The race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot is becoming increasingly exciting.

The 2026 World Cup has only completed the first round of group stage matches, but the race for the "Golden Shoe" is already quite exciting. The competition for the most prestigious individual award in the tournament always attracts the attention of fans worldwide.

To date, no player has surpassed Just Fontaine's record of 13 goals for France at the 1958 World Cup. However, with the 2026 World Cup featuring 16 more teams and 40 more matches than the 2022 World Cup, the stage has opened up for a higher number of goals.

The race for the Golden Boot is heating up, and four of the world's most outstanding strikers have all made a strong impression. Based on their performances in the first round of group stage matches, Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland have sent a strong message that they are ready to compete for the top scorer title.

Messi is currently leading the list of top scorers for the 2026 World Cup. Photo: Eurosports

The most outstanding player in the first round of the 2026 World Cup was undoubtedly superstar Lionel Messi. At 38 years old, Messi continued to amaze the world . His brilliant hat-trick against Algeria not only thrilled Argentinian fans but also allowed Messi to set new records.

This was the first time Messi scored three goals in a single World Cup final match, and England also equaled the all-time scoring record held by German legend Miroslav Klose since 2014 (16 goals). This achievement not only affirmed the status of the Argentine superstar but also revived the race between the greatest goalscorers in the history of the FIFA World Cup, currently taking place in North America.

The three goals against Algeria not only secured a convincing victory for Argentina but also propelled Messi to the top of the scoring charts at the 2026 World Cup after the opening round of matches.

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé continues to show why he is considered a worthy successor to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. After winning the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup, the French striker enters this year's tournament as the number one contender for all individual awards.

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Mbappé proved he's in superb form with a brace that helped France beat Senegal 3-2, officially breaking the French World Cup goalscoring record. Mbappé is demonstrating incredible consistency for a player who has just turned 27.

Meanwhile, with his opening penalty goal against Croatia in Group L of the 2026 World Cup, England striker Harry Kane equaled legend Lionel Messi's record as one of the two players with the most penalty kicks taken at the world's biggest tournament.

After years of missing out on the World Cup due to Norway's modest level, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland finally got his chance to showcase his talent at the biggest tournament on the planet. Haaland wasted no time making his mark, scoring a brace in his team's victory, which was also his first World Cup appearance.

In the Golden Boot race, each player has a different advantage. Messi, Mbappé, and Kane are backed by the world-class squads of Argentina, France, and England, respectively. Meanwhile, Haaland can explode in any match, but Norway's journey is predicted to be less long than that of the other contenders.

At the end of the first round of group stage matches, the players who had scored two goals also included Folarin Balogun (USA), Kai Havertz (Germany), Yasin Ayari (Sweden), and Elijah Just (New Zealand).

The winner of the Golden Boot is often unpredictable, as the title hasn't gone to a player from a winning team since 2002. The new format of the 2026 World Cup makes the competition even more exciting. Expanding the tournament to 48 teams and increasing the number of matches from 64 to 104 means that title contenders could play up to eight matches if they reach the final. This opens up opportunities for top scorers to accumulate more goals than in any previous World Cup.

The simultaneous emergence of many outstanding strikers is making the individual race just as exciting as the competition for the championship title. And if they continue to maintain their current form, fans can certainly expect one of the most dramatic Golden Boot races in World Cup history. The race for the World Cup Golden Boot this year promises to be one of the most captivating stories worth waiting for.

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The official award, called the "Golden Shoe," has been in use since 1982, although the top scorer in each World Cup has been recognized since the 1930s. Since 1992, when players have the same number of goals, the player with more assists is ranked higher. Since 2006, FIFA has added a second tie-breaking criterion: if both goals and assists are equal, the award goes to the player who scored those goals in fewer minutes of play.

According to VNA/News and Ethnic Minorities Newspaper

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/the-thao/202606/hap-dan-cuoc-dua-chiec-giay-vang-world-cup-2026-f6d1529/