Messi breaks all-time scoring record as Golden Boot race intensifies
The 2026 World Cup has seen a surge in goal-scoring, with Just Fontaine’s 1958 record of 13 goals in a single tournament appearing vulnerable as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland lead the charge.
Lionel Messi has rewritten the history books at the 2026 World Cup, becoming the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup history with 18 career goals. The Argentine captain added five goals in two matches for his country, including a hat-trick against Algeria and two in a 2-0 victory over Austria, surpassing the previous record and positioning himself as the frontrunner for the Golden Boot.
Messi’s performance has drawn praise from Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who described the veteran forward’s consistency as difficult to explain despite seeing him play daily. "He still pulls it off every single match," Scaloni said, noting that Messi has been the best player in the world for two decades. The defending champions advanced to the last 32 with the victory, played before a crowd of 70,649 in Texas.
The race for the single-tournament Golden Boot record, held by France’s Just Fontaine since 1958 with 13 goals, is now under significant threat. French star Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland each sit on four goals, trailing Messi by one in the individual tally. Mbappé, who won the Golden Boot in 2022, has also become France’s record goalscorer, though he downplayed the personal rivalry with Messi after France’s 3-0 win against Iraq.
Haaland, who has scored in his past 12 competitive appearances for Norway, brought his international tally to 59 goals in 52 games. The Manchester City forward attributed his success to a combination of natural ability and luck, stating, "I don't know what I'm doing. It's just how it is." His consistency places him in direct contention to challenge the decades-old scoring record.
Other notable figures in the race include Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane, both on two goals. Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments after netting twice against Uzbekistan, celebrating with the phrase "I'm back, I'm back." Meanwhile, Germany’s Deniz Undav and Canada’s Jonathan David have three goals each, while US striker Folarin Balogun has scored twice, acknowledging the high standard set by the tournament's top scorers.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, has seen goal-scoring records tumble at an unprecedented rate. With Gerd Muller the last man to hit double figures in a single tournament in 1970, the current pace suggests the 13-goal mark set by Fontaine could fall within the next few weeks.
