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The 2026 World Cup is nearing its climax, and the race for the Golden Boot is heating up.
One surging player has entered the chat to win the prestigious award presented to the tournament’s top goal scorer.
England’s Jude Bellingham scored two goals in his team’s 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Norway on Saturday, July 11. He also scored twice in the 3-2 Round of 16 victory over Mexico.
MORE: Gianni Infantino plots FIFA World Cup expansion with 64-team tournament
Those big performances tied the 23-year-old Bellingham with teammate Harry Kane at six goals in the 2026 World Cup. The English duo trails Golden Boot leaders Kylian Mbappe of France and Lionel Messi of Argentina by two goals as the semifinals begin on Tuesday.
Technically, Norway’s Erling Haaland stands only one goal behind Mbappe and Messi. But with Norway’s ouster, Haaland lost the opportunity to boost his goal total.
France and Spain open the semifinals at 3 p.m. Tuesday on Fox and Telemundo. Defending champion Argentina meets England at 3 p.m. Wednesday on Fox and Telemundo.
Following are the top contenders for the Golden Boot with just the two semifinals and Sunday’s championship match remaining. Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook.
France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring a goal on July 4 in Philadelphia. | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The World Cup’s fastest player on the pitch, Kylian Mbappe leads the Golden Boot race by virtue of his three assists. Though he is tied with Mbappe’s total of eight goals, Messi has just two.
Mbappe won the Golden Boot in 2022, scoring a hat trick in the championship game against Argentina. The French star finished the 2022 World Cup with eight goals to Messi’s seven, though Messi took home the Golden Ball and the team championship.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi is thrown in the air in celebration by teammates after the match as Argentina qualified for the quarterfinals of the World Cup. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The 39-year-old Messi became the World Cup’s all-time leading goal scorer earlier in this tournament. Still, his 21 career World Cup goals lead Mbappe by just one. So both players have a lot at stake in the final games of the tournament.
Messi has won just about every award there is to win, except a Golden Boot at the World Cup. He raced out to the lead by scoring five goals in Argentina’s first two group-stage matches. But he didn’t score during the team’s 3-1 quarterfinal win over Switzerland.
England’s Harry Kane scores his team’s third goal on a penalty shot. | Paul Childs-Reuters via Imagn Images
With his six goals in the 2026 World Cup, Harry Kane passed the legendary Pele on the all-time tournament scoring list. Kane has 14 goals and stands fifth on the all-time list and can tie Ronaldo’s with one more goal in this World Cup.
Although he did not score in England’s most recent match, Kane has been consistent throughout the tournament, knocking in clutch goals as the Three Lions try to win a World Cup for the first time since 1966.
England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring England’s second goal in Miami. | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Jude Bellingham, a Real Madrid midfielder, has come on strong for England. He scored just two goals for England through the group stage. But in the knockout rounds, Bellingham has notched four of England’s seven goals. He and Kane both have one assist.
As Kane enters his mid-30s, Bellingham soon will be the star to carry the hopes of England.
Continue reading...
One surging player has entered the chat to win the prestigious award presented to the tournament’s top goal scorer.
England’s Jude Bellingham scored two goals in his team’s 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Norway on Saturday, July 11. He also scored twice in the 3-2 Round of 16 victory over Mexico.
MORE: Gianni Infantino plots FIFA World Cup expansion with 64-team tournament
Those big performances tied the 23-year-old Bellingham with teammate Harry Kane at six goals in the 2026 World Cup. The English duo trails Golden Boot leaders Kylian Mbappe of France and Lionel Messi of Argentina by two goals as the semifinals begin on Tuesday.
Technically, Norway’s Erling Haaland stands only one goal behind Mbappe and Messi. But with Norway’s ouster, Haaland lost the opportunity to boost his goal total.
France and Spain open the semifinals at 3 p.m. Tuesday on Fox and Telemundo. Defending champion Argentina meets England at 3 p.m. Wednesday on Fox and Telemundo.
Following are the top contenders for the Golden Boot with just the two semifinals and Sunday’s championship match remaining. Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook.
Kylian Mbappe, France (-165)
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France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring a goal on July 4 in Philadelphia. | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The World Cup’s fastest player on the pitch, Kylian Mbappe leads the Golden Boot race by virtue of his three assists. Though he is tied with Mbappe’s total of eight goals, Messi has just two.
Mbappe won the Golden Boot in 2022, scoring a hat trick in the championship game against Argentina. The French star finished the 2022 World Cup with eight goals to Messi’s seven, though Messi took home the Golden Ball and the team championship.
Lionel Messi, Argentina (+165)
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi is thrown in the air in celebration by teammates after the match as Argentina qualified for the quarterfinals of the World Cup. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The 39-year-old Messi became the World Cup’s all-time leading goal scorer earlier in this tournament. Still, his 21 career World Cup goals lead Mbappe by just one. So both players have a lot at stake in the final games of the tournament.
Messi has won just about every award there is to win, except a Golden Boot at the World Cup. He raced out to the lead by scoring five goals in Argentina’s first two group-stage matches. But he didn’t score during the team’s 3-1 quarterfinal win over Switzerland.
Harry Kane, England (+1400)
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England’s Harry Kane scores his team’s third goal on a penalty shot. | Paul Childs-Reuters via Imagn Images
With his six goals in the 2026 World Cup, Harry Kane passed the legendary Pele on the all-time tournament scoring list. Kane has 14 goals and stands fifth on the all-time list and can tie Ronaldo’s with one more goal in this World Cup.
Although he did not score in England’s most recent match, Kane has been consistent throughout the tournament, knocking in clutch goals as the Three Lions try to win a World Cup for the first time since 1966.
Jude Bellingham, England (+2700)
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England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring England’s second goal in Miami. | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Jude Bellingham, a Real Madrid midfielder, has come on strong for England. He scored just two goals for England through the group stage. But in the knockout rounds, Bellingham has notched four of England’s seven goals. He and Kane both have one assist.
As Kane enters his mid-30s, Bellingham soon will be the star to carry the hopes of England.
Continue reading...
