Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are now locked together on eight goals, with Norway's Erling Haaland lurking ominously one goal behind on seven, while Harry Kane is just one more goal adrift on six.
Already the first ever World Cup to see three different players bag seven or more goals, much now depends on whether their respective teams advance to the semi-finals, thereby guaranteeing themselves two more matches to add to their tally.
For either Haaland or Kane, Norway’s quarter-final with England will signal the end of the road, while Mbappe is already through and Messi will surely fancy his chances of helping Argentina see off Switzerland.
2026 World Cup top goalscorers and latest odds
Kylian Mbappe (8 goals)
- Latest Odds: 1/1 (2.00)
The reigning Golden Boot winner was understandably the bookmaker’s early favourite, and Mbappe has justified that tag with three braces 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, so Mbappe’s odds have understandably tightened, although that might change again if Messi makes the most of his game in hand.
Lionel Messi (8 goals)
- Latest Odds: 6/4 (2.50)
Messi wasted no time bagging the tournament's first hat-trick in Argentina’s opening 3-0 win against Algeria, before adding both goals in their subsequent 2-0 win over Austria. He added one from the bench against Jordan, before also netting in both thrilling 3-2 successes against Cape Verde and Egypt, extending his own record of scoring in nine consecutive World Cup tournament games. If he extends that run further in a win against the Swiss, then he should be a shoe-in for the first double-figure tally since Gerd Muller scored 10 in just six games for West Germany in 1970.
Erling Haaland (7 goals)
- Latest Odds: 15/2 (8.50)
Erling Haaland’s match-winning goals against Brazil was the 14th consecutive international match in which the Manchester City star has found the net, adding to the brace of braces he bagged in his team’s opening victories against Iraq and Senegal and his late winner against Ivory Coast. Norway have already established themselves as the tournament’s surprise package, and if they can navigate their way past England, then Haaland could have plenty more to say in this tournament.
Harry Kane (6 goals)
- Latest Odds: 9/1 (10.00)
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. Although Jude Bellingham’s quickfire brace grabbed the headlines in England’s thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico at the Azteca, it was Kane’s second-half penalty that proved decisive, and he could well hit another purple patch if England progress further.
- READ MORE: How to bet smart at the 2026 World Cup