With Messi, Mbappe, Haaland and Kane all firing, who will end as prime scorer?
It has been a World Cup the place soccer’s greatest stars have carried out – and it’s leading to one of the vital aggressive Golden Boot races in historical past.
Lionel Messi leads the way in which together with his eight targets on the ripe outdated age of 39, however each Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are additionally on fireplace and shut behind on seven, with Harry Kane additionally within the race on six.
And with Argentina, France, Norway and England all nonetheless within the competitors as we attain the quarter-final stage, the race to complete the match as prime scorer is simply going to warmth up, with even the gamers themselves speaking about it.
However which participant is almost definitely to take the award? 101GreatGoals takes a better take a look at all the primary contenders forward of the final eight.
Golden Boot standings
*Of gamers nonetheless within the competitors
| Participant | Nation | Objectives | Assists | Minutes performed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Lionel Messi | Argentina | 8 | 1 | 410 |
| 2. Kylian Mbappe | France | 7 | 2 | 441 |
| 3. Erling Haaland | Norway | 7 | 0 | 360 |
| 4. Harry Kane | England | 6 | 1 | 443 |
| 5. Ousmane Dembele | France | 4 | 2 | 372 |
| 6. Mikel Oyarzabal | Spain | 4 | 1 | 392 |
| 7. Jude Bellingham | England | 4 | 1 | 404 |
Golden boot race contenders
Lionel Messi
Eight targets, one help, 5 appearances, 410 minutes performed
The 2022 World Cup gave the impression to be his last flourish on the world stage, however 4 years later he’s nonetheless proving why he’s arguably the best of all time, scoring a rare eight targets in 5 appearances for Argentina in a run which has seen him smash Miroslav Klose’s file because the competitors’s all-time main scorer as he now sits on 21 targets.
Whereas the 39-year-old famous person isn’t a medical striker like his rivals and is barely cellular at instances on the pitch, however he nonetheless is aware of the way to burst into life on the proper second.
What’s extra, the entire Argentina aspect is constructed round getting their icon right into a place the place he could make the distinction, as a result of he’s nonetheless the very best geared up to take action.
Argentina have been heading out of the competitors earlier than Messi’s late equalising objective towards Egypt within the spherical of 16 and he’s now on a nine-game scoring run on the World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe
Seven targets, two assists, 5 appearances, 441 minutes performed
Messi ought to get pleasure from being the World Cup’s file goalscorer for so long as he can, as a result of Mbappe goes to take that mantle from him in some unspecified time in the future in his profession.
The France icon already has 19 World Cup targets in 19 video games within the competitors, together with seven in North America.
After some difficulties at membership degree with Actual Madrid, the World Cup appears to be the place Mbappe comes alive, with the 27-year-old brilliantly combining with a stacked France frontline and placing within the form of shows that has seen many title them as favourites.
Mbappe edges out his team-mates for assists to this point, which might show essential if the race ends degree. The largest issue, nonetheless, could also be that he’s enjoying for a aspect which appears to be like prefer it might go the gap.
Erling Haaaland
Seven targets, no assists, 4 appearances, 360 minutes performed
Solely eight gamers have breached the eight-goal tally on the World Cup within the near-100-year historical past of the competitors – however there are three who’re on the point of doing so so in 2026, with Haaland becoming a member of Mbappe on seven to this point – albeit the expanded format has little doubt helped.
Haaland’s file is maybe probably the most spectacular of the 4 we have now highlighted, having managed his seven in a single much less recreation and virtually 100 fewer minutes – in addition to the actual fact he has executed it for relative underdog Norway.
Any worries the 25-year-old might battle to carry out on the world stage have immediately been rubbished, and his glorious double to beat Brazil within the final 16 showcased the putting sensation’s completely ruthless edge, taking his worldwide file to a ridiculous 62 targets in 54 caps.
The Golden Boot usually goes to the participant who stays within the competitors, which might depend towards Haaland with reaching the ultimate certainly a step too far for Norway regardless of their spectacular World Cup.
Beat England, nonetheless, and Haaland might have pretty much as good an opportunity as any of his rivals.
Harry Kane
Six targets, one assists, 5 appearances, 443 minutes performed
One factor that binds these 4 gamers collectively is their big significance to their respective sides – and Kane isn’t any completely different with England.
The Bayern Munich striker is one other who has the relentless consistency with six targets and an help to this point, together with his match-winning brace towards DR Congo additionally seeing him turn into England’s file World Cup goalscorer and go fifth within the all-time record general.
However even by Kane’s requirements, the 2025-26 season, following into this summer season has been nothing wanting sensational, after changing into solely the second male participant ever to surpass 70 targets in a single season.
It’s been the Kane and Jude Bellingham present for England at this World Cup to this point, which means he’s positive to maintain himself in rivalry if the Three Lions keep within the competitors as much as the semi-final or last.
Anybody else?
Six gamers are on 4 targets however solely three’s groups are nonetheless within the competitors, specifically Ousmane Dembele, Mikel Oyarzabal and aforementioned Bellingham.
Each Dembele and Bellingham are unlikely to outshine the primary goalscorers of their groups, however Oyarzabal will certainly add to his tally if Spain are to win a second World Cup.
Even so, eclipsing the tally of the main pack would possibly show too troublesome.
Golden Boot winner: Our verdict
Norway are the almost definitely to bow out early, taking Haaland out the equation, whereas one among Messi or Kane will miss out on the possibility to play three extra video games with a semi-final assembly possible.
With France in such prime type and showing set for a 3rd straight World Cup last, we’re backing Mbappe so as to add one other Golden Boot to record of achievements.
Our prediction: Kylian Mbappe
Responses