FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot: Messi stays ahead of Mbappe, Haaland before quarter-finals
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot: Messi stays ahead of Mbappe, Haaland before quarter-finals")
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland Photograph: (AFP)
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage underway, the race to finish as the tournament's top scorer is getting more exciting. Here's a look at the top five goalscorers so far.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has taken the lead in the race for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot after scoring his eighth goal in his side's thrilling 3-2 Round of 16 win over Egypt. Norway's Erling Haaland and France's Kylian Mbappe are tied for second with seven goals each. England captain Harry Kane has also closed the gap after converting a penalty in his team's Round of 16 win over co-hosts Mexico. Kane now has six goals, just two behind Messi.
The Golden Boot race heats up as the quarter-finals begin on Jul 10. France's crucial clash against Morocco gives Kylian Mbappe the opportunity to equal or surpass Lionel Messi in the standings.
Top 5 goal scorers at the FIFA World Cup 2026
- Lionel Messi - 8 goals (5 matches)
Lionel Messi leads the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race with eight goals and one assist in five matches. The Argentina captain scored a hat-trick against Algeria, netted twice against Austria and added one goal each against Jordan, Cape Verde and Egypt.
- Kylian Mbappe - 7 goals (5 matches)
With seven goals in five matches, Mbappe is level with Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot standings. He began with two goals in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal, added another double against Iraq, scored twice in a 3-0 victory over Sweden and netted the only goal in France’s 1-0 Round of 16 win over Paraguay.
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
- Erling Haaland - 7 goals (4 matches)
Haaland has matched Mbappe with seven goals in four games. He scored twice against Iraq, added another double against Senegal, found the net once against Ivory Coast and scored two more goals in Norway’s 2-1 Round of 16 win over Brazil.
)
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland Photograph: (AFP)
- Harry Kane - 6 goals (5 matches)
England captain Harry Kane has scored six goals and provided one assist in five matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026. He scored twice against Croatia, added one against Panama, netted another brace in England’s win over DR Congo and converted a penalty in the Round of 16 victory over Mexico. - Ousmane Dembele - 4 goals (5 matches)
Dembele rounds out the top five with four goals in five matches. The French forward scored once against Iraq before producing a hat-trick against Norway.
