who will be the top scorer in world cup 2026

Lionel Messi is the current front-runner for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot, but it’s still a live race and Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Vinícius Júnior are right behind him. As of June 28, 2026, Messi leads the scoring chart with 5 goals, while Mbappé, Haaland, Vinícius Júnior, and Ousmane Dembélé each have 4.

Quick read

The safest answer is: Messi is the best current bet, but not a lock. The tournament is still in progress, and goal totals can shift quickly in the knockout rounds.

Why Messi leads

Messi is ahead on the official-style trackers currently reporting the tournament’s top scorers, and multiple outlets are listing him first in the Golden Boot race. That matters because the top scorer at the end of the World Cup wins the Golden Boot.

Main challengers

• Kylian Mbappé: 4 goals.

• Erling Haaland: 4 goals.

• Vinícius Júnior: 4 goals.

• Ousmane Dembélé: 4 goals.

My read

If I had to name one player right now, I’d pick Messi because he has the lead and is in form. But in a World Cup, one knockout-round hat trick can flip everything, so Mbappé is the biggest threat if France keep advancing.

Would you like a live-style ranking of the top 10 Golden Boot contenders right now?