The race for the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot has tightened heading into the semi-finals, with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi both reaching eight goals to lead all scorers.
Erling Haaland sits just behind on seven, while Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane are tied for third among the tournament’s top scorers with six goals apiece. It marks the first time in World Cup history that three different players have scored seven or more goals in a single tournament.
Mbappe’s tally has come as France advanced past Morocco in the quarter-finals, while Messi has continued to drive Argentina’s attack through a physical, extra-time win over Switzerland. With two semi-finals and a final still to be played, all three frontrunners have a realistic path to finishing as the tournament’s top scorer, and possibly to lifting the trophy itself.
VIRA Broadcasting will track the Golden Boot race through to the final, along with continuing coverage of every remaining match at World Cup 2026.