Golden boot race heats up: Messi, Mbappe & Haaland lead early charge

KATHMANDU: Three of world football’s biggest stars—Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland—are delivering a spectacular goal-scoring showdown at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with all three setting an early blistering pace in the Golden Boot race.

Messi has scored five goals in just two matches for Argentina, including a brace against Austria, taking his World Cup tally to 18 goals—moving him to the top of the all-time World Cup scoring chart. At 38, the Argentine captain continues to break records and extend his legacy on football’s biggest stage.

Close behind, France captain Kylian Mbappé has netted four goals in two matches, including a decisive double in France’s 100th international appearance against Iraq. His performances have moved him level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, placing him second on the all-time list, just two behind Messi.

Norway’s Erling Haaland has also made a powerful statement, scoring four goals in two matches, including a brace against Senegal to secure Norway’s progression to the Round of 32. It marks one of the most dominant World Cup starts of his career, as he becomes only the sixth player in history to score two goals in each of his first two World Cup appearances.

Together, the trio have already scored 13 goals between them, marking only the second time in World Cup history that three players have each scored four or more goals after just two matches—the first instance dating back to 1954.

Football analysts say the battle reflects a rare convergence of elite talent. Former Scotland striker Ally McCoist described Messi as the most naturally gifted, with Mbappé second, while praising Haaland as the most clinical finisher in world football.

Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken also hailed Haaland’s impact, stressing the difficulty of scoring consistently while representing a lower-ranked nation compared to traditional powerhouses such as France and Argentina.

The expanded 48-team World Cup format has also contributed to a higher goal output, with more matches against lower-ranked opposition creating additional scoring opportunities for elite attackers.

Mbappé, however, has downplayed individual comparisons, insisting his focus remains on team success rather than the Golden Boot race.

“I’m not thinking about that,” Mbappé said. “My focus is helping the team. Goals come naturally when the team performs well.”

With Messi’s experience, Mbappé’s explosive pace and Haaland’s clinical finishing all firing early, the race for the Golden Boot is already shaping up as one of the most compelling storylines of the tournament.