World Cup 2026 Top Scorers: Messi Strong, Kane Breaks Record

Lionel Messi has solidified his lead in the race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot, scoring his sixth goal in Argentina's 3-1 win against Jordan. The Argentine captain came off the bench in the 60th minute and sealed the victory with a late free-kick, extending his tournament tally by two goals over his closest competitors.

Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, opted to rest Messi for the start of the match, prioritizing his fitness. The decision proved effective as Messi's late intervention secured the win. His goal was his sixth of the tournament, widening the gap in the top scorer standings.

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The goal was his sixth of the tournament and extended his lead over his closest rivals in the hunt for the Golden Boot.

Behind Messi, the competition for second place is intense. France's Ousmane Dembele climbed to second with a hat-trick in his team's 4-1 victory over Norway, bringing his total to four goals. He is now level with his teammate Kylian Mbappe, Norway's Erling Haaland, and Brazil's Vinicius Junior.

Meanwhile, England's captain Harry Kane achieved a personal milestone, breaking Gary Lineker's record for the most goals scored by an England player in World Cup finals history. Kane's headed goal in England's 2-0 win against Panama was his 11th in the tournament, surpassing Lineker's 10 goals. Kane now stands alone at the top of England's World Cup scoring chart, having netted 82 goals in 117 appearances for the national team.

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Kane's headed goal broke Gary Lineker's record as England's top scorer in World Cup finals.