With an impressive tally of eight goals over five matches, Lionel Messi is leading the goal-scoring chart at the 2026 World Cup, making this one of the most thrilling individual competitions in the history of the tournament.
The Argentine captain seized the top spot after netting a crucial goal in the 83rd minute during Argentina's dramatic comeback against Egypt at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta this Tuesday. The Albiceleste had been trailing 0-2 before turning the game around with goals from Cristian Romero (79'), Messi (83'), and Enzo Fernández (93').
Before this match, the Inter Miami star had already scored a hat-trick against Algeria, a double against Austria, and single goals against Jordan and Cape Verde, boasting an impressive average of 1.6 goals per game, making him the tournament's most efficient player.
Trailing closely behind Messi are Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, each with seven goals. The French forward reached this number with a penalty against Paraguay in the round of 16, and France is set to face Morocco on Thursday, July 9 at the Gillette Stadium.
Meanwhile, Haaland equaled the score with a brace against Brazil on July 5 at the MetLife Stadium, securing Norway's historic first-time advancement to the World Cup quarter-finals.
Harry Kane is also in the running with six goals and one assist, and he will have a direct confrontation with Haaland when England meets Norway on Saturday, July 11 at the Hard Rock Stadium, a match that could further shake up the standings.
The race has an extra layer of complexity: FIFA's official tiebreaker criterion for the Golden Boot is the number of assists in case of a tie in goals. In this regard, Mbappé leads with two assists, Kane has one, while Messi and Haaland have yet to register any, making every team play as crucial as a shot on goal.
The recent history of the award adds weight to the competition: In Qatar 2022, Mbappé claimed the Golden Boot with eight goals, while Messi finished second with seven; in Russia 2018, Kane won it with six goals.
Despite being the all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 18 goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose's record of 16, the Argentine captain has never clinched this individual accolade. Argentina will face Switzerland also on Saturday, July 11, giving Messi another chance to extend his lead in the quest for a prize that has eluded him thus far.
Key Questions About the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot Race
Who is currently leading the Golden Boot race in the 2026 World Cup?
Lionel Messi is leading the race with eight goals in the tournament.
What is the tiebreaker criterion for the Golden Boot?
The tiebreaker for the Golden Boot is the number of assists, according to FIFA's rules.
Has Lionel Messi ever won the World Cup Golden Boot?
No, Lionel Messi has never won the World Cup Golden Boot despite being the all-time top scorer in the competition.