The race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot is heating up, with several candidates emerging to become the top goalscorer at this summer's tournament.

Note: FIFA uses the following tiebreakers to determine the Golden Boot winner: 

1. Most assists 
2. Fewest minutes played

2026 World Cup Golden Boot leaders

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 5 goals, 0 assists, 187 minutes
2. Kylian Mbappé (France) - 4 goals, 0 assists, 199 minutes
3. Erling Haaland (Norway) -  4 goals, 0 assists, 207 minutes
4. Deniz Undav (Germany) - 3 goals, 2 assists, 69 minutes
5. Jonathan David (Canada) - 3 goals, 0 assists, 170 minutes

World Cup: Past Golden Boot winners

Here are the previous winners of the World Cup Golden Boot, which has been awarded since the 1982 edition of the tournament:

• 2022: Kylian Mbappé (France - 8 goals)
• 2018: Harry Kane (England - 6 goals)
• 2014: James Rodríguez (Colombia - 6 goals)
• 2010: Thomas Müller (Germany - 5 goals)
• 2006: Miroslav Klose (Germany - 5 goals)
• 2002: Ronaldo (Brazil - 8 goals)
• 1998: Davor Šuker (Croatia - 6 goals)
• 1994: Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria), Oleg Salenko (Russia) - 6 goals
• 1990: Salvatore Schillaci (Italy - 6 goals)
• 1986: Gary Lineker (England - 6 goals)
• 1982: Paolo Rossi (Italy - 6 goals)