2026 World Cup Top Scorers: Live Golden Boot Rankings and Records

Current Top Scorers at the 2026 World Cup

The group stage of the 2026 World Cup has wrapped up, setting the stage for intense knockout matches. Leading the scoring charts are some of the sport's biggest names. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe once again hold the top two spots, with Erling Haaland close behind.

Golden Boot Betting Favorites

Before the tournament started, Kylian Mbappe led betting odds as a slight favorite for the Golden Boot, closely followed by England's captain Harry Kane. Norway’s Erling Haaland, despite his team’s shorter expected run, remains a strong contender given his extraordinary international scoring record of 55 goals in 50 matches. Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal also ranks ahead of veteran stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both making their sixth World Cup appearances.

2022 World Cup Golden Boot Recap

Kylian Mbappe made history at the 2022 World Cup final by scoring a hat-trick, a feat last achieved by Geoff Hurst in 1966. Despite France losing to Argentina in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw, Mbappe earned the Golden Boot with eight goals across seven matches. His previous debut in 2018 saw him net four goals on France’s victorious campaign.

All-Time Golden Boot Winners

Since 1930, each World Cup has seen a unique Golden Boot winner. Sometimes the award goes to unexpected players rather than the biggest stars. The list includes greats like Just Fontaine with 13 goals in 1958 and Sandor Kocsis’s 11 in 1954.

Players Who Won Both the World Cup and Golden Boot

Only three times has a player won the Golden Boot while also lifting the World Cup trophy. Mario Kempes in 1978 scored twice in Argentina's final win. Paolo Rossi repeated the feat for Italy in 1982, and Brazil's Ronaldo did so in 2002, scoring both goals in the final against Germany. Ronaldo’s eight goals in 2002 remain the highest tally since Gerd Muller's 10 in 1970.

Top Scorers in World Cup History

Lionel Messi now holds the record for most World Cup goals with 19, surpassing Miroslav Klose’s previous mark of 16 during the 2026 tournament. Messi reached this milestone quickly with a hat trick against Algeria and another goal versus Austria. Below is a list of the all-time highest scorers in the competition: