World Cup 2026 Golden Boot standings: Harry Kane joins Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in race | OneFootball

England captain nets first-half brace against Croatia as early top scorers list gets another star name

Harry Kane has joined the early list of illustrious names battling it out for the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot award.

The England captain scored twice in the first half on Wednesday as Thomas Tuchel’s side opened Group L with a statement 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas.

Messi, despite leading Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, is yet to claim the World Cup’s prestigious top scorer prize in five previous attempts, narrowly losing out to Kylian Mbappe in Qatar four years ago.

However, the 38-year-old has made a fine start this time around as he netted all the goals in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria on Tuesday, drawing level with Germany great Miroslav Klose for the most World Cup finals goals of all time.

Hat-trick hero: Lionel Messi has now tied Miroslav Klose for the most World Cup finals goals of all time

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That was after Mbappe had scored twice in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal and Erling Haaland did the same on his World Cup debut as Norway beat Iraq.

Germany’s Kai Havertz and Sweden’s Yasin Ayari also netted braces in respective big wins over Curacao and Tunisia, as did Elijah Just for New Zealand against Iran and Folarin Balogun in the United States’ demolition of Paraguay.