The 2026 FIFA World Cup introduces a redesigned Golden Boot trophy by Adidas, but a more historic prize looms: Just Fontaine's record of 13 goals in a single tournament, set in 1958. With the expansion to 48 teams, finalists can now play up to eight matches instead of seven, giving top scorers an extra chance to break the nearly seven-decade-old mark.
Current Golden Boot Race
Defending Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe leads the race with six goals, level with Lionel Messi but ahead on assists. Erling Haaland follows with five, while Ousmane Dembele and Vinicius Junior have four each. Mbappe's two goals against Sweden moved him into a tie with Messi.
If Mbappe wins the Golden Boot again, he would become the first player in World Cup history to claim the award twice, having won it in Qatar 2022. With France still in contention, Mbappe could play four more matches, needing seven additional goals to equal Fontaine's record.
Historical Context
Only two players have come close to Fontaine's record: Sandor Kocsis scored 11 goals in 1954, and Gerd Muller netted 10 in 1970. No player has reached double figures in a single World Cup since Muller.
However, the extra match does not guarantee the record will fall. The expanded tournament brings greater physical demands, increased fatigue, and more squad rotation. Knockout matches tend to be tighter and lower-scoring, making it harder to accumulate goals.
The newly unveiled Golden Boot trophy, inspired by the iconic Predator boot, will be awarded to the tournament's top scorer. This year, the award could signify more than just leading the scoring charts; it may represent the closest challenge to one of football's oldest World Cup records in decades.
