Lionel Messi leads the World Cup top scorer 2026 race with six goals, and Kylian Mbappe has matched him. Erling Haaland sits one goal back, with the tournament’s scoring race still tight enough to keep Just Fontaine’s 13-goal record in view.
Messi and Mbappe level at six
Messi now has 19 World Cup goals, which pushes him deeper into the all-time scoring picture even as the Golden Boot fight stays open. Mbappe has overtaken Miroslav Klose on the all-time World Cup goalscoring chart, adding another layer to a race that is no longer just about one tournament.
Haaland’s fifth goal came against Ivory Coast in Norway's last-32 win, leaving him within striking distance of the leaders. Ousmane Dembele and Vinicius Jr each have four goals, while Harry Kane has three and remains in the chase.
Ronaldo and the chasing pack
Cristiano Ronaldo finally got off the mark with a double against Uzbekistan, giving the race another established scorer to track. Matheus Cunha and Ismaila Sarr both remain in the Golden Boot race with three goals, and Jonathan David, Mikel Oyarzabal and Folarin Balogun are still listed among the contenders.
That field is narrower than it first looks. Kai Havertz and Deniz Undav can no longer add to their totals after Germany's last-32 exit, while Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey are out of reach after the Netherlands' last-32 exit. Once a team is gone, so is any chance to chase the lead.
Just Fontaine in range
Just Fontaine's 13-goal single-tournament mark from 1958 is the target hanging over the race. Only three players in World Cup history have ever hit double figures at a single tournament, so Messi and Mbappe are chasing a line that very few players have touched.
The remaining World Cup matches will decide whether anyone can close the gap or whether the current leaders keep adding to totals that already separate them from the pack. For now, Messi and Mbappe are level, Haaland is still in reach, and the record at 13 goals is not out of sight.
