France superstar Kylian Mbappe has moved into the equal lead with Lionel Messi of Argentina in the Golden Boot race at the FIFA World Cup 2026, registering his eighth goal in their quarterfinal tie against Morocco in Boston on Thursday.
Messi still leads the all-time World Cup goals tally with 21 vs Mbappe’s 20.
Norway striker Erling Haaland is next best in the Golden Boot race with seven.
Here’s everything you need to know about FIFA’s Golden Boot award:What’s the FIFA Golden Boot award and how is it decided?
France’s Mbappe is the current holder after scoring eight goals in Qatar at the 2022 World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe draws level with Lionel Messi as top goal scorer after tallying his eighth against Morocco in quarterfinals.
France superstar Kylian Mbappe has moved into the equal lead with Lionel Messi of Argentina in the Golden Boot race at the FIFA World Cup 2026, registering his eighth goal in their quarterfinal tie against Morocco in Boston on Thursday.
The 27 year old scored his goal in the 60th minute after he curled a ball past Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou inside the penalty area to put his side 1-0 up.
Messi still leads the all-time World Cup goals tally with 21 vs Mbappe’s 20. Messi will have a chance to add his ninth goal of the tournament when Argentina play their quarterfinal tie against Switzerland on Saturday.
Norway striker Erling Haaland is next best in the Golden Boot race with seven. England’s Harry Kane took his tally to six goals after scoring in England’s thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico late on Sunday.
Here’s everything you need to know about FIFA’s Golden Boot award:
What’s the FIFA Golden Boot award and how is it decided?
FIFA’s Golden Boot is awarded to the player with the most goals at the end of the tournament.
France’s Mbappe is the current holder after scoring eight goals in Qatar at the 2022 World Cup.
If two players are tied on the same number of goals at the end of the tournament, then the player with the most assists will win the award.
If those tiebreakers cannot split two players, then the Golden Boot is handed to the player who achieved their goals and assists in the least number of minutes.
Which players are the top goal scorers at World Cup 2026?
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Kylian Mbappe (France) – 8 goals, 2 assists Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 8 goals, 1 assist Erling Haaland (Norway) – 7 goals, 0 assists Harry Kane (England) – 6 goals, 1 assist Ousmane Dembele (France) – 5 goals, 2 assists Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) – 4 goals, 1 assist
How many Golden Boot awards have current World Cup players won?
Mbappe, Kane and James Rodriguez are all looking to bag the top goal-scorer prize for a second time.
England’s Kane won the award in 2018 in Russia, while Colombia’s Rodriguez was the top scorer in 2014 in Brazil.
No player has ever won the award more than once.
Which player has scored the most goals in a single World Cup?
French forward Just Fontaine holds the record after scoring an incredible 13 goals at the 1958 tournament in Sweden.
Sandor Kocsis scored 11 at the 1954 tournament in Switzerland, while West Germany’s Gerd Muller bagged 10 at the World Cup 1970 in Mexico.
Who has scored the most goals in FIFA World Cup history?
