As we stand on the brink of the latest edition of the FIFA World Cup, plenty of attention has turned towards the men who will surely compete for the coveted Golden Boot award, presented to the tournament’s top goalscorer. Not only is it an immensely prestigious prize in itself, but goalscoring glory could very much contribute to team success. However, those two things do not always necessarily go hand in hand.
Previous winners
A glance through the list of previous Golden Boot winners is akin to a walk down the corridors of the World Cup Hall of Fame. The names of Just Fontaine, Eusebio, Gerd Muller, Mario Kempes, Paolo Rossi and Gary Lineker are legendary amongst serious and casual fans alike, while modern-day winners include the likes of Ronaldo (the original Brazilian version), Miroslav Klose, Davor Suker and Thomas Muller. The latter of those names is still playing – for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS – but did not make his country’s World Cup squad after retiring from international duty in 2024.
Yet there are previous Golden Boot winners still active with their respective national teams. And indeed, it’s no surprise to see the same names among the list of favourites for this edition. The top sportsbooks, which can be found on MansionBet.com World Cup 2026, have already assembled their odds for the main contenders, and it’s no surprise to see France’s Kylian Mbappe and England’s Harry Kane are top of the pile. This pair were the winners from the previous two editions of the world’s premier international tournament, and few will be surprised to see either claim the trophy again this time around. There is another contender too. Colombia’s James Rodriguez won the award at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 when he burst onto the scene as a precocious 22-year-old. Now 34, Rodriguez also plays his club football in the MLS – making it two previous Golden Boot winners now plying their trade in the North American league. Few would expect Rodriguez to finish among the leaders this time around, though, indeed as the odds portray.
Related: World Cup 2026: Balogun, Havertz, Ayari Set Pace In Golden Boot Race
Golden Boot curiosities
Yet if Mbappe, Kane or even Rodriguez were to claim the prize as the World Cup’s top scorer, in doing so they would break a considerable record: no man has ever won the Golden Boot award twice. Remarkable!
Another curiosity of the award is how seldomly the man who wins the award plays for the World Cup winning team. Mbappe came agonising close four years ago of course when his France side lost on penalties to Argentina in the final. But a glance back down the annals of history reveals what a rare feat that would have been. The first time it occurred was when Brazil won the World Cup in Chile in 1962, and two of their players – Garrincha and Vava – finished joint top of the scoring pile, along with four others. Mario Kempes was the first man to do it outright, outscoring all of his rivals during Argentina’s romp on home soil in 1978. Italy’s Paolo Rossi matched the feat four years later in Spain. Brazil’s Ronaldo was the last man to do it back in 2002. Four times in 22 editions is hardly a prolific strike rate, though.
Other leading contenders this time around
So if not Mbappe or Kane, then who? There are plenty of other leading candidates. One name that has surprisingly never been etched onto the Golden Boot trophy is that of Lionel Messi. The legendary Argentine led his country to glory four years ago in Qatar, and is another player to currently be found in the MLS. Messi is now 38 years old – he will be 39 by the time of the later knockout rounds – and claimed the lesser-known Silver Boot (for the player finishing second in the goalscoring charts) last time around.
Another veteran legend of the game is one Cristiano Ronaldo, and it is of equal surprise that the Portuguese superstar has never claimed the Golden Boot. Indeed, CR7’s World Cup goalscoring record is one minor blemish on his otherwise outstanding CV. Could there be one last hurrah for a man (along with Messi) playing in a record-breaking sixth tournament at the ripe old age of 41? It is testament to the enduring powers of both Ronaldo and Messi that the two icons of the game remain among the leading Golden Boot contenders as they reach the twilight of their remarkable careers.
Who else should we keep an eye on? On the other extreme of the age spectrum is Barcelona and Spain’s precocious Lamine Yamal. The youngster lit up Euro 2024 at the tender age of 16, and will surely do the same at this World Cup as a relative veteran at 18. After a prolific season with Barca, it is no surprise to see Yamal among the favourites here, especially as Spain are expected to go deep in the tournament. Another leading candidate is Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. Haaland has been prolific in recent seasons, and his goalscoring record for Norway is staggering – 55 goals in just 49 games to date. The only doubt here will be how far his country go, and therefore how many games will the big striker actually play. The same could be said of Sweden’s Alexander Isak, especially as the striker is only recently back from a long-term injury.
Then there are candidates from all the leading teams, such as Brazil’s Vinicius Junior or Raphinha, Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez or Julian Alvarez, or France’s Ousmane Dembele. We may not know the name of the winner just yet, but what we can predict is that whoever does have their name etched onto that famous trophy will join a list of icons whose names ring loud every time a World Cup rolls around. Just don’t expect the Golden Boot winner to also end up with a World Cup winner’s medal – it hardly ever happens!
