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The FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race is wide open. The tournament has moved past the group stage and the round of 32. So far, teams have played 85 matches and scored 249 goals.
Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi lead the chase with six goals each. Harry Kane and Erling Haaland sit just one goal behind. This list tracks the top scorers and their stats as the knockout rounds continue.
How the Golden Boot Works
FIFA gives the Golden Boot to the tournament’s top scorer once the tournament ends. Goals decide the winner first. If two or more players tie in goals, assists break the tie.
Fewer minutes played breaks a second tie. This rule currently puts Mbappé ahead of Messi. Both players have scored six goals, but Mbappé has two assists. Messi has none yet.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Golden Boot Standings
Several other players sit on three goals, including Matheus Cunha (Brazil), Kai Havertz and Deniz Undav (Germany), Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Ismael Saibari (Morocco), Julian Quinones (Mexico), and Folarin Balogun (USA).
Golden Boot Standings at a Glance
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals | Assists | Status |
| 1 | Kylian Mbappé | France | 7 | 2 | Leads tiebreaker |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 7 | 0 | Tied on goals |
| 3 | Erling Haaland | Norway | 5 | 0 | Plays July 5 |
| 3 | Harry Kane | England | 5 | 0 | Plays July 5 |
| 5 | Ousmane Dembele | France | 4 | 0 | Through to QF |
| 5 | Vinicius Junior | Brazil | 4 | 1 | Plays July 5 |
| 5 | Mikel Oyarzabal | Spain | 4 | 0 | Plays July 6 |
| 8 | Ismael Saibari | Morocco | 3 | 0 | Injury doubt |
| 8 | Julian Quinones | Mexico | 3 | 0 | Plays July 5 |
| 8 | Ismaila Sarr | Senegal | 3 | 1 | Eliminated |
Germany and the Netherlands are already out of the tournament, so Havertz, Undav, and Gakpo cannot add to their tallies.
Key Records to Watch
- Just Fontaine still holds the record for most goals in a single World Cup. He scored 13 goals for France in 1958, and no one has matched it in 68 years.
- Messi passed Miroslav Klose this tournament to become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, with 19 career goals.
- The 2026 tournament expanded to 48 teams. Finalists now play eight matches instead of seven, giving contenders a real shot at breaking Fontaine’s record.
What’s Next
The round of 32 wraps up on July 3, 2026, and the round of 16 begins the next day. Nineteen matches remain, ending with the final on July 19, 2026.
Every fixture gives the golden boot contenders fresh chances to add to their tallies. This list will change fast, so check back after each round for updated standings.
Note: All stats reflect the tournament as of July 5, 2026. Goal and assist counts will update as the round of 16 and later stages are played.
