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Messi Leads Golden Boot Race Amidst Fierce Competition
1 Jul
Summary
- Lionel Messi leads the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot race with six goals.
- Ousmane Dembélé scored the second-fastest hat trick in World Cup history.
- Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Erling Haaland are close contenders.
As the 2026 World Cup group stage concludes, the race for the Golden Boot is heating up. Lionel Messi has emerged as a frontrunner, netting six goals. His impressive tally includes a hat trick against Algeria and a brace against Austria, with his latest goal being a stunning free kick.
However, Messi's lead faced a significant challenge from France's Ousmane Dembélé. Dembélé achieved the second-fastest hat trick in World Cup history, scoring three goals in the first 32 minutes against Norway. This performance brought his goal count to four, equal to his compatriot Kylian Mbappé, the Golden Boot winner from the 2022 World Cup.
Other prominent players vying for the top scorer award include Brazil's Vinícius Júnior and Norway's Erling Haaland, both with at least four goals. Vinícius Júnior scored twice against Scotland, while Haaland was rested for Norway's final group match. Canada's Jonathan David also joins Messi and Dembélé with a hat trick to his name.
