Messi vs Mbappe vs Kane vs Haaland: The greatest Golden Boot race ever
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Messi vs Mbappe vs Kane vs Haaland: The greatest Golden Boot race ever")
Messi vs Mbappe vs Kane vs Haaland The greatest Golden Boot race ever Photograph: (X)
Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland are locking horns in what promises to be the greatest World Cup Golden Boot race in history. Check out the latest goal standings and stats as the knockout rounds heat up.
We are in the midst of perhaps the greatest World Cup Golden Boot race of all time. Just a few weeks into this showpiece event in North America, the top global stars, all in their 20s and 30s, are fighting for that one prize that separates them from the rest. Be it Kylian Mbappé from France, Argentina’s icon Lionel Messi, England captain and star striker Harry Kane, or talismanic Norwegian attacker Erling Haaland, all lead the race for the most goals in the 2026 World Cup. Those seeking Cristiano Ronaldo's name must wait as the legendary goal-scorer is yet to shine in this tournament.
Kane cuts gap with Mbappé, Messi
England striker Harry Kane is having perhaps his greatest season as a professional footballer, having already amassed over 70 goals for his club and country combined. Earlier, sitting behind several top names with just three goals in as many outings in the group stages, Kane scored a brace against DR Congo in England's just-concluded outing and not only did it help them beat their African opponents and qualify for the Round of 16, but it also helped equal Haaland's tally (5) for most goals in four matches, one shy of the top spot attained by Mbappé and Messi (six goals each).
Also read| ‘This team did not accept defeat as an outcome,’ says Tuchel after England beat Congo at World Cup
Kane now has 13 World Cup goals, five shy of Mbappé’s overall tally thus far (18 and counting) and six of Messi’s record of 19 World Cup goals.
From where it all began
Messi, however, started with a goal-scoring spree in this edition, clobbering six in his first three matches, including his maiden World Cup hat-trick in Argentina’s opener against Algeria. He added a brace to it against Austria before scoring his last against Jordan in the last group stage game.
Hop to Mbappé, the French striker is having a ball at this edition, leading the tally for most contributions by any player so far. In four matches, he has scored six goals, tied with Messi, and assisted twice. He, however, is not the only French player to make headlines as his fellow winger Ousmane Dembele and attacking playmaker Michael Olise are turning heads too.
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Messi vs Mbappe vs Kane vs Haaland The greatest Golden Boot race ever Photograph: (X)
While Dembele is not far behind in goals, having netted four, including a first-half hat-trick against Norway, Olise has assisted five times in four matches.
Keep an eye on Haaland and Ronaldo
Haaland, on the other hand, has scored five goals in his debut World Cup, that too in only three matches. He is tied with Kane and just one shot from equalling the six-goal tally. Against Brazil, he might do that.
And well, at the end, the one name remains, perhaps the greatest goal scorer of all time, Portugal’s talisman Cristiano Ronaldo. In three matches so far, he has found the net just twice, two behind Vinicius Jr from Brazil, who shall also not be forgotten.
With the tournament entering the business end, only time will decide who stands tall.
Golden Boot Race at FIFA World Cup 2026
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- Kylian Mbappé – 6 goals
- Lionel Messi – 6 goals
- Harry Kane – 5 goals
- Erling Haaland – 5 goals
- Ousmane Dembele – 4 goals
- Vinicius Jr – 4 goals
- Cristiano Ronaldo – 2 goals
