In addition to the long-awaited World Cup, this competition It also rewards the top scorers every four years.
The so-called “Golden Boot” is a recognition awarded to the player who scores the most goals during the entire World Cup competition. As it is a relatively short tournament, every score is important.
In this edition of the 2026 World Cup, the scoring table is quite close, despite having been held only two days of the group stage and waiting for what happens in the knockout stage.
Preliminarily, Lionel Messi heads the list with five goals. He is followed by the Frenchman Kylian Mbappé and the Norwegian Erling Haalandwith four goals; then Deniz Undav, from Germany, and Jonathan David, from Canada, appear with three goals.
While the competition continues, waiting to know who will be the top scorer of this edition of the World Cup, these They have been the scorers of other World Cup competitions.
Qatar 2022 World Cup: Kylian Mbappé
Despite losing the World Cup final against Argentina in the penalty shootout, Mbappé established himself as the team’s top scorer. that edition by scoring eight goals, including a hat trick in the finalan achievement that had not been seen for more than 50 years.
World Cup Russia 2018: Harry Kane
At that time, a Tottenham Hotspur player, the Englishman took his selection to the semifinals of the tournament and left his scoring mark with six goals.
World Cup Brazil 2014: James Rodríguez
The Colombian scored six goals, including a historic volley against Uruguaywhich also earned him the FIFA Puskás Award.
World Cup South Africa 2010: Thomas Müller
The German was the leading scorer in that edition of the World Cup with five goals, at just 20 years old. Müller is tied in goals with other players, such as David Villa, Wesley Sneijder and Diego Forlán, but received recognition for his performance in assists.
World Cup Germany 2006: Miroslav Klose
Who until recently was the top scorer in the history of the World Cup left a historic mark in the 2006 World Cup with five goalsdespite the fact that Germany remained in the semifinals of the tournament.
It was in Brazil 2014 when Klose scored his last goal, number 16, with the one who remained the leader of the top gunners for 12 years.
Korea-Japan World Cup 2002: Ronaldo
Ronaldo Nazario not only helped Brazil win its fifth world title, He also became the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals.
Just Fontaine: the top scorer in a World Cup
There is still a record that has stood for almost 68 years and that no player has managed to break: the most goals scored in a World Cup edition.
That mark is still held by the Frenchman Just Fontaine with nothing more than 13 goalswho debuted in the 1958 World Cup with a hat trick against Paraguay, a double against Yugoslavia and a goal against Scotland.
Fontaine also scored two more goals against Northern Ireland, one against Brazil and four against Germany in the third place match.