World Cup 2026: The Favourites to Win the Golden Boot

The race for the Golden Boot at the

2026 FIFA World Cup

 is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting storylines of the tournament. With the new 48-team format and an additional knockout round, players will have more opportunities to score, making this year's Golden Boot race even more unpredictable. So, who will finish as the tournament's top scorer?



Lionel Messi has made a sensational start to the 2026 World Cup, immediately placing himself among the leading Golden Boot contenders. With five goals in his first two matches, Argentina's captain has already opened a gap over most of his rivals, proving he remains decisive even at this stage of his legendary career.

His hat-trick against Algeria, followed by two goals against Austria, showed that Argentina still relies heavily on its captain. In addition, Messi has now reached 18 World Cup goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose's historic record.

The biggest argument in Messi's favour is simple. Argentina possesses the quality, experience and squad depth to make another deep run in the tournament. If the reigning world champions reach the latter stages once again, Messi will have plenty of opportunities to chase the one individual World Cup honour that has always eluded him—the Golden Boot.



Kylian Mbappé entered the 2026 World Cup as one of the strongest favourites to finish as the tournament's leading scorer. After winning the Golden Boot in 2022 with eight goals, the French superstar is determined to retain his title.

Mbappé has already found his rhythm, scoring twice against Senegal and twice against Iraq, once again proving that he remains the focal point of one of the tournament's most dangerous attacks. Surrounded by world-class teammates capable of creating space and chances, he remains firmly in the Golden Boot race.

The only real question surrounding Mbappé is not his individual ability but France's overall progress. If Les Bleus live up to expectations and make another deep run into the knockout rounds, Mbappé has everything it takes to overtake even Messi.



Erling Haaland is arguably the purest goalscorer among all the leading candidates. He doesn't need many touches to change a game, and his first World Cup has already demonstrated exactly that. His performances have propelled Norway into the spotlight while placing him among the favourites for the Golden Boot.

Two goals against Iraq and another brace against Senegal have confirmed Haaland's ability to score against different styles of defending. Norway doesn't need to dominate possession to create opportunities for him. One chance is often enough for Manchester City's striker to make the difference.

However, unlike powerhouses such as Argentina and France, Norway lacks World Cup knockout experience. Their place in the Round of 32 is already secured, though, and if they remain in the tournament long enough, Haaland could very well emerge as the competition's top scorer.



Harry Kane remains one of the safest bets for the Golden Boot. Following an outstanding season with Bayern Munich, England's captain wasted no time getting on the scoresheet with two goals in the opening matches. Against Ghana, he will look to underline once again just how important he is to England's attacking play.

Kane's value extends beyond his finishing ability. He contributes to build-up play, holds the ball up effectively, creates space for teammates and remains one of football's finest finishers. He also knows exactly what it takes to win the Golden Boot, having finished as the tournament's top scorer in 2018 with six goals.

The only concern is workload management. Kane is indispensable to England, but that could also mean he is rested in selected matches. If England progresses deep into the competition and Kane stays fit, his experience and consistency make him one of the strongest contenders.



Beyond the four leading favourites, several other players have made impressive starts to the tournament.

Canada's Jonathan David has already scored three goals and is emerging as one of the World Cup's breakout stars. Germany's Deniz Undav is also enjoying an excellent campaign with three goals and two assists, keeping him among the tournament's most productive attackers.

Vinícius Júnior is another player who cannot be overlooked. With two goals and one assist already to his name, he could become one of Brazil's standout performers if the Seleção goes deep into the competition.

Other names to watch include Kai Havertz, Folarin Balogun and Mikel Oyarzabal. Havertz continues to lead Germany's attack, Balogun has already scored twice during the United States' impressive start, while Oyarzabal has contributed two goals and one assist, benefiting from the creativity of teammates such as Lamine Yamal.



In previous World Cups, the Golden Boot has often been won with between five and eight goals. However, the 2026 tournament presents a completely different scenario. With more teams, more matches and an additional knockout round, the leading scorers will have significantly more opportunities to increase their goal tally.

The battle for the Golden Boot is already well underway, and everything suggests it will ultimately be decided by consistency, how far each team progresses, and the ability of football's elite strikers to capitalise on every scoring opportunity.

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