The 2026 World Cup’s Golden Boot race heats up between Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane after just a couple of group stage matches.
The FIFA World Cup began with full blast with numerous star players, excluding Cristiano Ronaldo, scoring in their opening group stage to enter into group stage matches.
The mega event taking place in North America began with a record-breaking 48 teams, divided into 12 groups of four, on June 11, 2026. So far three teams have been eliminated from the World Cup, and three have advanced to the knockout stage.
The three teams eliminated from the 2026 World Cup are Haiti, Turkey, and Tunisia. While Mexico, USA, and Germany have reached the round of 32.
2026 World Cup Golden Boot race:
The tight race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot has begun, and the top contenders of the competition are
Lionel Messi:
The eight-time Ballon d'Or award winner is leading the Golden Boot race after scoring a hat trick in the opener and then a double against Austria in the second group stage match on Monday, June 22.
Following the strike against Austria, Messi bought his total tally to 18 and broke the world record for the most goals scored in World Cup history.
Following the win against Austria, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said he was "at a loss for words" about Messi.
He said, “What can I say? He's incredible. It's not about imagining [if he could have a start like this]. He's been doing this for 20 years. People who watch football want to see him, it's not just Argentines. Beyond the result, we have to enjoy him. What he transmits to the world is incredible."
The 38-year-old Inter Miami captain has now scored five goals in just two games of the FIFA World Cup.
Messi said on Monday, “There were moments when I was really angry about missing the penalty, but I was able to make up for it. Beyond anything, I'm so happy for the win. It was huge, tough, and difficult. It would allow us to be relaxed about what's ahead. All matches in this World Cup are very even, very intense. I'm enjoying this moment and craving to enjoy it with my teammates."
Kylian Mbappe:
Next in the race is reigning World Cup Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe. The French footballer who scored eight goals at the Qatar World Cup has so far netted four goals in two matches.
After scoring a double in the World Cup opener against Senegal in the 3-1 victory at the New York Jets Stadium, Mbappe on Monday once again scored twice to claim a 3-0 victory over Iraq.
Mbappé, after his 100th international appearance, said, “If I want to keep up with what Leo is doing. I’ll have to do even more.”
The Real Madrid forward had a chance at the hat trick on a late breakaway but missed before he was subbed out at the 90-minute mark. He is one of two men with a hat trick in a World Cup final.
Erling Haaland:
Erling Haaland is also eyeing his career’s first-ever FIFA World Cup Golden Boot after scoring four goals in just two matches.
Haaland netted twice in Norway’s opening game 4-1 win against Iraq and added two more goals against Senegal.
After winning against Iran, reporters asked him if he was the best goal scorer in world soccer. He replied, “I would say I'm up there. I don't think I scored the most goals this season, so statistically, no. Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé scored more goals than me, and that's the reality."
“It's my specialty to score goals. I'm just really good at scoring goals," Haaland told media after the Senegal game.
The other two players in the Golden Boot race are Germany’s Deniz Undav and Canada’s Jonathan David.
Who else can join the World Cup Golden Boot race?
There are very bright chances that other players will soon join the World Cup Golden Boot party, as the tournament has just begun and there are plenty of games remaining.
According to Sky News, England captain Harry Kane, who has scored two goals and has an overall World Cup goal tally of 10, could become the first striker to win multiple Golden Boots.
Spain's Lamine Yamal (one goal) got his tournament up and running with a goal against Saudi Arabia, while Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to trouble the scorers for Portugal—but there are still plenty of games left for them to mount a challenge.
