Bellingham Closes Gap on Messi, Mbappe in World Cup Golden Boot Race

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup reaches its semi-final stage, the competition for the Golden Boot award has become increasingly fierce. Currently, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are tied at the top of the scoring chart, each having netted eight goals. However, their lead is being closely contested by other top players, including England's Jude Bellingham, who recently scored two goals in his team's 2-1 victory over Norway, bringing his total to six goals. Bellingham's teammate, Harry Kane, also has six goals, while Norway's Erling Haaland finished the tournament with seven goals after his country's quarter-final exit. With only two matches remaining, the battle for the Golden Boot is expected to be intense, as all the top contenders are still in with a chance of emerging as the tournament's highest scorer. The record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup, set by France's Just Fontaine in 1958 with 13 goals, is also within reach for the top scorers. As the semi-finals approach, football fans around the world will be watching with bated breath to see who will ultimately claim the Golden Boot award. The current top scorers are: Lionel Messi (Argentina) with eight goals, Kylian Mbappe (France) with eight goals, Erling Haaland (Norway) with seven goals, Harry Kane (England) with six goals, and Jude Bellingham (England) with six goals.