The race is well and truly on for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot with some superstar names in the running.
The prize recognises individual excellence on football’s biggest international stage, tracking goals scored throughout the tournament.
FIFA rebranded the accolade from the Golden Shoe to the Golden Boot in the 2010 edition and that’s not the only change it’s undergone.
In 1994, a tiebreaker system was introduced, taking assists into account if players finished level on the same number of successful strikes.
Meanwhile, in 2006 it was implemented that if players cannot be separated via goals or assists, the award is handed to the individual with the fewest minutes on the pitch.
After the name change, Thomas Muller was the first recipient, scoring five times with third place Germany in South Africa.
James Rodriguez announced himself to the world in Brazil with the Colombian securing the 2014 gong.
The second Englishman after Gary Lineker to win the award was Harry Kane as he captained the Three Lions to a World Cup semi-final in Russia 2018.
Most recently, France’s Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick against Argentina in the 2022 showpiece, scoring eight goals at the tournament overall.
So who is going to be the recipient after the final whistle blows in New Jersey as things stand?
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Current standings
6= 5 players
Ismaila Sarr (Senegal) – 4 goals, 1 assist – OUT
Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) – 4 goals, 1 assist
Julian Quinones (Mexico) – 4 goals, 1 assist – OUT
Vinicius Junior (Brazil) – 4 goals, 1 assist – OUT
5. Ousmane Dembele (France)
Goals: 5
Assists: 2
Dembele is one of many jewels in the crown of France’s attack and it’s no wonder given his impressive form at the World Cup.
The reigning Ballon d’Or winner bagged four goals in the group stage, including a hat-trick against a heavily-rotated Norway.
Although he fired blanks against Sweden and Paraguay, Dembele issued a timely reminder of his remarkable qualities with a cool finish in France’s quarter-final clash against Morocco.
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4= Jude Bellingham (England)
Goals: 6
Assists: 1
Somehow, there were question marks over Bellingham’s place in the England team before the tournament.
But the Real Madrid man has shown his superstar quality in North America.
Having scored against Croatia and Panama in the group stage, Bellingham fired home twice in two minutes against Mexico in the Round of 16.
He was on fire again in the quarter-finals, smashing home another brace against Norway.
4= Harry Kane (England)
Goals: 6
Assists: 1
Kane was England’s hero yet again as he fired them into the last-16.
Kane bagged a brace in the Three Lions’ opener against Croatia and scored again against Panama.
He then produced a stunning double against DR Congo in the Round of 32 to get England out of a hole and keep their tournament alive.
The Bayern Munich superstar was at it again in the last-16, smashing home a penalty against Mexico.
Kane, who won the Golden Boot in 2018, has broken numerous England records this summer and will be eager for more.
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3. Erling Haaland (Norway)
Goals: 7
Assists: 0
Haaland is already Norway’s all-time top goalscorer and wasted no time proving that on the international stage by netting twice in the first half of their opener against Iraq.
He followed that up with another brace in their second group game as Norway beat Senegal 3-2.
Haaland was rested for Norway’s final group game against France but found the net again with the winner in their Round of 32 clash against Ivory Coast.
And he produced his very best with another stunning double against Brazil in the Round of 16.
Haaland has now scored in 14 successive competitive internationals for Norway and has a whopping 62 goals in just 54 caps.
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1= Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Goals: 8
Assists: 1
Messi narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot last time at the competition despite winning the big prize.
Argentina’s team is still built around the 38-year-old, and he has repaid the unwavering faith shown in him by scoring at will this summer.
He started with a hat-trick in their opening fixture, a 3-0 win over Algeria.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner moved passed Miroslav Klose for the all-time record with two goals against Austria in their second game.
Argentina faced Jordan in their last group match and, wouldn’t you know it, he bagged a free-kick after coming off the bench.
He then produced his best goal yet to open the scoring as Argentina scraped past Cape Verde in the round of 32.
And, despite missing an early penalty, scored one and assisted another as his country completed a miraculous comeback against Egypt last time out.
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1= Kylian Mbappe
Goals: 8
Assists: 3
Mbappe won the World Cup at 19, then followed it up as the tournament’s top scorer four years later as France ended up as runners-up in Qatar.
While having some heat on himself at Real Madrid, the 27-year-old still secured 42 goals in 44 appearances for the Spanish giants.
He kicked off the tournament scoring a clinical brace against Senegal, a feat that officially saw him overtake Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading marksman, and added another two against Iraq.
He turned provider against Norway, setting up two of Dembele’s goals and then stole the show against Sweden, firing home two stunners.
Mbappe bagged his seventh from the penalty spot against Paraguay before taking his tally to eight with a stunning curled effort in France’s quarter-final clash with Morocco.
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