World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland in epic battle
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have eight goals while Erling Haaland has scored seven in the race for World Cup Golden Boot; Harry Kane is also in the mix with six to his name; ex-France striker Just Fontaine holds the record for the most goals in a single tournament with 13 in 1958
Thursday 9 July 2026 23:18, UK
Kylian Mbappe has joined Lionel Messi on eight World Cup goals this summer, with Erling Haaland and Harry Kane leading the chase behind.
The superstars are delivering on the biggest stage of them all and are setting a blistering pace in the race to be the tournament's top goalscorer in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Messi bounced back after missing his penalty against Egypt to help Argentina complete their historic comeback, scoring three goals in the final 13 minutes to progress into the quarter-finals.
Mbappe had an eerily similar showing against Morocco in the first of the last-eight encounters, missing from the spot as he went the same direction as Messi before giving France the lead after the hour mark.
Meanwhile, Haaland sits one behind on seven goals and England captain Kane is the next best with six goals after his penalty helped his side edge co-hosts Mexico 3-2. The pair will face off in the quarter-finals as Thomas Tuchel's men take on Norway on Saturday at 10pm.
How the race for the Golden Boot stands...
Who will win the Golden Boot? Have your say...
Could more records tumble?
Miroslav Klose started the tournament out in front on the all-time World Cup goalscoring chart with 16 goals, but both Messi and Mbappe have overtaken the ex-Germany striker.
Haaland became Norway's leading goalscorer at World Cups after just two games, while Kane has gone past Gary Lineker as England's top World Cup scorer.
Golden Boot contenders will be targeting Just Fontaine's 1958 record of 13 goals in a single tournament.
Only three players in World Cup history - Fontaine, Germany's Gerd Muller in 1970 and Hungary's Sandor Kocsis in 1954 - have ever hit double figures at a single tournament.
What other records have been broken?
Most World Cup tournaments played: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (six each)
First player to score in six World Cups: Cristiano Ronaldo
Oldest player to score multiple goals in a game: Cristiano Ronaldo
Smallest nation to appear at a World Cup: Curacao
Most red cards in an opening match: Mexico vs South Africa (three)
Most-attended World Cup
Highest-scoring World Cup
