With the first two rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage complete, let’s take a look at the top goalscorers in the tournament so far as we head into the quarterfinals.
Compared to our last article on the Golden Boot race entering the knockout stage, Lionel Messi is still the leader with eight goals in five appearances. Messi has broken record after record this tournament, first becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer, but he has also made history by scoring in nine straight World Cup matches. His legendary scoring streak dates back to the 2022 tournament in Qatar and is still active, with Messi most recently scoring in Argentina’s thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt in the Round of 16.
Messi has scored in both of Argentina’s knockout stage matches and has a huge quarterfinal matchup against Switzerland on July 11. He sits in the driver’s seat of the Golden Boot race at the moment, but some of the world’s top players are closing in behind him.
France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland are right behind Messi with seven goals apiece, while England’s Harry Kane has six goals.
Mbappe has been brilliant for France, scoring in four of their five matches. He has recorded three separate braces in the tournament and most recently converted the match-winning penalty against Paraguay to secure France’s 1-0 victory and a place against Morocco in the quarterfinals.
Mbappe is not only second behind Messi in this year’s Golden Boot race, but he also ranks second all-time in World Cup goals. France and Mbappe have dominated the competition in nearly every match, but their quarterfinal matchup against an in-form Morocco squad will be a true test.
Since the knockout stage began, Haaland has taken his game to the next level, scoring three goals in two matches to bring his tournament total to seven entering Norway’s upcoming quarterfinal against England. Haaland was absolutely dominant in Norway’s upset victory over Brazil, scoring a brace to lead them to a 2-1 win.
Haaland and Norway are playing their best soccer of the tournament and will be hoping to carry that momentum into their matchup with England.
Norway vs. England will truly be a battle of elite strikers, as Haaland and Kane are both playing incredible soccer for their countries. Kane willed England back from the brink of defeat against DR Congo in the Round of 32 with two impressive goals to lead them to victory. It was a classic Harry Kane performance and a reminder that he remains one of the best and most complete strikers in the world.
He also scored a crucial penalty against Mexico in the Round of 16 that proved to be the decisive goal in England’s 3-2 victory at the Azteca. Kane and Haaland are both entering this quarterfinal with serious momentum, but one of them will be eliminated from the Golden Boot race as the tournament enters its final stages.
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