Messi Leads World Cup Golden Boot Race with 6 Goals, Breaks All-Time Scoring Record
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Lionel Messi leads the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot race with 6 goals.
- He also broke Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup scoring record with 19 goals.
- Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vinícius Júnior, and Ousmane Dembélé are close behind with 4 goals each.
Lionel Messi is currently leading the race for the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup, having scored an impressive six goals. His performance in the tournament has not only placed him at the top of the scoring charts but also cemented his place in football history.
During the group stage, Messi surpassed Miroslav Klose's long-standing record of 16 World Cup goals, bringing his total to 19. This historic achievement occurred after his goal against Jordan, further solidifying his status as one of the game's greatest players.
Following closely behind Messi in the scoring standings are Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vinícius Júnior, and Ousmane Dembélé, each with four goals. These prominent players are expected to continue their pursuit of the Golden Boot as the tournament progresses into the knockout stages.
Other notable contenders include Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane, who also remain in contention. Players like Deniz Undav, Jonathan David, and Yoane Wissa are further down the list with three goals each. The competition for the top scorer award is anticipated to intensify as teams advance to the round of 16, with France relying on Mbappé and Dembélé, and Brazil backing Vinícius Júnior.
Originally published by Prensa Libre in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.