Messi and Mbappe both on 6 goals: The FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race is now a thriller with 5 contenders
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are tied on 6 goals in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race, with Erling Haaland, Vinicius Jr and Ousmane Dembele still in contention. The battle for football's biggest individual prize is just heating up.
- Jul 2, 2026,
- Updated Jul 2, 2026 4:54 PM IST
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The FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race is wide open. With the Round of 16 underway, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are tied at 6 goals each, Erling Haaland lurks on 5, and Vinicius Jr and Dembele are on 4. The most exciting individual battle in football is happening right now.
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Lionel Messi, 39, sits joint-top with 6 goals — defying every expectation about age at the highest level. He already tops the all-time FIFA World Cup scoring chart. Argentina face Cape Verde in the Round of 16, giving Messi a chance to move clear of Mbappe and seal another record.
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Erling Haaland is one goal behind the joint leaders after scoring in the Round of 32 to take his tally to 5. Norway advanced to the Round of 16 — keeping Haaland's Golden Boot dream alive. The 25-year-old striker is the most clinical finisher at the tournament and the biggest threat to both Messi and Mbappe.
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Kylian Mbappe levelled with Messi after a brilliant brace against Sweden as France swept them 5–2. Mbappe, 27, also won the Golden Boot at Qatar 2022. He now has 6 goals in 2026 and a point to prove — that this is his World Cup, not a footnote to Messi's farewell tour.
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Vinicius Jr (4 goals) hit a brace against Haiti in the group stage to send Brazil through as group winners. Ousmane Dembele (4 goals) grabbed a hat-trick against Norway and remains France's most explosive attacker. Two goals separate either from the top of the Golden Boot standings.
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If two players finish level on goals, FIFA first counts assists. If still tied, the player who scored in fewer minutes wins. This means Mbappe's assists and minutes on the pitch could decide it if he and Messi both finish on the same tally. Every assist now counts as much as a goal.
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Messi winning the 2026 Golden Boot at 39 would be the greatest individual story in World Cup history. Mbappe winning it would confirm a generational transfer of power. Haaland winning would make Norway's World Cup a fairy tale. With the knockout rounds still ahead, all three remain alive. Watch this space.