World Cup 2026: Messi, Mbappe, Haaland Vie for Golden Boot

New York. This is rapidly becoming a race for the Golden Boot that will be remembered for ages. Lionel Messi is leading with five goals in two games. Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are second with four goals each. This is only the second time in World Cup history that three players have scored four or more goals after two games. This is the first time this has happened since 1954. This has been another extraordinary time with the best forwards football has ever seen scoring one after another. Messi was the first. He broke the World Cup's all-time goal-scoring record by scoring two goals against Austria for Argentina. In his 100th international match, Mbappe responded in kind. He scored two goals to win the match for France against Iraq, which started late due to bad weather. Immediately after that, it was Haaland's turn. After he scored two goals, Norway defeated Senegal to secure a place in the last 32. His start to his World Cup career cannot be considered bad. What one can do, another can do better. That's how it feels right now. And this atmosphere was created even before England's Harry Kane, who scored two goals in his first match against Ghana on Tuesday, had a chance to increase his goal tally. As the world's best players break records one after another on the biggest stage in sports, it feels like we are witnessing something special. French football expert Julien Laurens told BBC Sport, 'Big stars always want the ball at their feet. I think one reason for this is that they are not just chasing the Golden Boot; some players are also looking for all-time records.'

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