World Cup 2026: Who Will Win the Golden Boot?

The top scorer award is often difficult to predict, as since 2002, no player from the winning team has claimed this title. That year, Ronaldo Nazário scored eight goals to help Brazil win their fifth World Cup title.

To date, no one has surpassed the record of 13 goals set by Just Fontaine for France at the 1958 World Cup, even though his team was eliminated in the semifinals. However, with the 2026 World Cup featuring 16 more teams and 40 additional matches compared to the 2022 edition in Qatar, the stage is set for more goals than ever before.

So far, Folarin Balogun is temporarily leading the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot race, having scored two goals in 19 minutes to help the US beat Paraguay 4-1. Since deciding to represent the US and making his debut in June 2023, Balogun has scored 11 goals in 23 international matches.

Other players who have also scored two goals so far include Germany's Kai Havertz (two goals in Germany's opening match against Curacao), Sweden's Yasin Ayari (two goals in Sweden's 5-1 victory over Tunisia), and New Zealand's Elijah Just (two goals against Iran). Additionally, 35 other players have found the net in the opening round of group matches.

According to assessments, the top candidates for this year's Golden Boot are two former winners who are still active: France's Kylian Mbappe and England's Harry Kane.

Mbappe had an explosive season with Real Madrid, scoring 25 goals in La Liga and 15 in the Champions League. He also scored against Brazil in a friendly match in March, bringing his international goal tally to 56, just one short of Olivier Giroud's record of 57.

Harry Kane is also in outstanding form. The Bayern Munich striker scored 36 goals to win the 2025-26 Bundesliga top scorer award, the highest among Europe's top domestic leagues, and added 14 more goals in the Champions League. The 32-year-old forward remains England's most dangerous attacking threat and has scored five goals for the national team in the current campaign.

Norway's Erling Haaland is also a notable contender after winning the Premier League Golden Boot this season with 27 goals for Manchester City. He will look to extend that form in Norway's first World Cup appearance since 1998.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has had an impressive season with Inter Miami, scoring 12 goals in 14 MLS matches this season, after winning the 2025 MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals. At the 2022 World Cup, Messi scored 7 goals and helped Argentina win the title.

The official award named "Golden Shoe" has been in use since 1982, although the top scorer of each World Cup has been recognized since the 1930s. Since 1992, when players are tied on goals, the one with more assists ranks higher. Since 2006, FIFA added a second tiebreaker: if both goals and assists are equal, the award goes to the player who achieved that goal tally in fewer minutes played.