World Cup 2026 Top Scorers: Messi Leads with 3 Goals

JAKARTA, JOURNALARTA.COM – Lionel Messi leads the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot race with three goals after two matchdays, while Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland are tied in second place with two goals each as of June 23, 2026.

Messi’s tally is about more than the Golden Boot. Those three goals also drew him level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose, who had long stood alone as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals. At 39, this is hardly just another tournament for Messi.

The new 2026 World Cup format, with 48 teams and a total of 104 matches, has created far more goals than previous editions. The scoring race is flowing fast. The Golden Boot fight this year is shaping up to be one of the tightest in tournament history.

Messi’s Hat Trick Pushes Argentina Forward

In the opening match, Argentina beat Algeria 3-0. Messi scored all three goals that night, instantly putting him at the top of the scoring table. In the next matchday against Austria, Argentina won 2-0, though Messi failed to add to his tally after one of his penalties was saved by the goalkeeper.

Three goals from two games. Sharp efficiency from a player in his late 30s.

If Argentina go deep and Scaloni’s squad continues to look this convincing, Messi has a real chance to add another Golden Boot to his personal collection.

Current Top Scorers as of June 23, 2026

Source: FIFA.com and official media partners as of matchday 2. Data changes daily based on match results.

Kane scored twice as England beat Croatia 4-2. Mbappe ended his goal drought from the opening match for Les Bleus. Haaland, making his World Cup debut after Norway finally qualified, showed exactly why every goalkeeper fears him.

Surprises from Smaller Teams

What stands out is that the list is not dominated only by the biggest names. Folarin Balogun scored twice as the United States beat Paraguay 4-1 on matchday one. Players such as Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe of Australia have also opened their goal accounts.

The 2026 World Cup is clearly making room for new storylines.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo is still goalless. Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their opener, a result that will almost certainly leave Ronaldo uneasy. The quiet Messi-Ronaldo rivalry, even with both men near the end of their careers, remains a subplot impossible to ignore.

Upcoming Matches for the Contenders

Messi and Argentina will face Jordan on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Mbappe is set to feature for France in matchday 2 against Iraq. Haaland will take on Senegal, while Kane meets Ghana.

Matchdays 2 and 3 are usually when prime-age strikers explode. Kane, Mbappe, and Haaland are all at the peak of their powers and could flip the standings in a single night.

But for now, Messi leads. And he is not done yet.

Follow the latest scores, fixtures, predictions, and World Cup 2026 updates in full at JournalArta Special Event World Cup 2026.