Lionel Messi leads the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot with seven goals after the conclusion of the Round of 32. The Argentine star extended his lead with a goal in his team's extra-time victory over Cape Verde on Friday.
Messi's strike also marked his eighth consecutive FIFA World Cup match with a goal, continuing a remarkable scoring streak. He had already set a new record for most career goals in FIFA men's World Cup history earlier in this tournament.
The competition for the top scorer award remains intense as the tournament progresses into the Round of 16. Kylian Mbappé of France is one goal behind Messi, having scored a brace in France's victory against Sweden. Harry Kane of England and Erling Haaland of Norway are also in contention with five goals each.
Other notable goal scorers include Mikel Oyarzabal and Ousmane Dembélé of Spain and France, respectively, with four goals. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Folarin Balogun of the United States, Julián Quiñones of Mexico, Ismael Saibari of Morocco, Matheus Cunha of Brazil, and Jonathan David of Canada each have three goals.
The Golden Boot race is expected to remain tight, with the outcome likely dependent on which teams advance furthest in the tournament. France is considered the betting favorite to win the World Cup, with oddsmakers anticipating a potential final rematch between France and Argentina. Each remaining knockout match presents an opportunity for players to add to their tallies and influence the final standings.