The race for the Golden Boot at the FIFA World Cup 2026 is intensifying as the tournament heads deeper into the knockout rounds. Argentina captain Lionel Messi no longer has sole possession of top spot after France captain Kylian Mbappé scored twice against Sweden to join him on six goals, while Norway striker Erling Haaland remains one behind on five following his winner against Ivory Coast on Tuesday.
Mbappé opened his campaign with a brace against Senegal before adding two more goals in France's 3-0 win over Iraq. While he failed to find the net against Norway, his latest brace against Sweden also saw him make more World Cup history.
The France captain has now scored 10 goals in nine FIFA World Cup knockout matches, the most by any player in the competition's knockout rounds, surpassing Brazil's Leônidas and Ronaldo, who both scored eight. He also became only the fifth player to score five or more goals at multiple World Cups, joining Téofilo Cubillas, Miroslav Klose, Thomas Müller and Messi. Mbappé has now scored 18 career World Cup goals.
Haaland's strike meanwhile took him to five goals for the tournament, leaving the Norway forward just one behind leaders Lionel Messi and Mbappe.
Making his World Cup debut, Haaland scored back-to-back braces in his first two World Cup appearances in the group stage before being rested for the dead-rubber against France with qualification already guaranteed. The 25-year-old returned to the side for the knockouts and added another strike to his impressive tally with a late match-winning goal to keep Norway's dream run alive.
Messi, who is yet to feature in the Round of 32, has scored six goals in three games so far in the tournament. The Argentina captain opened with a hat-trick against Algeria, followed it with a brace against Austria, and then came off the bench to curl home a trademark free-kick against Jordan. His form has also helped Argentina progress comfortably into the knockout stages.
France also have Ousmane Dembélé in contention. The winger has four goals after ending his World Cup scoring drought against Iraq before producing a first-half hat-trick against Norway.
Brazil's Vinícius Júnior is also on four goals after scoring consecutive braces during the group stage, stepping up in Neymar's absence and emerging as the Seleção's primary attacking threat.
Just behind the leading pack are England captain Harry Kane, DR Congo forward Yoane Wissa, Canada striker Jonathan David and Brazil's Matheus Cunha, who have all scored three goals and remain within striking distance with England and DR Congo yet to begin their knockout campaigns.
If players finish level on goals, FIFA awards the Golden Boot using assists as the first tiebreaker, followed by the fewest minutes played if they are still tied.
Here's a look at the top scorers so far at the FIFA World Cup 2026:
| Rank | Player | Country | Goals |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 6 |
| 2 | Erling Haaland | Norway | 6 |
| 3 | Kylian Mbappé | France | 5 |
| 4 | Ousmane Dembélé | France | 4 |
| 5 | Vinícius Júnior | Brazil | 4 |
| 6 | Harry Kane | England | 3 |
| 7 | Yoane Wissa | DR Congo | 3 |
| 8 | Jonathan David | Canada | 3 |
| 9 | Matheus Cunha | Brazil | 3 |
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