Kylian Mbappe equaled Lionel Messi as top scorer after scoring his eighth goal against Morocco in the quarter-finals.
Published July 8, 2026
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Updated: 27 minutes ago
France superstar Kylian Mbappe moved into equal lead with Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot with his eighth goal in the quarter-final against Morocco in Boston on Thursday.
The 27-year-old scored his goal in the 60th minute after beating Morocco goalkeeper Yacine Bouna in the penalty area to give his side a 1-0 lead.
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Messi still leads in World Cup goals with 21 to Mbappe’s 20. Messi will have the chance to add his ninth goal of the tournament when Argentina play their quarter-final against Switzerland on Saturday.
Norway striker Erling Haaland is second in the race for the Golden Boot with seven goals. England international Harry Kane took his tally to six goals after scoring in England’s thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico late on Sunday.
Here’s everything you need to know about the FIFA Golden Boot award:
Messi shoots on goal during Argentina’s round of 16 match against Egypt at Atlanta Stadium (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images via Reuters)
What is the FIFA Golden Boot award and how is it determined?
The FIFA Golden Boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals at the end of the tournament.
The current title holder is Frenchman Mbappe, who scored eight goals in Qatar at the 2022 World Cup.
If at the end of the tournament two players score the same number of goals, the player with the most assists will receive the award.
If these tiebreakers cannot separate the two players, then the Golden Boot is awarded to the player who achieved their goals and made an assist in the fewest minutes.
Erling Haaland celebrates after the match as Norway progressed to the round of 16 (Issey Kato/Reuters)
Which players are the top scorers at the 2026 World Cup?
- Kylian Mbappe (France) – 8 goals, 2 assists
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 8 goals, 1 assist
- Erling Haaland (Norway) – 7 goals, 0 assists
- Harry Kane (England) – 6 goals, 1 assist
- Ousmane Dembele (France) – 5 goals, 2 assists
- Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) – 4 goals, 1 assist
How many Golden Boot awards have current World Cup players won?
Mbappe, Kane and James Rodriguez are hoping to win the top scorer award for a second time.
Englishman Kane won the award in 2018 in Russia, and Colombian Rodriguez became the top scorer in 2014 in Brazil.
No player has ever won this award more than once.
Which player scored the most goals in one World Cup?
French striker Juste Fontaine holds the record, scoring an incredible 13 goals in the 1958 tournament in Sweden.
Sándor Kocsis scored 11 points at the 1954 tournament in Switzerland, and Gerd Müller of West Germany scored 10 points at the 1970 World Championships in Mexico.
France striker Kylian Mbappe trains ahead of his country’s quarter-final match against Morocco on Thursday in Boston (Frank Fife/AFP)
Who scored the most goals in the history of the FIFA World Cup?
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 21
- Kylian Mbappe (France) – 20
- Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 16
- Ronaldo (Brazil) – 15
- Harry Kane (England) and Gerd Müller (West Germany) – 14