Golden Boot Race Heats Up at 2026 World Cup

At the 2026 World Cup, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, and Erling Haaland are locked in a competitive race for the Golden Boot, each having scored seven goals. Mbappé took the lead after converting a penalty in France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16.

Messi matched this tally earlier with a goal in Argentina's dramatic extra-time win against Cape Verde. Haaland also reached seven goals following Norway's surprising 2-1 victory over Brazil, marking the first time in World Cup history that three players have reached this goal count at this stage of the tournament.

The tiebreaker for the Golden Boot will favor assists if the deadlock persists, with Mbappé currently holding the edge. England's Harry Kane follows closely with six goals, having scored in England's 3-2 win over Mexico.

Other notable players include Jude Bellingham and Ousmane Dembélé, who have four goals each. The Golden Glove race is also competitive, with Mike Maignan and Emiliano Martínez among the contenders.