The 2026 World Cup is just days away, and the world's best players are set to compete on the biggest stage for football's most coveted trophy. Beyond the tournament winner, one of the most intriguing storylines is who will claim the Golden Boot as the most prolific goalscorer.
Kylian Mbappe: The Favourite
In 2022, France's Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final, pipping Lionel Messi. He is the favourite to repeat the feat as he seeks to overcome the heartbreak of losing on penalties to Argentina in the previous edition.
Harry Kane
After another blistering season with Bayern Munich, scoring 61 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions, Harry Kane is arguably the best striker in the world right now. Kane won the Golden Boot in 2018 with six goals and is now England's all-time leading scorer. He has 78 international goals and eight World Cup goals.
Erling Haaland
It is finally time for the Premier League's best striker of the last four seasons to make his World Cup debut. Haaland has been dominant for Manchester City, scoring 112 goals in just 132 Premier League appearances. Alongside Martin Odegaard, he drove Norway's qualification. While not tipped for a deep run, Haaland will aim for individual honours. He has 55 international goals but zero World Cup goals so far.
Lionel Messi
Four years after what was supposed to be his World Cup swansong, Messi returns for a record sixth time to defend Argentina's title. He was one goal shy of the Golden Boot in 2022, but Argentina's squad has faded, making his task tougher. Messi has 117 international goals and 13 World Cup goals.
Lamine Yamal
At just 18 years old, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal has risen to stardom, finishing second in last season's Ballon d'Or standings. He has been a spark for Barcelona, with 16 goals and 11 assists as they won La Liga. A key part of Spain's national setup, he helped them win the European title in 2024. Yamal enters his first World Cup with a genuine chance at both the trophy and the Golden Boot. He has six international goals and zero World Cup goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Where Messi appears, Ronaldo often follows. The most prolific international goalscorer of all time enters his sixth World Cup with victory on his mind. At 41, his recent form has dipped slightly, but with this being his last World Cup, expect him to come out firing. He has 143 international goals and eight World Cup goals.
Latest Odds for the Golden Boot
- Kylian Mbappe: 11/2
- Harry Kane: 13/2
- Erling Haaland: 12/1
- Lionel Messi: 14/1
- Mikel Oyarzabal: 14/1
- Lamine Yamal: 18/1
- Cristiano Ronaldo: 20/1
- Vinicius Jr: 25/1
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