' games against Japan (2-2) and Sweden (5-1).
For co-hosts Canada and USA, respectively, Cyle Larin struck against both Bosnia & Herzegovina and Qatar, while Folarin Balogun bagged a brace against Paraguay.
Bosnia and Herzegovina also allowed Switzerland's Johan Manzambi in twice, New Zealand's Elijah Just did the same versus Iran, and Sweden's Yasin Ayari was at the double against Tunisia. Brazilian Matheus Cunha joined the party with a brace versus Haiti.
Could Just Fontaine's World Cup record be broken?
The record for the most goals in a single World Cup is held by France's Just Fontaine, who scored a remarkable 13 times in just six matches in 1958.
Nobody has got close to that in recent history, with Ronaldo (eight goals) and Mbappe (eight) the best tallies so far this century.
But there are, of course, more matches than ever in 2026, and the main contenders - particularly Messi, Mbappe, Haaland and Kane - have got off to flying starts.
The addition of a last-32 match, along with potentially less challenging groups than in previous years, could mean that one of those players surpasses Fontaine's 13 goals.
A team reaching the final of this year's tournament will play eight matches, so a record of 1.63 goals per game would be enough for a player in a team that goes all the way to at least match Fontaine's achievement.
Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.
Stream the Premier League, men’s and women’s FA Cups, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement