The 2026 World Cup is just days away and the best players in the world will compete on the biggest stage for football’s most coveted trophy.
Other than the tournament winner, one of the other topics of intrigue is who will take home the Golden Boot as the most clinical finisher.
In 2022, it was France’s Kylian Mbappe who walked away with the trophy, scoring eight goals, pipping Lionel Messi courtesy of a hat-trick in the final and is the favourite to do it again as he hopes to repair the heartbreak of the loss on penalties to Argentina in the previous instalment.
With that said, here is a rundown of the players who are all vying to take top spot this summer.
Harry Kane
After another blistering season with Bayern Munich, scoring 61 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions, Harry Kane is arguably the best striker in the world right now.
Kane took home the Golden Boot as favourite to do so in 2018, scoring six goals, and now comfortably sits as England’s all-time top goal scorer.
International goals: 78
World Cup goals: 8
Erling Haaland
It is finally time for the Premier League's best striker of the last four seasons to make his debut on the biggest stage in world football. Haaland has been dominant as a striker for Manchester City, scoring 112 goals in only 132 appearances in the Premier League.
Haaland, alongside his compatriot Martin Odegaard, were the driving force behind Norway’s qualification and, while they are not tipped for a deep run in the tournament, their talisman will hope to secure an individual honour on the way.
International goals: 55
World Cup Goals: 0
Lionel Messi
Four years on from what was supposed to be Messi’s World Cup swansong - walking away with the trophy that had eluded him for his whole career - arguably the greatest player of all time once again readies himself to lace up his boots for a record sixth time and attempt to defend his World Cup title.
Messi was one goal off the Golden Boot in 2022, but Argentina’s squad has faded, leaving the little magician up against it if he is to go one better this time.
International goals: 117
World Cup goals: 13
Lamine Yamal
At just 18 years old, Barcelona phenom Lamine Yamal’s striking rise to stardom saw him finish second in last season’s Ballon d’Or standings.
Yamal has been the spark for Barcelona all season, notching 16 goals and 11 assists as the Blaugrana won La Liga.
He is also a key part of the national setup, helping Spain to the European title in 2024. Yamal will now enter his first World Cup with a genuine chance at both the overall trophy and the Golden Boot.
International goals: 6
World Cup goals: 0
Cristiano Ronaldo
If there is a football list with Lionel Messi on it, you can probably bet that Cristiano Ronaldo will be on it too. The most prolific international goal scorer of all time will enter his sixth World Cup with nothing but victory on his mind.
Now 41, his goalscoring record for Portugal has been slightly off the boil of late, but with this being his last trip to a World Cup, it would be prudent to expect him to come out firing on all cylinders.
International goals: 143
World Cup Goals: 8
World Cup 2026 Golden Boot winner latest odds
Kylian Mbappe: 11/2
Harry Kane: 13/2
Erling Haaland: 12/1
Lionel Messi: 14/1
Mikel Oryazabal: 14/1
Lamine Yamal: 18/1
Cristiano Ronaldo: 20/1
Vinicius Jr: 25/1
Odds by Paddy Power (Subject to change)
