Kylian Mbappé has pulled level with Lionel Messi in the race for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot after converting a penalty in France’s Round of 16 match against Paraguay on Saturday. The France captain scored from the spot in the 69th minute, registering his seventh goal of the tournament and moving into a tie for first place in the scoring charts.
Messi had taken sole possession of the lead earlier after scoring his seventh goal of the competition against Cape Verde in the Round of 32. However, Mbappé’s latest strike means the two superstars now share the top spot with seven goals each as the knockout stage continues.
The battle for the tournament’s top individual scoring honor remains wide open. Erling Haaland and Harry Kane are two goals behind the leaders with five goals apiece, while Ousmane Dembélé, Mikel Oyarzabal, Vinícius Júnior and Ismaïla Sarr remain within striking distance. Cristiano Ronaldo also continues to chase the leading pair as Portugal advances deeper into the competition.
This page is updated live after every World Cup 2026 matchday.
World Cup 2026 top scorers table LIVE
| Player (Country) | Goals | Assists | Minutes (Matches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappé (France) | 7 | 2 | 516 (5) |
| Lionel Messi (Argentina) | 7 | 0 | 252 (4) |
| Erling Haaland (Norway) | 5 | 0 | 309 (4) |
| Harry Kane (England) | 5 | 0 | 394 (5) |
| Ousmane Dembélé (France) | 4 | 2 | 304 (4) |
| Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) | 4 | 1 | 333 (4) |
| Vinícius Júnior (Brazil) | 4 | 1 | 398 (5) |
| Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal) | 4 | 1 | 419 (5) |
| Deniz Undav (Germany) | 3 | 2 | 174 (3) |
| Johan Manzambi (Switzerland) | 3 | 1 | 146 (4) |
| Julián Quiñones (Mexico) | 3 | 1 | 354 (4) |
| Cody Gakpo (Netherlands) | 3 | 1 | 394 (5) |
| Brian Brobbey (Netherlands) | 3 | 0 | 245 (4) |
| Folarin Balogun (United States) | 3 | 0 | 250 (4) |
| Matheus Cunha (Brazil) | 3 | 0 | 260 (5) |
| Elijah Just (New Zealand) | 3 | 0 | 291 (4) |
| Jonathan David (Canada) | 3 | 0 | 370 (4) |
| Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) | 3 | 0 | 385 (5) |
| Ismael Saibari (Morocco) | 3 | 0 | 390 (5) |
| Kai Havertz (Germany) | 3 | 0 | 392 (5) |
Minutes (Matches) = total minutes played and appearances.
Who is leading the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race?
The Golden Boot race is now deadlocked between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, who both have seven goals. Mbappé joined the Argentina captain at the top after scoring a second-half penalty against Paraguay in the Round of 16.
Mbappé currently holds an advantage in the first FIFA tiebreaker with two assists, while Messi has yet to record an assist in the tournament. If both players finish level on goals, assists could become decisive in determining the winner.
Behind the leading duo, Haaland and Kane remain firmly in contention with five goals each. Dembélé, Oyarzabal, Vinícius Júnior and Ismaïla Sarr are also close enough to challenge if they produce strong performances in the remaining knockout rounds.
How is the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winner decided?
The Golden Boot is awarded to the player who finishes the tournament with the most goals scored.
If two or more players are tied on goals, FIFA applies the following tiebreakers:
- Most assists.
- Fewest minutes played.
- Additional FIFA tournament criteria if necessary.
Those rules could prove crucial in 2026. Messi and Mbappé are currently level on seven goals, meaning assists and minutes played may ultimately determine who takes home one of the World Cup’s most prestigious individual awards.
With several title contenders still alive, the Golden Boot race is expected to remain one of the defining storylines of the tournament through to the final.
