Harry Kane has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot, delivering a devastating first-half double that powered England to a commanding 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas.
The result sends a shudder through Group L and confirms that this summer’s expanded 48-team tournament is already producing a goal-scoring frenzy.
But Kane’s brace only adds to what is quickly becoming the most congested and star-studded Golden Boot chase in World Cup history. At the front of the pack, a familiar Argentine magician has stolen the early spotlight.
Lionel Messi, competing in what is almost certainly his final World Cup at the age of 38, rolled back the years on Tuesday with a flawless hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 dismantling of Algeria. The three goals not only put him atop the scoring charts but also pulled him level with Germany icon Miroslav Klose on 16 career World Cup goals—sharing the all-time record.
Remarkably, despite lifting the trophy in Qatar 2022, Messi has never claimed the tournament’s top-scorer prize.
Not to be outdone, Mbappé has already picked up where he left off. The French superstar netted a clinical brace in Les Bleus’ 3-1 victory over Senegal, showcasing the electric pace and ruthless finishing that made him the Golden Boot winner in 2022. His two goals—one a lightning counter-attack finish, the other a curling strike from the edge of the box—serve as a reminder that he remains the man to beat.
Meanwhile, the new generation is making its presence felt with authority. Erling Haaland, finally gracing the World Cup stage for the first time in his career, announced his arrival with a powerful double in Norway’s 3-1 win over Iraq.
At just 25, Haaland is already being tipped to shatter multiple records if Norway can go deep.
Beyond the marquee names, a host of surprise contenders have emerged from the tournament’s opening fixtures. Germany’s Kai Havertz found the net twice in a ruthless demolition of Curacao, while Sweden’s Yasin Ayari—a relative unknown before kickoff—stole headlines with a composed brace in a 4-1 thrashing of Tunisia.
Even New Zealand’s Elijah Just got in on the act, scoring twice in a stunning upset over Iran, and United States striker Folarin Balogun bagged a brace of his own in the Americans’ emphatic Group C opener.
With the expanded format allowing for more matches and more goals, the 2026 Golden Boot race has never been more wide open. As it stands, Messi leads the pack with three, but Kane, Mbappé, Haaland, and a half-dozen others are breathing down his neck with two apiece.
If the opening round is any indication, this summer’s scoring duel will be a marathon, not a sprint—and every defender in the tournament is officially on notice.
