Messi and Mbappé Tied With Eight Goals Each at 2026 World Cup

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé each have eight goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as of July 11. Messi achieved the total in five matches while Mbappé reached it in six. Forbes reported that the competition for the Adidas-sponsored Golden Boot has become a direct contest between rival boot sponsors.

Messi wears Adidas under a lifetime contract signed in 2017. Mbappé remains with Nike through a one-month extension ending July 31. Erling Haaland has seven goals in Nike boots under a long-term deal signed in 2023.

Harry Kane has six goals under a lifetime Skechers contract signed in August 2023. Messi opened with a hat-trick against Algeria, added two goals against Austria, scored once against Jordan, added one against Cape Verde in the round of 32, and scored once against Egypt. He has missed two penalties in the tournament.

His eight goals bring his career World Cup total to 21, and he is the first player to score in nine consecutive appearances. Mbappé scored France’s opening goal in a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco. Haaland scored two goals against Brazil on July 5 and four against Iraq in the group stage.

Kane scored a penalty in England’s 3-2 win over Mexico on July 5 and another against Croatia. The 2026 tournament expanded from 32 to 48 teams and from 64 to 104 matches. Group-stage matches have averaged 2.99 goals, the highest since 1958.

Eight goals before the quarterfinals would have won the Golden Boot outright in each of the prior three tournaments. Mbappé won the award in 2022 with eight goals. Kane won it in 2018 with six goals.

Adidas has sponsored the trophy since 2010.