Lionel Messi leads the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot race with five goals, closely followed by Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. The three stars dominate the scoring charts after two group matches each

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are locked in an exciting three-way battle for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot after each country’s opening two group-stage matches.

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The 39-year-old Argentina captain currently leads the race with five goals, having delivered a commanding hat-trick in his side’s 3-0 victory over Algeria before adding a record-breaking brace in Monday’s 2-0 win against Austria.

France forward Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland sit just one goal behind on four apiece.

Both players have scored braces in each of their two appearances so far, underlining their remarkable consistency at this tournament.

Messi, Mbappe and Haaland are the only players at the 2026 World Cup to have scored multiple goals in every match they have played.

Their clinical finishing has captivated fans and set up what promises to be a thrilling race for the coveted individual honour.

Mbappe, now at Real Madrid, has joined an elite group of players who have scored two or more goals in at least three successive World Cup appearances.

The 27-year-old will face Haaland directly in France’s final group fixture, a match that could prove decisive in determining who tops the scoring charts at this stage.

The contest carries extra significance given the stature of the three protagonists: Messi, chasing further glory in what may be his last World Cup; Mbappe, determined to claim his first Golden Boot; and Haaland, aiming to announce himself on the biggest stage of all.

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With group stages still ongoing, the Golden Boot race remains wide open, but these three footballing superstars have set a formidable early standard.