Lionel Messi Leads the Race for the Golden Boot of the 2026 World Cup, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland Runners-Up

Messi leads the scoring table with five goals, but Mbappé and Haaland keep the race for the Golden Boot alive.

Lionel Messi leads

The race for the Golden Boot of the 2026 World Cup has become one of the most intense attractions of the tournament. After another matchday, the scoring table keeps Lionel Messi at the top. The Argentine captain, who had already scored three goals against Algeria, shone again with a brace against Austria and has a total of five goals. His start to the tournament is overwhelming, but the competition promises to be fierce.

Mbappé is right behind

Kylian Mbappé, France's star and Real Madrid player, is the main contender with four goals. The French forward scored two goals in the debut against Senegal and repeated with another double against Iraq, confirming that he is ready to fight head-to-head with Messi for the award. Just a step below, three names have also made their mark, Undav (Germany), Jonathan David (Canada), and Erling Haaland (Norway), all with three goals. The Norwegian, in particular, has just scored a brace against Senegal and is fully entering the conversation.

The rest

The list expands with a substantial group of 17 footballers who have scored twice, including heavyweights like Vinícius Júnior (Brazil), Harry Kane (England), Kai Havertz (Germany), and Cody Gakpo (Netherlands). This group demonstrates that the race for the top scorer is not limited to a handful of stars, but extends to several teams with forwards in great form.