With the group stage complete and the Round of 32 about to begin, one of the biggest storylines of the FIFA World Cup 2026 is the race for the Golden Boot, the award given to the tournament's top scorer.

The leading contenders have already made their mark during the opening round, but the most demanding stage of the competition is just beginning, where every goal could make the difference between advancing and claiming the most prestigious individual honor for a striker.

Lionel Messi Takes the Lead

The top spot in the scoring standings belongs to Lionel Messi, who has been the tournament's most prolific player after a spectacular group stage in which he scored six goals.

The Argentina captain not only leads the Golden Boot race but also continues to add to his remarkable FIFA World Cup legacy. If he maintains this pace throughout the knockout rounds, he will enter as the clear favorite to claim the award.

Mbappé, Haaland, Vinicius, and Dembélé Remain in the Hunt

Behind Messi is a group of superstars who still have an excellent chance of catching him.

Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Jr., and Ousmane Dembélé have each scored four goals, and with national teams expected to make deep runs in the tournament, they will have more opportunities to add to their goal tallies.

Meanwhile, players such as Deniz Undav, Jonathan David, Ismaïla Sarr, Johan Manzambi, Harry Kane, Brian Brobbey, Matheus Cunha, and Ismael Saibari, all with three goals, remain firmly in contention and could quickly close the gap with a standout performance in the knockout stage.

The Knockout Stage Can Change Everything

History has shown that the top scorers standings can change dramatically once the knockout rounds begin.

A hat trick or a couple of decisive performances are often enough to climb the rankings, especially since teams that reach the quarterfinals, semifinals, or the final will play more matches than their rivals.

For that reason, although Messi currently leads the race, his advantage remains slim, and the competition is still completely wide open.

Who Will Lift the Golden Boot?

Everything points to the race for the tournament's top scorer being decided among some of the biggest stars in world football.

Can Lionel Messi hold on to the lead? Will Kylian Mbappé win another Golden Boot? Or will Erling Haaland, Vinicius Jr., or Ousmane Dembélé make their move during the Round of 32?