The race for the golden boot at World Cup 2026 is expected to be fierce, with Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland making early statements in their respective bids to finish the tournament at the top of the scoring charts.
Argentina talisman Messi, 38, fired a hat-trick against Algeria to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record, while Mbappe and Haaland both notched braces in their opening games.
England skipper Harry Kane will now look to match the pace of his striking rivals as the Three Lions begin their campaign against Croatia on Wednesday. The striker is off to a good start, too, netting a first-half brace in Texas.
The first ever 48-team World Cup features an additional round of 32, offering the world’s top strikers an additional opportunity of bagging an extra goal as they dream of embarking on a deep run into the tournament.
If players are tied for goals, the number of assists will determine who ranks higher. If there is still a tie, it comes down to minutes played and the goals-per-minute ratio. Here are the latest 2026 World Cup golden boot standings.
World Cup golden boot standings
1. Lionel Messi, (Argentina), three goals
= 2 Harry Kane (England), two goals
= 2 Erling Haaland (Norway), two goals
= 2 Kylian Mbappe (France), two goals
= 2 Folarin Balogun (USA), two goals
= 2 Elijaj Just (New Zealand), two goals
= 2 Kai Havertz (Germany), two goals
=2 Yasin Ayari (Sweden), two goals
