<\/p>\n
Usually a subplot, the race for the World Cup Golden Boot is one of the main talking points at the 2026 tournament as the top marksmen set a blistering pace.<\/p>\n
The overall record has already been broken by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who now has 18 goals over six World Cups after adding five in two games in the United States.<\/p>\n
But he is being chased hard by Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland — who have four goals apiece \u2014 with Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane also in the mix.<\/p>\n
The long-standing single-tournament record of 13 goals set in 1958 by France\u2019s Just Fontaine appears vulnerable.<\/p>\n
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Mbappe capitalises on Iraq howler! | 00:32<\/p>\n German great Gerd Muller was the last man to hit double figures, at the 1970 tournament in Mexico, when he scored 10 goals.<\/p>\n Since then, at all but three tournaments, the leading scorer has hit six goals or fewer.<\/p>\n Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, has been the standout performer so far at the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.<\/p>\n He struck a memorable hat-trick against Algeria before scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Austria, accounting for all five of the defending champions\u2019 goals so far.<\/p>\n Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said it was \u201chard to explain\u201d the genius of the veteran forward after their opening match in Kansas City.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are amazed with him still, although we get to see him on a daily basis and he\u2019s been the best for 20 years,\u201d he said. \u201cHe still pulls it off every single match.\u201d<\/p>\n Messi\u2019s most likely challenger, based on the prospect of a deep run in the tournament, is Mbappe, who scored eight goals four years ago in Qatar to win the Golden Boot.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old, now France\u2019s record goalscorer, is just two goals behind Messi\u2019s career total.<\/p>\n The Real Madrid star said, perhaps unconvincingly, that chasing Messi was not top of his mind after his team\u2019s 3-0 stroll against Iraq in their second game.<\/p>\n \u201cLeo always scores goals and always will,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I am not looking at what he is doing, I\u2019m just focusing on helping my team.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \u2018DISMAL\u2019: Poms filthy over plunge \u2018back to earth\u2019 as howler stamps \u2018anemic\u2019 WC shock<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n SCENARIOS: What Socceroos need to make World Cup knockouts as brutal new scenario emerges<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Messi becomes all time leading scorer | 02:10<\/p>\n Level with Mbappe on four goals is Manchester City forward Haaland, who has scored in his past 12 competitive appearances for Norway.<\/p>\n The giant forward, 25, played down his extraordinary talent after taking his international tally to a remarkable 59 goals in 52 games.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like many other things, I\u2019m just really good at scoring goals and I\u2019m quite lucky,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t know what I\u2019m doing. It\u2019s just how it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Germany\u2019s Deniz Undav and Canada\u2019s Jonathan David have three goals each and Kane and Ronaldo are among a clutch of players with two.<\/p>\n