2026 World Cup Golden Boot Standings: Messi, Mbappe, Haaland Among Top Scorers
The group stage of the 2026 World Cup has concluded, setting the stage for intense knockout rounds. Leading the scoring charts are some familiar names alongside fresh talents making their mark on the world stage.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe share the top spot with six goals each. Erling Haaland follows closely with five goals, while Vinicius Junior and Ousmane Dembele have four apiece. New names like Deniz Undav and others have emerged as key scorers in this edition.
Golden Boot Odds for 2026
Pre-tournament betting favored Kylian Mbappe as the slight favorite, followed by England's captain Harry Kane. Norway's Erling Haaland remains a wild card given his impressive international record, despite Norway's lower chances to advance deep into the competition. Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal also ranks ahead of legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are both in their sixth World Cup.
Recap: 2022 Golden Boot Winner
Kylian Mbappe made history at the 2022 World Cup by scoring a hat-trick in the final, a feat last achieved by Geoff Hurst in 1966. Despite France losing to Argentina in a 3-3 thriller that went to penalties, Mbappe took home the Golden Boot with eight goals, building on his four-goal performance from 2018.
History of Golden Boot Winners
The FIFA World Cup has crowned a different top scorer in each of its 22 men's tournaments. Some winners are legendary stars, others less known but equally impactful during their tournaments.
Golden Boot Winners Who Also Lifted the World Cup
Only three players have claimed both the Golden Boot and the World Cup trophy in the same tournament. Mario Kempes led Argentina to victory in 1978, Paolo Rossi helped Italy win in 1982, and Brazil's Ronaldo starred in the 2002 title run.
All-Time World Cup Goal Scorers
Lionel Messi now holds the record for most World Cup goals with 19, surpassing Miroslav Klose's previous mark of 16. Messi broke the record early in the 2026 tournament, including a hat trick against Algeria.
