Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race is heating up, with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe level on six goals as Argentina and France push into the knockout stages.
Mbappe currently has the edge on tiebreakers with two assists, while Messi remains level on goals and still firmly in the hunt for another historic World Cup prize. Erling Haaland and Harry Kane are close behind on five goals each.
For more World Cup history, read Has England won the World Cup? Three Lions' complete FIFA World Cup record and 1966 triumph, while official tournament updates are available through the FIFA World Cup 2026 page.
Messi And Mbappe Set The Pace
Kylian Mbappe, the current Golden Boot holder, won the award in Qatar after scoring eight goals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He is chasing another top-scorer crown after starting the 2026 tournament with six goals and two assists.
Lionel Messi has also scored six times in North America, keeping Argentina’s attack moving as the defending champions look to go deep again. The race now carries extra weight because both players are also climbing the all-time World Cup scoring list.
Chasing Pack Still Alive
Norway striker Erling Haaland and England captain Harry Kane sit on five goals each. Ousmane Dembele has four goals and two assists for France, while Vinicius Junior has four goals and one assist for Brazil.
The award goes to the player with the most goals at the end of the tournament. If players are tied, assists decide the winner, and if they are still level, the prize goes to the player who reached those numbers in fewer minutes.
Records Add To The Drama
No player has ever won the Golden Boot more than once. Mbappe, Kane and James Rodriguez are all trying to change that after previous wins in 2022, 2018 and 2014.
Just Fontaine still owns the single-tournament record with 13 goals for France in 1958. Messi leads the all-time World Cup list with 19 goals, just ahead of Mbappe on 18, while Miroslav Klose sits third with 16.
Cristiano Ronaldo has two goals so far in 2026, both coming in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. He can still join the race, but the gap to Messi and Mbappe is already wide.
