A Golden Boot race for the ages - but who will come out on top?
The 2026 World Cup is witnessing a historic Golden Boot race between Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland. Messi has currently set a new record for all-time World Cup goals.
Why it matters
This tournament is marking a rare statistical peak in football history, with multiple legendary players competing for the all-time scoring record simultaneously.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Kylian Mbappe (4), Lionel Messi (5) and Erling Haaland (4) have scored 13 goals between them at the 2026 World Cup
The article provides objective sports reporting on tournament statistics.
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