World Cup Golden Boot race: Messi edges Mbappe as Kane and Haaland close in

Lionel Messi has moved back ahead of Kylian Mbappe in the race for the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot, with Harry Kane and Erling Haaland now firmly in the mix as the tournament heads into the knockout rounds.

Messi leads the standings with seven goals after a double against Austria followed a hat-trick against Algeria, and he found the net again in Argentina’s last-32 tie with Cape Verde having also come off the bench to score against Jordan.

Mbappe and France still in the hunt

Mbappe sits second on six goals after a brace against Sweden helped France to a three-nil win and a place in the last sixteen. The France forward briefly moved above Messi on the head-to-head tiebreaker of assists while level on goals, only for the Argentinian to restore his advantage soon after.

Should players finish level on goals scored, the Golden Boot is decided first by assists and then, if needed, by minutes played and goals-per-minute ratio.

Kane and Haaland join the race

England’s Harry Kane has climbed to joint third with five goals after a double rescued his side against DR Congo, level with Norway’s Erling Haaland. Haaland struck an 86th-minute winner against Ivory Coast in the last thirty-two to send Norway through, extending his remarkable record of scoring in 13 straight international appearances.

France’s Ousmane Dembele is next on four goals with two assists, just ahead of a group of players locked on four each, including Brazil’s Vinicius Jr, Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal and Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr. Cristiano Ronaldo remains within touching distance after converting a penalty in Portugal’s dramatic knockout victory over Croatia, taking his tally to three.

Read more: World Cup 2026: Rice, James injury concerns mount for England ahead of knockouts

Latest World Cup 2026 Golden Boot standings

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 7 goals
2. Kylian Mbappe (France) – 6 goals, 2 assists
3= Erling Haaland (Norway) – 5 goals
3= Harry Kane (England) – 5 goals
5. Ousmane Dembele (France) – 4 goals, 2 assists
6= Vinicius Jr (Brazil) – 4 goals, 1 assist
6= Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) – 4 goals, 1 assist
6= Ismaila Sarr (Senegal) – 4 goals, 1 assist
9. Deniz Undav (Germany) – 3 goals, 2 assists

A large group sits on three goals apiece, including Cody Gakpo, Julian Quinones, Jonathan David, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ismael Saibari, Matheus Cunha, Brian Brobbey, Elijah Just, Yoane Wissa, Kai Havertz and Folarin Balogun, keeping the race for the Golden Boot wide open as the World Cup enters its most decisive phase.