World Cup goal leaders: Lionel Messi ahead in Golden Boot race, but Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland aren't far behind

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi leads the Golden Boot race after scoring all five of Argentina's goals in the tournament, including a left-footed strike against Austria on Monday that clinched Argentina's knockout round qualification. Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland are among the players trailing closely behind in the top scorer standings. The article, published June 24, 2026, notes that assists serve as a tiebreaker in the event of a tied goal tally.