Sport

This Golden Boot race could be the best in World Cup history

The stars are shining bright at the 2026 World Cup and nowhere is that more evident than in the scoring charts. Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi all have seven goals to their name with the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Harry Kane not far behind. This is shaping up to be the greatest Golden Boot race in World Cup history.

Three-and-a-half years ago in Qatar, eight goals were enough to make Mbappe the Golden Boot winner. Messi was second in the rankings, finishing up with seven goals, but both the Argentinean playmaker and Mbappe were sitting on five goals heading into the final. They have already surpassed that tally at the quarter-final stage.

Anyone who doubted Messi’s ability to deliver at the top level at the age of 38 has been humbled by his contribution at this World Cup so far. Indeed, Messi has been Argentina’s star man as they have made it past Algeria, Austria, Jordan and Cape Verde with Lionel Scaloni building his team around their best player.

Didier Deschamps has done something similar with Mbappe, moulding France around the 27-year-old to get him into the best goalscoring positions. After a tumultuous season at club level, this World Cup has witnessed Mbappe at his absolute best. He has been a one-man difference-maker in every match he has played.

This isn’t to say Mbappe is France’s only threat. Far from it. Indeed, Les Bleus boast the current Ballon d’Or holder in Dembele who has found the back of the net four times at the 2026 World Cup while Michael Olise is leading the tournament for assists. Then there’s Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki and Desire Doue. France have a formidable forward line.

In Mbappe, though, France have a dagger of an attacking focal point. The 27-year-old’s speed and willingness to get in behind is the most obvious thing about his all-round threat, but Mbappe is also one of the best penalty box operators in the sport and that often goes underappreciated.

Kane’s penalty box instincts certainly aren’t underappreciated. The Bayern Munich striker enjoyed the best individual season of his career last term, netting 60 goals in all competitions, and has carried that form into the World Cup, tallying five goals in the five games England have played at the tournament so far.

Against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, Kane showcased his brilliance by scoring one from the penalty spot and setting up Jude Bellingham for another. If England are to end their long wait for World Cup glory this summer, it’ll be in no small part due to the contribution of their captain and top scorer.

Haaland’s double against Brazil secured Norway’s place in the quarter-finals of a World Cup for the first time with the Manchester City striker arguably the most formidable focal point in the international game. He is powering Norway to new heights as the dark horses of this summer’s tournament.

From this point on, it should, in theory, get more difficult for the likes of Haaland, Kane, Mbappe and Messi to keep finding the back of the net with the same regularity. They will now face stronger opposition and the stakes of the knockout matches could result in some cagey encounters.

Nonetheless, the best goalscorers in the game have already made their mark on the 2026 World Cup and will continue to do so, one way or another. The Golden Boot might not be the prize everything is chasing this summer, but it could be handed to the player that defines the World Cup more than any other. It’s impossible to call which superstar goalscorer will get their hands on the accolade.