The 2026 World Cup Golden Boot race has entered a thrilling stage, with Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland locked together on seven goals each heading into the quarter-finals.
Mbappé reached the mark first, scoring from the penalty spot in France’s 1-0 win over Paraguay, before Messi matched the tally with a goal in Argentina’s extra-time victory over Cape Verde.
Haaland completed the trio’s chase after scoring twice in Norway’s impressive 2-1 victory over Brazil, sending the five-time champions out of the tournament.
The three-way battle represents a World Cup first, with three players reaching seven goals at the same stage of the competition.
Should the race remain level after the final, the Golden Boot winner will be determined by assists and then minutes played, with Mbappé currently holding the advantage.
