Messi Leads World Cup Scoring, with Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé, and Haaland Close Behind
The 2026 World Cup has seen some dazzling performances, especially as group stages wind down. Lionel Messi stands out, having scored all five goals for Argentina so far and pulling ahead in the Golden Boot race.
Golden Boot Standings at a Glance
In Argentina's win over Austria, Messi missed a penalty but quickly recovered by scoring a left-footed shot to secure his 17th World Cup goal, surpassing Miroslav Klose for the most in men's World Cup history. He then added another goal before the match ended. This brings his total to 18 World Cup goals, breaking the record held by Brazil's Marta across both men's and women's tournaments.
Chasing the Leader
Vinícius Júnior of Brazil is just one goal behind Messi. He scored twice against Scotland recently and benefits from an assist earned in Brazil’s earlier 3-0 win over Haiti. Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland also have four goals each. Both players have been consistent scorers, netting two goals in each group stage game. Haaland has helped Norway reach the knockout rounds in his first World Cup, setting up a key clash with France’s Mbappé that will decide Group I’s top spot.
Other Contenders Making Their Mark
Deniz Undav, Germany’s impactful substitute, has three goals along with two assists after scoring twice last Saturday. Canada’s Jonathan David joined Messi in scoring a hat trick during Canada’s historic 6-0 victory over Qatar. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi and Morocco’s Ismael Saibari are also on the scoreboard with three goals each.
The Golden Boot race remains open and intense as these stars push toward the tournament’s final stages. We think the competition will stay fierce, making every match thrilling to watch.
