The race for the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is intensifying, with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland all vying for the top scorer honor. As of June 23, 2026, Messi leads with five goals, followed by Mbappe and Haaland with four each.
Messi Breaks All-Time Record
Lionel Messi moved to the top of the standings after scoring both goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria. His first goal broke the all-time finals goal record, surpassing Miroslav Klose's tally of 16. Messi then added his 18th tournament goal in stoppage time. Earlier, he had scored a hat-trick against Algeria.
Mbappe and Haaland Keep Pace
Kylian Mbappe scored a double against Senegal last week and added two more against Iraq. Erling Haaland matched that by scoring twice against Iraq and then another brace against Senegal. Both players are level on four goals, trailing Messi by one.
Kane Eyes Closing the Gap
England captain Harry Kane currently has two goals, having scored twice against Croatia last week. He will have the opportunity to add to his tally when England faces Ghana on Tuesday. Kane is tied with several other players on two goals, including Vinicius Jr, Cody Gakpo, and Kai Havertz.
Other Contenders
Deniz Undav of Germany has three goals and two assists, while Canada's Jonathan David also has three goals after a hat-trick against Qatar. The table shows 21 players with at least two goals, indicating a wide-open race as the tournament progresses.
According to official tournament statistics, the Golden Boot standings are updated after each matchday, with the competition expected to intensify in the knockout stages.
