The race for the golden boot at World Cup 2026 is predicted to be fierce, with Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland making early statements of their respective bids to complete the match on the prime of the scoring charts.
Argentina talisman Messi, 38, fired a hat-trick in opposition to Algeria to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goalscoring report, whereas Mbappe and Haaland each notched braces of their opening video games.
England skipper Harry Kane will now look to match the tempo of his putting rivals because the Three Lions start their marketing campaign in opposition to Croatia on Wednesday. The striker is off to begin, too, netting a first-half brace in Texas.
The primary ever 48-team World Cup options an extra spherical of 32, providing the world’s prime strikers an extra alternative of bagging an additional aim as they dream of embarking on a deep run into the match.
If gamers are tied for targets, the variety of assists will decide who ranks increased. If there’s nonetheless a tie, it comes all the way down to minutes performed and the goals-per-minute ratio. Listed here are the most recent 2026 World Cup golden boot standings.
World Cup golden boot standings
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina), three targets
= 2 Harry Kane (England), two targets
= 2 Erling Haaland (Norway), two targets
= 2 Kylian Mbappe (France), two targets
= 2 Folarin Balogun (USA), two targets
= 2 Elijaj Simply (New Zealand), two targets
= 2 Kai Havertz (Germany), two targets
=2 Yasin Ayari (Sweden), two targets
