World Cup 2026 top scorers: Lionel Messi extends lead in Golden Boot race

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Evening Standard

·28 Juni 2026

World Cup 2026 top scorers: Lionel Messi extends lead in Golden Boot race

Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Jr all in hot pursuit

Lionel Messi has extended his early advantage in a star-studded race to claim the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot.

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The record-breaking superstar now has six goals to his name for the tournament in North America after coming off the bench to net for Argentina in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Jordan in Group J.

Messi is the first player in history to notch in seven consecutive World Cup games, having already surpassed Germany great Miroslav Klose as the leading scorer in finals history with the first of his brace against Austria, which arrived after an early penalty miss.

The 39-year-old kicked off his sixth and surely last World Cup with a stunning hat-trick against Algeria that saw him tie the previous record, having escaped a red card for a bad challenge.

The Golden Boot race is shaping up to be one for the ages, with Ousmane Dembele also putting himself firmly in the running with a hat-trick for France against Norway.

France team-mate Kylian Mbappe - tied with Klose and now three behind Messi in the all-time standings - also has four goals to his name, as does Brazil’s Vinicius Jr and Norway talisman Erling Haaland.

There are a number of players close behind on three strikes apiece - a list that includes England captain Harry Kane, who added to his first-half brace against Croatia with the second goal in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Panama that sealed top spot in Group L and a last-32 meeting with DR Congo.