As the top contenders for the Golden Boot continue to score steadily, at least half a dozen players have now emerged as strong competitors in the Golden Boot race. June 30, Kathmandu — Who will claim the FIFA World Cup 2026 title? This question has persisted since the tournament began. Alongside it, another question arises: who will win the Golden Boot for scoring the most goals in the World Cup? This edition of the World Cup is witnessing perhaps the most intense competition for the Golden Boot in its history. As players claiming the award continue to score goals, the number of contenders now stands at around six.
With the conclusion of the group stage and only a few Round of 32 matches completed, some teams have been eliminated from title contention, while the number of teams advancing in the title race is decreasing. However, the count of Golden Boot contenders continues to grow. The player who scores the most goals at the World Cup traditionally receives the Golden Boot award. Currently, a fierce competition is underway among several star players for this accolade. To date, six players remain active in the Golden Boot race. England’s Harry Kane added two goals against the Democratic Republic of Congo in the latest match, reaching a total of five goals in four games and cementing his place among the contenders.
Leading the tally are France’s captain Kylian Mbappé and Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi, both with six goals each. Norway’s Erling Haaland is also a contender alongside Kane, with five goals. Additionally, France’s Ousmane Dembélé and Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior have each scored four goals. The Round of 16 matchup between Brazil and Norway is now set, which will see Haaland and Vinícius face off directly. Since only one player from this encounter can advance, it is likely that one contender will progress in the Golden Boot race while the other may be eliminated.
Messi, a frontrunner for the Golden Boot, scored six goals during the group stage and still has the Round of 32 game remaining to add to his tally. He scored a hat-trick in the opening game against Algeria, followed by two goals against Austria, and added another when coming off the bench against Jordan. On the club level, Mbappé, Haaland, Kane, and Messi have all displayed stellar performances and are considered the principal contenders for the Golden Boot in this World Cup. The progress and success of their respective teams are expected to significantly impact their chances in the Golden Boot competition.
