Here are the highest goalscorers at the 2026 World Cup tournament, with just one game played so far by some of the countries in the tournament.
The opening round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has immediately delivered on its promise of high-stakes drama, but it is a familiar face who commands the global headlines. Argentina captain Lionel Messi has catapulted himself to the top of the Golden Boot standings after netting a spectacular hat-trick against Algeria in Kansas City, drawing level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the joint all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals.
Messi’s masterful performance at Kansas City Stadium spearheaded a comprehensive 3-0 victory for the reigning champions in Group J, turning his historic 200th international appearance for the Albiceleste into an unforgettable milestone.
2026 World Cup Top Scorers
| Rank | Player | National Team | Goals Scored |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 3 |
| 2 | Erling Haaland | Norway | 2 |
| Folarin Balogun | United States | 2 | |
| Kylian Mbappé | France | 2 | |
| Kai Havertz | Germany | 2 | |
| Yasin Ayari | Sweden | 2 | |
| Elijah Just | New Zealand | 2 |
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