- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Panama City Today
By the People, for the People
World Cup 2026 Golden Boot Contenders Revealed
Kane, Mbappe, Messi, and Haaland among favorites to win the coveted award
Published on Mar. 6, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
With the 2026 World Cup set to feature a record 48 teams, the race for the Golden Boot is expected to be fiercer than ever. England's Harry Kane, France's Kylian Mbappe, Argentina's Lionel Messi, and Norway's Erling Haaland are among the top contenders to finish as the tournament's top goalscorer.
Why it matters
The Golden Boot award is one of the most prestigious individual honors in international football, and winning it can cement a player's legacy. With more teams and games, the 2026 World Cup promises to deliver even more goals, making the Golden Boot race particularly captivating for fans.
The details
Harry Kane, the 2018 Golden Boot winner, is the bookmakers' favorite at 13/2 odds. Kylian Mbappe, the 2022 top scorer, is next at 7/1, followed by Lionel Messi at 12/1 and Erling Haaland at 14/1. Other contenders include Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele, Cristiano Ronaldo, and a host of young stars. England, France, Argentina, and Norway have all been drawn into relatively favorable groups, which could boost their star players' chances.
- The 2026 World Cup is set to take place this summer.
- Harry Kane won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup.
The players
Harry Kane
The England captain and Bayern Munich striker is the bookmakers' favorite to win the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot after claiming the award in 2018.
Kylian Mbappe
The French forward, who plays for Real Madrid, won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup and is expected to be a top contender again in 2026.
Lionel Messi
The Argentine legend and Inter Miami player is seeking his first-ever World Cup Golden Boot, despite his impressive international goalscoring record.
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian striker, who plays for Manchester City, is a rising star in world football and could be a dark horse to win the Golden Boot in 2026.
The takeaway
The expanded 48-team format of the 2026 World Cup promises to deliver an exciting and unpredictable race for the Golden Boot, with several of the world's top strikers vying for the prestigious individual award.
