World Cup 2026 Golden Boot standings have a clear leader after the group stage. Lionel Messi has scored 6 goals for Argentina, while 4 elite forwards remain 2 goals behind, as the Baltimore Chronicle editorial team notes via FIFA.
Messi Sets Another World Cup Record
Messi scored after coming off the bench in Argentina’s 3–1 victory over Jordan. It was his seventh consecutive World Cup match with a goal.
The 39-year-old surpassed Just Fontaine and Jairzinho, who scored in 6 successive games. Messi’s streak began during Argentina’s victorious 2022 knockout campaign.
His latest strike also took his career World Cup total to 19 goals. Argentina won all 3 group matches and advanced to the round of 32.
Who Leads the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot Race?
The chasing group contains France’s Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior and Norway’s Erling Haaland.
| Player | Country | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 6 | 0 |
| Kylian Mbappé | France | 4 | 2 |
| Ousmane Dembélé | France | 4 | 1 |
| Vinícius Júnior | Brazil | 4 | 1 |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | 4 | 0 |
Mbappé holds the strongest supporting statistics with 2 assists. Haaland has scored all 4 goals without providing an assist.
The tournament produced 215 goals across 72 group matches. That equals almost 3 goals per game and promises an intense knockout-stage scoring battle.
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