Mbappe and Messi Headline Golden Boot Race
Kylian Mbappe has a chance to make World Cup history at the 2026 tournament in North America. No player has ever won the Golden Boot twice, but Mbappe claimed the award in 2022 and opened his campaign with a brace against Senegal.
Messi Leads After Opening Salvo
Lionel Messi sits atop the scorers list after a hat trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening match. The Argentina legend later added a pair of assists against England, moving him back into first place following that fixture.
How the Standings Are Set
Assists and minutes played serve as the two tiebreakers for the Golden Boot. If players are level on goals, the one with more assists ranks higher, and if still tied, the player with fewer minutes played takes the lead.
Trimmed List After Group Matches
After Spain’s 2-0 win over France, the chase was narrowed to players with four or more goals. The table was last updated following England against Argentina on July 15, with only those four-goal scorers retained.