Sports / Sun, 12 Jul 2026 News18

FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot Race (Active Players): Mbappé Leads, Messi Hunts

Kylian Mbappé (France) – 8 goals, 3 assistsKylian Mbappé sits atop the Golden Boot standings with eight goals and three assists. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 8 goals, 2 assistsLionel Messi is just one assist behind Mbappé in a thrilling Golden Boot duel. He has scored in nine straight World Cup appearances and six consecutive knockout matches, keeping Argentina alive while chasing his first-ever Golden Boot. Harry Kane (England) – 6 goals, 1 assistHarry Kane remains firmly in contention with six goals and an assist. The 2018 Golden Boot winner is just two strikes behind the tournament leaders as England prepare for the semi-finals.

Last Updated: July 12, 2026, 12:05 IST

1 / 10 1. Kylian Mbappé (France) – 8 goals, 3 assists

Kylian Mbappé sits atop the Golden Boot standings with eight goals and three assists. Level with Lionel Messi on goals, the French captain leads thanks to the tiebreaker and remains on course to defend the award he won in 2022. (AP)

2 / 10 Mbappé has once again delivered on football's biggest stage. His goal and assist against Morocco in the quarter-finals underlined why France's talisman is the man to beat heading into the semi-finals. (AP)

3 / 10 2. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 8 goals, 2 assists

Lionel Messi is just one assist behind Mbappé in a thrilling Golden Boot duel. The Argentina captain has eight goals and two assists as he continues another unforgettable World Cup campaign. (AP)

4 / 10 At 39, Messi is still rewriting history. He has scored in nine straight World Cup appearances and six consecutive knockout matches, keeping Argentina alive while chasing his first-ever Golden Boot. (AP)

5 / 10 3. Harry Kane (England) – 6 goals, 1 assist

Harry Kane remains firmly in contention with six goals and an assist. The 2018 Golden Boot winner is just two strikes behind the tournament leaders as England prepare for the semi-finals. (AP)

6 / 10 England's captain has combined clinical finishing with creativity throughout the tournament. Another big performance could put Kane right back in the Golden Boot conversation. (AP)

7 / 10 4. Jude Bellingham (England) – 6 goals, 1 assist

Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the breakout stars of the tournament. Back-to-back braces have lifted the midfielder to six goals, level with teammate Harry Kane. (AP)

8 / 10 Bellingham's knack for delivering in the biggest moments has transformed England's attack. The Real Madrid star is now just two goals away from sharing the Golden Boot lead. (AP)

9 / 10 5. Ousmane Dembélé (France) – 5 goals, 2 assists

Ousmane Dembélé rounds out the top five with five goals and two assists. His pace and finishing have made him a constant threat in France's run to the last four. (AP)