The race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot is shaping up to be one of the closest in living memory with four players separated by just two goals heading into the quarter-finals.
Lionel Messi leads the way after becoming the World Cup’s all-time record scorer , but his three main rivals, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane , are all still involved and more than capable of threatening the Argentina star’s tally.
Here we take a look at the leading candidates to finish as the World Cup’s leading scorer.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi (8 goals) @ Evens
What else can be said about arguably the greatest player in history? At the age of 39 he is still terrorising defences and breaking records, including becoming the World Cup’s record scorer with 21 goals.
Eight of those have come at these finals and he has netted in all five of Argentina’s matches on their march to the quarter-finals, with Messi having more shots (29) and shots on target (18) than any other player at the World Cup . If things continue as they are then Just Fontaine’s record of 13 goals for France at the 1958 World Cup could come under threat.
Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe (7) @ 11/8
Mbappe already has one Golden Boot in his trophy cabinet after notching eight times at Qatar 2022 and it would be no surprise to see him collect another one this year.
The Real Madrid goal machine notched braces in France’s wins over Senegal , Iraq and Sweden before his penalty saw off Paraguay in the last 16. Mbappe is just behind Messi in all the main shooting metrics at these finals and with France favourites to go all the way, you can be sure there is still more to come from the quicksilver forward.
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland (7) @ 7/1
Norway and Haaland are making up for lost time at the World Cup with the Manchester C i ty forward picking up where he left off in qualifying. Haaland scored a record 16 goals in just eight matches to help Norway seal a return to the big stage for the first time since 1998, and he has struck seven times already in North America .
No opponent has escaped the giant striker’s wrath, with Haaland scoring twice against Iraq , Senegal and last-16 opponents Brazil , as well as the late winner against the Ivory Coast . Haaland has netted almost 60% of Norway’s goals in the finals and has managed that despite being rested for the group game against France .
Harry Kane
Harry Kane (6) @ 8/1
Like Mbappe , Kane is seeking to become the first player in history to win two Golden Boots having previously claimed the award in 2018. The Bayern Munich forward has already matched his six-goal haul from that tournament and has done so despite England struggling to create too many clear-cut chances for their captain.
Kane has now struck 73 times for club and country over the last year and with surprise quarter-finalists Norway up next up for England , the 32-year-old will fancy his chances of increasing that tally.
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