World Cup 2026 Top Scorers: Five Share the Lead So Far
Updated 9 July 2026, after the Round of 16.
Lionel Messi leads the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race on eight goals after his equaliser in the 3-2 win over Egypt sent Argentina into the quarterfinals. Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland sit level on seven, with Mbappe ahead on the assist tiebreaker, and Harry Kane is fourth on six. A big group is tied on four as the race heads into the last eight.
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 8 |
| 2 | Kylian Mbappe | France | 7 |
| 3 | Erling Haaland | Norway | 7 |
| 4 | Harry Kane | England | 6 |
| 5 | Ousmane Dembele | France | 4 |
| 5 | Ismaila Sarr | Senegal | 4 |
| 5 | Mikel Oyarzabal | Spain | 4 |
| 5 | Julian Quinones | Mexico | 4 |
| 5 | Jude Bellingham | England | 4 |
| 5 | Vinicius Junior | Brazil | 4 |
Messi Extends His Own World Cup Scoring Record
Lionel Messi’s stoppage-time-adjacent equaliser against Egypt in the Round of 16 was his eighth goal of the tournament and his 21st World Cup goal overall, extending the all-time record he set earlier in this tournament when he passed Miroslav Klose. Messi is now also the first player, man or woman, to reach 20 career World Cup goals, and he has 12 goal contributions in World Cup knockout matches alone. Read the Argentina 3-0 Algeria report from the hat-trick that started this run.
Mbappe and Haaland Chase Him Down
Mbappe scored in France’s Round of 16 win over Paraguay to reach seven goals, level with Haaland after his brace sent Norway past Brazil. Mbappe holds the tiebreaker on assists (two to Haaland’s none) if the pair finish level. Harry Kane’s run to six goals has powered England into the last eight, while a cluster of six players, including Brazil’s Vinicius Junior and Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal, sit on four apiece heading into the quarterfinals.
The Outlook
Four Golden Boot contenders are still alive entering the quarterfinals: Messi (Argentina), Mbappe (France), Haaland (Norway) and Kane (England). All four play in the next round, so the race is set to be decided in the closing stages of the tournament. We will keep this tracker updated, with the bracket in our Quarterfinals hub and the wider story in our complete World Cup 2026 guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the top scorer at World Cup 2026?
Lionel Messi (Argentina) leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals, as of 9 July 2026, ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland on seven each and Harry Kane on six.
How many career World Cup goals does Messi have now?
Messi’s goal against Egypt in the Round of 16 took his career World Cup tally to 21, extending the all-time record and making him the first player to score 20 or more World Cup goals.
Sources: 2026 FIFA World Cup and the ESPN World Cup 2026 stats report.
