The prize for goal scoring is hotly contested at the next World Cup, which is in 2026. Here we look at who could win the World Cup Golden Boot and if the record holder could win it again:
No one has ever won the World Cup Golden Boot more than once, but that record could be challenged in North America this summer as a number of prominent goal scorers take on their national roles.
The French captain Kylian Mbappe will come into the tournament as one of the bookmakers’ favorites; he won the prize in Qatar in 2022, scoring 8 goals and also hitting a hat trick in the World Cup Final against Argentina.
Mbappe has had a superb season at Real Madrid, scoring 42 goals in 44 games and as France’s run in this World Cup is looking strong he will surely be competing to score in the latter stages of the competition and could be on his way to becoming only the second player ever to win two Golden Boots, and also on the way to becoming the all-time leading World Cup scorer.
England captain Harry Kane is also expected to be fighting for the Golden Boot. This season alone, Kane has scored 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich and won the European Golden Shoe for a second successive year; he previously won the Golden Boot in 2018 at the World Cup. Under Thomas Tuchel as England manager, he will lead their nation forward and hope for another individual award.
Lionel Messi of Argentina is another one who will be a threat, as he prepares for possibly his last World Cup appearance. In Argentina’s triumphant campaign in 2022, the 38-year-old scored 7 goals and once again this season he has delivered for both club and country. Messi has never won the Golden Boot; he will be eager to tick off another accomplishment from his stellar career.
Another player set for attention is Norway’s Erling Haaland. The Manchester City forward will feature in his first-ever World Cup, having also enjoyed a profitable season in England. His bid to win will be dependent on whether Norway have a successful campaign in what looks like a tough group.
Others who are tipped to be fighting for the individual award include Vinicius Junior (Brazil), Julian Alvarez (Argentina), Ousmane Dembele (France), and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal). Outside bets include Viktor Gyokeres (Sweden), Kai Havertz (Germany), Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), Luis Diaz (Colombia) and Cody Gakpo (Netherlands).
The world’s biggest sporting tournament is well on its way, and expect one of the best goal-scoring battles in the history of the competition.
