World Cup 2026 Golden Boot: Messi requires massive final performance to claim gong from Mbappe
The race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot is down to two men: Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
The prize recognises individual excellence on football’s biggest international stage, tracking goals scored throughout the tournament.
FIFA rebranded the accolade from the Golden Shoe to the Golden Boot in the 2010 edition and that’s not the only change it’s undergone.
In 1994, a tiebreaker system was introduced, taking assists into account if players finished level on the same number of successful strikes.
Meanwhile, in 2006 it was implemented that if players cannot be separated via goals or assists, the award is handed to the individual with the fewest minutes on the pitch.
Most recently, France’s Mbappe scored a hat-trick against Argentina in the 2022 showpiece, scoring eight goals at the tournament overall to win the award.
And it’s the Les Bleus captain that is once again in pole position to retain the honour following his double in France’s 6-4 defeat to England in the World Cup third-place play-off.
So who is going to be the Golden Boot recipient after the final whistle blows in New Jersey?
Current standings
5= Harry Kane (England)
Goals: 6
Assists: 1
Kane has been among the goals at yet another major tournament.
He bagged a brace in the Three Lions’ opener against Croatia and scored again against Panama.
He then produced a stunning double against DR Congo in the Round of 32 to get England out of a hole and keep their tournament alive.
The Bayern Munich superstar was at it again in the last-16, smashing home a vital penalty against Mexico.
Kane, who won the Golden Boot in 2018, has broken numerous England records this summer.
But at 32-year-old, it remains to be seen whether he will appear at another World Cup.
5= Ousmane Dembele (France)
Goals: 6
Assists: 2
Dembele is one of many jewels in the crown of France’s attack and it’s no wonder given his impressive form at the World Cup.
The reigning Ballon d’Or winner bagged four goals in the group stage, including a hat-trick against a heavily-rotated Norway.
Although he fired blanks against Sweden and Paraguay, Dembele issued a timely reminder of his remarkable qualities with a cool finish in France’s quarter-final clash against Morocco.
And he then fired home against England in the bronze medal match.
3= Erling Haaland (Norway)
Goals: 7
Assists: 0
Haaland is already Norway‘s all-time top goalscorer and wasted no time proving that on the international stage by netting twice in the first half of their opener against Iraq.
He followed that up with another brace in their second group game as Norway beat Senegal 3-2.
Haaland was rested for Norway’s final group game against France, but found the net again with the winner in their Round of 32 clash against Ivory Coast.
And he produced his very best with another stunning double against Brazil in the Round of 16, however, he couldn’t help Norway as they were eliminated by England in the quarter-finals.
Haaland now has a whopping 62 goals in just 55 caps.
3= Jude Bellingham (England)
Goals: 7
Assists: 1
Somehow, there were question marks over Bellingham’s place in the England team before the tournament.
But the Real Madrid man has shown his superstar quality in North America.
Having scored against Croatia and Panama in the group stage, Bellingham fired home twice in two minutes against Mexico in the Round of 16.
He was on fire again in the quarter-finals, smashing home another brace against Norway.
After drawing a blank against Argentina in England’s 2-1 semi-final defeat, he helped seal the Three Lions’ bronze medal by scoring with the last kick of the game in a thrilling 6-4 victory.
With seven goals to his name in North America, he has become the first Englishman to score as many times in a single World Cup.
2 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Goals: 8
Assists: 4
Messi narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot last time at the competition despite winning the big prize.
Argentina’s team is still built around the 39-year-old, and he has repaid the unwavering faith shown in him by scoring at will this summer.
He started with a hat-trick in their opening fixture, a 3-0 win over Algeria.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner moved passed Miroslav Klose for the all-time record with two goals against Austria in their second game.
Argentina faced Jordan in their last group match and, wouldn’t you know it, he bagged a free-kick after coming off the bench.
He then produced his best goal yet to open the scoring as Argentina scraped past Cape Verde in the Round of 32.
And, despite missing an early penalty, scored one and assisted another as his country completed a miraculous comeback against Egypt last time out.
Messi couldn’t score in the semi-final against England, however, he did assist both goals – taking his tally to four in the tournament.
But he has one more chance to get his hands on the Golden Boot with Argentina to face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday.
1 – Kylian Mbappe
Goals: 10
Assists: 4
Mbappe won the World Cup at 19 in 2018, then followed it up as the tournament’s top scorer four years later as France ended up as runners-up in Qatar.
While having some heat on himself at Real Madrid, the 27-year-old still secured 42 goals in 44 appearances for the Spanish giants in the 2025/26 season.
He kicked off the tournament scoring a clinical brace against Senegal, a feat that officially saw him overtake Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading marksman, and followed that by adding another two against Iraq.
He turned provider against Norway, setting up two of Dembele’s goals and then stole the show against Sweden, firing home two stunners.
Mbappe bagged his seventh from the penalty spot against Paraguay before taking his tally to eight with a stunning curled effort in France’s quarter-final clash with Morocco.
And in his final World Cup game in North America, he fired in twice against England to see him overtake Messi in the Golden Boot race.
In doing so, he has also become the World Cup’s all-time top scorer with 22 goals.
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