There's no shortage of star power set to compete across North America in the 2026 World Cup, all vying to lead their respective nations to soccer glory.
Two of the sport's all-time greats, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, will make their final tournament appearances. Meanwhile, Norway superstar Erling Haaland will make his long-awaited World Cup debut in a tournament that also features the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, and Harry Kane, among others.
But who will score more goals than everybody else? Let's take a look at the odds to win the Golden Boot as the tournament's top goalscorer. Our in-house expert Jamie Johnstone will also give us his favorite bets.
Top goalscorer odds
| Player (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe | +600 |
| Harry Kane | +700 |
| Lionel Messi | +1200 |
| Erling Haaland | +1400 |
| Mikel Oyarzabal | +1400 |
| Lamine Yamal | +1600 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | +2000 |
| Ousmane Dembele | +2000 |
| Lautaro Martinez | +2500 |
| Vinicius Junior | +2500 |
| Raphinha | +2800 |
| Bukayo Saka | +3300 |
| Julian Alvarez | +3300 |
| Kai Havertz | +3300 |
Mbappe is the favorite to earn the honor with France expected to make a deep run. The 27-year-old's eight tallies at the 2022 World Cup were the most in the tournament, and he recorded four during France's title run in 2018.
Messi (+1200) has won the Golden Ball in two of the past three World Cups and has the second-most goals in international soccer history behind Ronaldo. However, he's one of the oldest players in this year's tournament at 38, and his workload may be monitored as Argentina attempts to defend its crown.
Kane won the 2018 World Cup Golden Boot, but he notched just two goals for England in Qatar four years ago. He went on to co-lead the 2024 Euros with three goals. Kane's production will ultimately come down to how many games The Three Lions play.
Haaland is the fifth favorite to lead the tournament in goals, and he'd likely be further up the oddsboard if Norway's chances of reaching the final were greater. The Nordic nation is in for the World Cup for the first time since 1998, two years before its star striker was born, and its hopes this year rest entirely on Haaland's shoulders.
💵 Picks to win Golden Boot
Mbappe has a habit of delivering on the biggest stage, and he will likely dazzle again this summer. The Real Madrid star enters the World Cup in superb form after scoring 42 goals in 44 matches across all club competitions, and he has multiple tournament records in his sights.
Mbappe needs five goals to surpass Miroslav Klose's record for most career World Cup goals, and just two to become France's all-time leading scorer. He claimed the Golden Boot in 2022 with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final, and he could reach a similar number if France makes a deep run. Prolific is an understatement.
🏴 Bet: Harry Kane (+700)
Kane has the potential to challenge Mbappe for the Golden Boot. England hasn't always been a free-scoring team at major tournaments, but this year could be different. A group featuring Panama, Ghana, and Croatia should offer Kane plenty of opportunities to score, even if Croatia proves tough to break down.
Kane arrives in stellar form after winning the European Golden Shoe with 36 Bundesliga goals for Bayern Munich, while adding 14 in 13 Champions League appearances. The 32-year-old is already England's all-time leading scorer, and a World Cup Golden Boot would strengthen his legacy. Also, if anyone can grind out goals in tight knockout games, it's Kane.
🇪🇸 Bet: Mikel Oyarzabal (+1400)
Oyarzabal may not be a household name, but don't sleep on him. Spain's Group H fixtures - Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde - should give him ample chances in front of goal. He is also La Roja's first-choice penalty taker and is clinical from the spot.
Playing alongside dynamic wingers like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams should boost Oyarzabal's output. Both demand extra attention from defenders, creating space for him to operate in dangerous central areas. They're more than capable of creating high-quality chances for the striker against any side in the competition. Oyarzabal was Spain's joint top scorer with six goals in the qualifying campaign, and he netted the winner in the Euro 2024 final. He's the best value pick on the board.
💵 Messi or Ronaldo?
Bet: Messi to outscore Ronaldo (-160)
Messi and Ronaldo are two of the greatest players to ever grace the world stage, but Messi is the more complete threat heading into this tournament. Even though he is past his prime, the Argentine icon is still a game-changer, dictating tempo while delivering in front of goal. With Argentina built around his strengths, he remains the focal point in the final third.
Ronaldo's finishing is still elite, but his impact is more isolated, relying on service while operating as a traditional central striker. He has eight World Cup goals and is yet to score in the knockout stage. Meanwhile, Messi has 13 goals, including five in the elimination rounds. With more ways to hurt defenses and find the back of the net, Messi should outscore Ronaldo in North America.
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