World Cup 2026 Golden Boot standings: Lionel Messi breaks tournament goals record as Kylian Mbappe & Erling Haaland also enjoy prolific starts

Maxi Araujo's late equaliser spared Uruguay's blushes in their first game against Saudi Arabia, as he produced a clinical finish from close range to secure a 1-1 draw. The Sporting CP winger doubled his tournament account in Uruguay's next Group H clash against Cape Verde, reacting quickest to a rebound and heading the ball in off the post. Marcelo Bielsa's side were ultimately held to a 2-2 draw, though, leaving their chances of progression to the knockout stages in the balance.

Senegal lost their first two games of the tournament against France and Norway, but gave a strong account of themselves and still have a slim chance of making the knockout stage. That's in no small part thanks to Ismaila Sarr, who grabbed both of Senegal's goals in their 3-2 loss to Norway, producing two clinical finishes after finding space in the box.

Daichi Kamada sent Japan fans into raptures with his 90th minute headed goal against the Netherlands on matchday one, which earned his team a deserved 2-2 draw. He went on to open the scoring in their next game against Tunisia with a clever backheel, which set Japan on their way to a thumping 4-0 victory that puts them in contention for top spot in Group F.

Mikel Oyarzabal made headlines for the wrong reasons in Spain's shock opening draw with Cape Verde, failing to record a single touch of the ball in the first 30 minutes, but bounced back in superb fashion on matchday two. The Real Sociedad star scored twice in a dominant 4-0 rout of Saudi Arabia, and set up teenage sensation Lamine Yamal for his first ever World Cup goal, to ensure that Spain qualified for the round of 32 with a game to spare.

Bayern Munich-bound Ismael Saibari joined a clutch of players on two goals at the 2026 World Cup as he followed up his clever dinked finish in Morocco's opener against Brazil with the winner in a narrow victory over Scotland in game two. Supported on the flanks by Bilal El Khannouss and Brahim Diaz, Saibari has looked a real threat up to now, with Morocco having every chance of progressing deep into the competition.

Folarin Balogun helped the USMNT make a dream start to major tournament action in front of an expectant fan base on home soil. Aided considerably by the playmaking talents of Christian Pulisic, the Monaco striker - fresh from a 19-goal season at Monaco - bagged a first half brace in a historic 4-1 win over Paraguay, with his second effort of the game sent screaming into the top corner.

Canadian forward Cyle Larin scored the all-important equaliser against Bosnia-Herzegovina in his team's opening round of the competition. The Southampton loanee then followed up with another in their 6-0 humiliation of Qatar to get his name on the leaderboard.

Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha replaced Igor Thiago in Brazil's starting XI against Haiti, repaying Carlo Ancelotti's faith in him by delivering two goals - the second a thunderous drive into the top corner that left goalkeeper Johny Placide with no chance. The former Wolves attacker has surely now guaranteed his spot in the team for the rest of the tournament, giving him a fantastic chance to add to his tally and chase down the Golden Boot leaders.

England's talismanic captain Harry Kane came into the World Cup as one of the favourites to land the Golden Boot after a stellar campaign with Bayern Munich that saw him score an incredible 36 Bundesliga goals, landing him the European Golden Shoe. The Three Lions undoubtedly need the ex-Tottenham forward to be at the top of his game if they're to go all the way in North America, and he got off to the perfect start against Croatia, bagging two goals in the 4-2 win that got Thomas Tuchel's side up and running.

Yasin Ayari outperformed Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres in Sweden’s World Cup opener - although the Liverpool and Arsenal forwards were also on target in a crushing 5-1 win over Tunisia. Brighton’s all-action midfielder registered his first international goals in almost 12 months when netting a deadly double - and did so in style with two spectacular strikes from distance that fizzed into the top corner.

Kai Havertz is brimming with confidence on the back of Arsenal’s Premier League title win, and was charged with leading the line in Germany’s World Cup opener. Said show of faith was justified when helping Die Mannschaft recover from making a slow start against debutants Curacao. He calmly slotted home from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage-time, before putting the seal on a resounding 7-1 victory.

Having attracted criticism on the back of a toothless opening performance against DR Congo, the Portuguese GOAT delivered the perfect response to his critics when bagging a brace in a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan - making history in the process by becoming the first man to score at six World Cup finals.

Motherwell winger Elijah Just announced himself on the world stage with two goals as New Zealand battled to a creditable 2-2 draw with Iran. Linking up well with Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood, Just will be looking to add to his tally when his side face Egypt and Belgium in their final Group G matches at the World Cup.

After a fine debut season in the Premier League with Sunderland, Brian Brobbey immediately vindicated Ronald Koeman's decision to give the striker a starting XI spot for the clash with Sweden. He struck twice within 17 minutes to put himself in the running.

Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi produced a match-winning display from the bench as Switzerland beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 4-1 in their second group game. The contest was delicately poised at 0-0 before Manzambi's introduction, and the 20-year-old broke the deadlock in spectacular style with 74 minutes on the clock, rifling home a thunderous first-time volley. Bosnia were reduced to ten men moments later and proceeded to capitulate, with Manzambi converting a cut-back for his second goal and Switzerland's third in the final minute of normal time.

After scoring with a stunning effort in Brazil's World Cup opener against Morocco, Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior made it two in two as he slid the ball home in the Selecao's commanding 3-0 victory over Haiti. With Carlo Ancelotti's side potentially looking at rotating players in game three against Scotland, it remains to be seen if the 26-year-old will add to his tally before the knockout stages.

Netherlands star Cody Gakpo came to life in the second game of the World Cup, setting up Brian Brobbey to give the Dutch the advantage against Sweden before netting two of his own in the 5-1 win.

Ayase Ueda entered the 2026 World Cup full of confidence after hitting 26 goals for Feyenoord last season and landing the Eredivisie Golden Boot. He opened his account at a major international tournament on North American soil in style when netting twice for Japan in their impressive 4-0 victory over Tunisia - with Samurai Blue considered by many to be dark horses in the race for ultimate glory.

Netherlands and West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville is enjoying a fabulous first World Cup. He netted a vital goal as the Oranje drew with Japan and followed up with his team's last as they trounced Sweden 5-1.

Canadian attacker Jonathan David endured a difficult season in Italy in which he scored just eight goals for Juventus, but he thrust himself into World Cup stardom with a hat-trick against Qatar. The treble in that game lifted his national team tally to an incredible 42 in 79 games.

Denis Undav boasts a remarkable strike rate for Germany, with his tally of international goals being taken to nine through just 11 appearances. The Stuttgart forward is filling a super-sub role at the 2026 World Cup, having stepped off the bench to find the target in Die Mannschaft’s 7-1 mauling of Curacao. He followed that effort up by bagging a match-winning brace against Ivory Coast, and also has two assists to his name.

Erling Haaland marked his first-ever World Cup appearance in style, scoring twice in Norway's impressive 4-1 rout of Iraq. The Manchester City terminator slid home the opener at the far post before doubling his account when capitalising on a terrible mistake from the Iraq goalkeeper, helping Norway claim all three points in their first World Cup outing in 28 years.

Norway were made to work harder on matchday two against Senegal, but two more goals from Haaland, including a side-foot volley that went in off the bar, helped them get over the line in a thrilling 3-2 victory.

Kylian Mbappe brought up his 13th and 14th World Cup goals as France battled to a 3-1 win against Senegal in their Group I opener. The Real Madrid star also made history with his superb long-range strike to settle the contest in stoppage time, overtaking Olivier Giroud as France's all-time record goalscorer.

France then breezed past Iraq 3-0 in their second group outing, and Mbappe added another two goals to his haul as the 2018 winners qualified for the round of 32.

Lionel Messi stormed towards the top of the Golden Boot charts after scoring a stunning hat-trick in Argentina's opening group game against Algeria. The Inter Miami superstar powered the reigning champions to a 3-0 victory, and equalled Miroslav Klose's all-time scoring record in the process with his 16th World Cup finals goal.

After missing a penalty in the early stages of Argentina's second game against Austria, he fired in a lovely strike to move clear of Klose before making it 18 in total in injury time. He has scored all five of Argentina's goals so far.