The 2022 World Cup in Qatar broke the record for the most goals at a single edition of the tournament with 172 – and with the World Cup 2026 being even bigger, that total will almost certainly be surpassed this summer.
On an individual level, some of the world’s foremost forwards will battle it out to top the World Cup goalscoring charts and go home with the Golden Boot. Here, we take a look at the leading contenders for the prize.
Kylian Mbappe (France)
Kylian Mbappe has played at two World Cups, reached two finals – winning one – and won the Golden Boot last time around – not a bad return for someone who only turned 27 in December.
France’s main man is understandably among the frontrunners to pick up the Golden Boot this summer, heading into the tournament off the back of a 42-goal club campaign for Real Madrid.
Already joint fifth on the list of all-time World Cup scorers with 12 goals, Mbappe needs just four more to equal Miroslav Klose’s record of 16.
Harry Kane (England)
Another former World Cup Golden Boot winner, claiming the award in 2018, Harry Kane will spearhead England’s quest to end 60 years of hurt.
And the Three Lions captain is the most formidable striker on the planet right now, banging in an astonishing 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich this season.
England’s all-time leading marksman by some stretch already, Kane will be determined to improve on his 2022 World Cup haul of two goals.
Erling Haaland (Norway)
Also undoubtedly among the very finest centre-forwards in the game, Erling Haaland gets his first crack at the World Cup as Norway return for the first time in 28 years.
Fresh from winning his third Premier League Golden Boot in four seasons at Manchester City, Haaland will be champing at the bit to terrorise defences in North America.
The fastest-ever player to 50 international goals, Haaland broke Norway’s all-time scoring record by the time he was 24.
Previous World Cup Top Goalscorers and Golden Boot Winners*
*The Golden Boot was officially awarded for the first time at the 1982 World Cup, when it was known as the Golden Shoe. It took on its current name in 2010.
World Cup | Top Scorer | Number of Goals |
1930 | Guillermo Stabile (Argentina) | 8 |
1934 | Oldrich Nejedly (Czechoslovakia) | 5 |
1938 | Leonidas (Brazil) | 7 |
1950 | Ademir (Brazil) | 9 |
1954 | Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) | 11 |
1958 | Just Fontaine (France) | 13 |
1962 | Florian Albert (Hungary), Garrincha (Brazil), Valentin Ivanov (USSR), Drazan Jerkovic (Yugoslavia), Leonel Sanchez (Chile), Vava (Brazil) | 4 |
1966 | Eusebio (Portugal) | 9 |
1970 | Gerd Muller (West Germany) | 10 |
1974 | Grzegorz Lato (Poland) | 7 |
1978 | Mario Kempes (Argentina) | 6 |
1982 | Paolo Rossi (Italy) | 6 |
1986 | Gary Lineker (England) | 6 |
1990 | Salvatore Schillaci (Italy) | 6 |
1994 | Oleg Salenko (Russia), Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria) | 6 |
1998 | Davor Suker (Croatia) | 6 |
2002 | Ronaldo (Brazil) | 8 |
2006 | Miroslav Klose (Germany) | 5 |
2010** | Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Thomas Muller (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), David Villa (Spain) | 5 |
2014 | James Rodriguez (Colombia) | 6 |
2018 | Harry Kane (England) | 6 |
2022 | Kylian Mbappe (France) | 8 |
**Muller won the Golden Boot by virtue of providing more assists than the other three players tied on five goals
Lamine Yamal (Spain)
He doesn’t turn 19 until two days before the World Cup 2026 final, but Lamine Yamal has long since superseded the label of one of the best young players in the world.
A constant goal threat from the right, Yamal notched 24 for goals in all competitions for Barcelona this term, helping them to the LaLiga title.
There’s still a question mark over his fitness as he works his way back from a hamstring injury, but Spain boss Luis de la Fuente is confident his Euro 2024-winning star man will be ready to make his World Cup bow.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Only three players have scored more World Cup goals than Lionel Messi’s 13, but Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning skipper has yet to go home with the Golden Boot. He’ll hope to change that as he heads into a record-breaking sixth finals.
His nation’s record scorer with 116 goals, Messi has Klose’s 16-goal World Cup high in his sights – just in case he needed any extra incentive to get his nose in this summer.
Turning 39 during the tournament, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will want to go out in a blaze of glory (and goals).
Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain)
Scorer of Spain’s winning goal in the Euro 2024 final against England, Mikel Oyarzabal knows what it takes to lead the line at a major tournament.
The Real Sociedad striker hasn’t had the most prolific season, netting 18 times in all competitions for his club, but he’s proved he’s one to shine on the big international occasions.
Injured for the 2022 World Cup, Oyarzabal will hope to seize his opportunity this summer – and he’s in fine form for his country, scoring in each of his last five outings.
Next, see How Does the New World Cup Format Work?
