The stars are shining like never before at the 2026 World Cup.
Some of the game's best and brightest have delivered a Golden Boot race for the ages, each outshining the other in an enthralling example of one-upmanship. But who will ultimately come out on top?
This is the first World Cup ever where three or more players have each scored at least seven times in the same tournament.
Prior to this summer, only three players in the almost 100-year history of the men's World Cup have ever hit double figures in a single tournament:
- Just Fontaine (France) - 13 goals in 1958
- Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) - 11 goals in 1954
- Gerd Muller (West Germany) - 10 goals in 1970
Mbappe, who scored twice in France's chaotic 6-4 loss to England in Saturday's third-place match, is now breathing rarefied air.
Yes, the tournament's expansion and creation of an additional knockout round helped inflate the scoring numbers this summer, but we've still been witnessing something unprecedented. Enjoy every last minute of it.
Kylian Mbappe 🇫🇷
Goals: 10
Games left: 0
At this point, it's more surprising when Mbappe doesn't score in a World Cup match. Think about how ridiculous that is to even say. The French superstar has 22 goals in as many World Cup appearances during his career. Mbappe - and the entire French forward line - was shut down by Spain in their semifinal defeat, but Les Bleus' captain added to his scoring tally in the third-place match against England. He surpassed Lionel Messi for the most goals in World Cup history (22) with his brace Saturday, and his 14 goal involvements are the most ever at a single World Cup.
Lionel Messi 🇦🇷
Goals: 8
Games left: 1
Messi continues to defy all logic at 39 years old. His fierce left-footed strike in Argentina's surreal last-16 comeback win over Egypt extended his historic World Cup scoring streak to nine matches, dating back to the 2022 event. If not for his struggles from the penalty spot - he's missed two spot-kicks at the tournament - Messi would already be in double figures. His scoring streak ended in Argentina's quarterfinal win over Switzerland, but he did contribute an assist in the match. Messi then provided two more assists in the Albiceleste's stunning semifinal comeback against England. What does he have planned for the final?
Jude Bellingham 🏴
Goals: 7
Games left: 0
Bellingham, the lone midfielder on this list, made an incredible late charge for the crown. The Real Madrid superstar propelled England past both Mexico and Norway with braces in each game, including an extra-time winner against Haaland and the Norwegians. The 23-year-old Bellingham is the second-youngest player in World Cup history, after Pele, to score two or more goals in successive knockout-stage games. He added a brilliant 98th-minute goal in England's third-place win over France to wrap up his tournament.
Erling Haaland 🇳🇴
Goals: 7
Games left: 0
World Cup debuts don't get much better than this. Haaland's seven markers came in just five matches; he was rested in Norway's group finale against France with qualification already secured. Haaland scored the eventual winning goal in four appearances this summer, including a brace against Brazil and old foe Gabriel in the round of 16. The insatiable striker has 62 goals in 52 career games for Norway - a truly obscene clip - but exited the tournament after being kept off the board by England in the quarterfinals.
