Argentina captain Lionel Messi has emerged as the highest goalscorer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as of July 4, following another brilliant display in the knockout stage.
The football icon now tops the Golden Boot standings with seven goals, moving ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappé, who has six goals.
England’s Harry Kane and Norway’s Erling Haaland are tied in third place with five goals each as the race for the tournament’s top scorer intensifies.
Messi’s latest strike came in Argentina’s dramatic victory over Cape Verde, further cementing his status as one of the greatest players in World Cup history. His consistency has kept Argentina’s title defence alive while putting him in pole position to claim another individual honour.
With the quarter-finals fast approaching, the Golden Boot race remains wide open. Mbappé, Kane and Haaland are all still in contention and will be hoping to close the gap as the tournament enters its decisive stages.
Top Scorers (July 4): • Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 7 goals
- Kylian Mbappé (France) – 6 goals
- Harry Kane (England) – 5 goals
- Erling Haaland (Norway) – 5 goals
The battle for the Golden Boot promises more excitement as the world’s biggest football tournament continues.
