World Cup 2026: Messi leads Golden Boot race as knockout stage begins

Argentina captain Lionel Messi remains the leading scorer at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup as the tournament enters the Round of 16, strengthening his bid for the Golden Boot after another decisive performance for the defending champions.

The Inter Miami forward took his tally to seven goals after finding the net in Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in the Round of 32.

Messi’s latest strike leaves him one goal clear of France captain Kylian Mbappe, who sits second on the scoring chart with six goals after another impressive campaign for Les Bleus.

Norway striker Erling Haaland and England captain Harry Kane are joint third in the race for the tournament’s highest goalscorer award, with five goals each.

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A group of four players are also firmly in contention, having each scored four goals heading into the knockout rounds. They include Brazil’s Vinicius Junior, France winger Ousmane Dembele, Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal and Senegal attacker Ismaïla Sarr.

With the Round of 16 set to begin on Saturday, attention will now shift to whether Messi can extend his lead and inspire Argentina to another deep run in the competition.

The reigning world champions will face Egypt in a crucial Round of 16 clash on Tuesday, with Messi expected to play a central role as Argentina seek a place in the quarter-finals.

The knockout phase opens on Saturday with co-host Canada taking on Morocco, marking the beginning of a series of high-stakes encounters as 16 nations battle for a place in the last eight.

Top scorers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup ahead of the Round of 16: 7 goals: Lionel Messi (Argentina); 6 goals: Kylian Mbappe (France); 5 goals: Erling Haaland (Norway), Harry Kane (England); 4 goals: Vinicius Junior (Brazil), Ousmane Dembele (France), Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain), Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal).