Lionel Messi celebrates scoring for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)
Back in 2013? Because five goals in two games is pretty ridiculous for 39-year-old Lionel Messi, who is leading the Golden Boot race for the 2026 World Cup.
The Argentine maestro scored a hat-trick in the first group game against Algeria, and scored twice in the second leg as his country beat Austria.
Yes, that means Messi has scored all five of Argentina’s goals so far.
So what’s next? The Inter Miami forward will no doubt be aiming for the World Cup trophy again after regaining it in 2022, but could also bag the Golden Boot after gaining an early advantage.
WC’s pick is at stake. There is no doubt that they currently have attractive odds for the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, and even if Messi’s quick start puts them ahead, there is still a long way to go.
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Who else is the main contender for the Golden Boot this World Cup?
Let’s take a look at the World Cup’s top scorers so far and what that means for this summer’s prestigious top scorer race…
| player | Number of goals |
| Lionel Messi (Argentina) | 5 |
| Kylian Mbappé (France) | 4 |
| Erling Haaland (Norway) | 4 |
| Deniz Unduff (Germany) | 3 |
| Jonathan David (Canada) | 3 |
Cristiano Ronaldo has only two goals so far, as he ended up scoring twice in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, but now that he’s on the rise, perhaps he can’t be ruled out either.
Still, the main player to watch in terms of competing with Messi is undoubtedly French star Mbappé.
Even if Haaland is currently level with Mbappé on four goals, it is certainly unlikely that he will progress this far in this competition.
Perhaps the Manchester City striker’s form could surprise Norway, but France are likely to be at least one of the big favorites to reach the final, and more games means more chances for Mbappé to improve his record.
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Similarly, even if Canada’s Jonathan David gets off to a strong start and has an impressive scoring record throughout his club career, he will undoubtedly struggle due to the fact that his national team is one of the weaker teams in this competition.
It was Messi vs. Mbappe in the 2022 World Cup final, and we might see a similar match this summer. Messi or Mbappé will definitely win the Golden Boot.
