As the 2026 World Cup reaches its final weekend, we’re still left with two of the world’s best players neck-and-neck in the shoot-out for the coveted Golden Boot award.
Neither Lionel Messi nor Kylian Mbappe added to their tally during the semi-final stage, leaving the two main contenders locked together on eight goals apiece, with Messi’s two assists in Argentina’s 2-1 semi-final win over England nudging him ahead of the French star (3 assists) on the tie-breaker.
England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are lurking just behind on six goals apiece, and with all four players involved in the weekend’s final two games, the race for Golden Boot could yet have a late twist and turn.
2026 World Cup top goalscorers and betting odds
Lionel Messi (8 goals)
- Latest Odds: 10/11 (1.91)
After bagging the tournament's first hat-trick in Argentina’s opening 3-0 win against Algeria, Messi scored both goals in their subsequent 2-0 win over Austria, before adding one from the bench against Jordan. He also found the net in both thrilling 3-2 successes against Cape Verde and Egypt,and in so doing extended his own record by scoring in nine consecutive World Cup tournament games. Despite drawing a blank in his side’s quarter-final and semi-final successes, his three assists in those wins have given him an advantage should he finish level with any of his Golden Boot rivals.
Kylian Mbappe (8 goals)
- Latest Odds: 1/1 (2.00)
The reigning Golden Boot winner was understandably the early market leader, and despite France being knocked out by Spain in the semi-final, their third-placed play-off offers another opportunity for Mbappe to retain his crown. The French captain justified his favourite tag with three braces in France’s first four games against Senegal, Iraq and Sweden, before adding his seventh from the penalty spot in France’s edgy 1-0 win over Paraguay.
His sweet curling strike broke the deadlock in France’s quarter-final victory over Morocco, and despite being snuffed out by Spain’s clinical defending, Mbappe will fancy his chances of adding to his tally in Saturday’s clash with England.
Harry Kane (6 goals)
- Latest Odds: 33/1 (34.00)
England’s captain and talisman made an early statement by scoring twice before half-time in the thrilling 4-2 opener against Croatia, and was back on the scoresheet against Panama, before his crucial late double proved to be the difference in England’s 2-1 comeback win against DR Congo. His penalty against Mexico kept him in contention, but two fruitless outings against Norway and Argentina means England’s captain needs to score a hat-trick against France - and even then he would need to hope that neither Mbappe nor Messi get on the scoresheet.
Jude Bellingham (6 goals)
- Latest Odds: 66/1 (67.00)
Back-to-back doubles against Mexico and Norway brought Jude Bellingham out of the pack to sit level on six goals with Harry Kane, the first time in World Cup history that two team-mates have bagged more than five goals apiece at the same tournament. It now looks too late for England’s star player to bridge the gap to the leaders, and, like Kane, an improbable hat-trick would be needed to make things interesting.