“Sometimes in football, you have to score goals.”We are well into the 2026 World Cup but Thierry Henry’s words from 2008 ring truer than they ever have.While the overall trophy is the key focus for all 48 teams, the Golden Boot award for the most prolific goalscorer is up for grabs too.The winner of that award can be unpredictable, as the trophy hasn’t fallen to a player in the tournament’s winning side since 2002, when Ronaldo scored eight for Brazil on their way to a record-breaking fifth World Cup.No one has bested Just Fontaine’s record-breaking tally in 1958, when the France forward netted 13 times despite the nation losing in their semi-final. But with 16 more teams and 40 more matches than the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the stage is set for more goals than ever.So, how does the race look?This article will be updated throughout the World Cup=1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 6 goalsMessi thought he had scored early on in Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria, only for the goal to be chalked off after he was found to be offside. There was no offside question, though, when he whipped one in from 20 yards out later in the first half.In the second period, Messi scored his second after Luca Zidane in the Algeria goal spilt a low-range shot from Alexis Mac Allister straight to the Argentina captain, leaving him with an easy finish.Messi netted his 14th, 15th and 16th World Cup goals against Algeria. (Reuters / Claudia Greco)To seal his hat-trick, Messi characteristically bent the ball from the edge of the box as though he was passing to a teammate behind the goal, with Zidane nowhere near.His fourth came after he had already missed a penalty in Argentina’s second game against Austria, with the Inter Miami man finishing first time from Facundo Medina. That goal saw him take an outright lead as the men’s World Cup all-time top goalscorer. Messi added his fifth in two games late on against Austria, finishing from close range after his own shot had been blocked.And despite not starting in Argentina’s final group game against Jordan, Messi added to his World Cup tally with an 80th-minute free kick.=1. Kylian Mbappe (France) – 6 goalsFrance are perhaps the favorites to win the World Cup and Mbappe helped get their campaign off to a strong start, netting twice in their 3-1 win over Senegal.Mbappe became France’s all-time leading scorer with his double against Senegal. (Charly Triballeau / AFP via Getty Images)After missing a big chance earlier in the second half, Mbappe opened the scoring in the 66th minute from close range after being slipped in by Michael Olise. He extended France’s lead in added time with a powerful strike from distance.Mbappe then opened the scoring once more in France’s game against Iraq, firing in from range. Following a lengthy weather delay in Philadelphia, he doubled France’s lead in the second half.