The 2026 World Cup is over, and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. With the expanded 48-nation tournament coming to a close, following a month of thrilling action in North America, which star has taken home the illustrious award? Here, GOAL lists the tournament's most prolific performers.
Four nations made debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan gracing the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It was the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and Cape Verde achieved the feat of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages, before succumbing to Lionel Messi's Argentina in a classic.
The group stage of the 2026 World Cup came to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday, as Austria scored a 96th-minute equaliser against Algeria to qualify for the knockout stage while simultaneously eliminating Iran, who had been set to progress as one of the tournament's third-placed finishers. Elsewhere, Lionel Messi came off the bench to help Argentina maintain their 100 percent winning record with a 3-1 victory over Jordan and, in doing so, the No.10 extended his record-breaking goals tally at the finals to 19.
Christian Pulisic returned, Sebastian Berhalter impressed, and Auston Trusty delivered a big moment, but a late Turkiye winner exposed the USMNT’s defensive depth.
Christian Pulisic returned from injury, and Sebastian Berhalter starred, but a heavily rotated USMNT side conceded in stoppage time as Turkiye ended their perfect World Cup start.
With first place secured and the U.S. exercising caution over yellow cards and injuries, Mauricio Pochettino is expected to rotate. Here is who GOAL thinks should start.
NYCFC are reportedly interested in securing the signature of Christian Pulisic, but the MLS side have been informed by the Serie A giants that the American is not for sale. According to reporting in The Athletic, numerous MLS clubs would be interested in bringing Pulisic to North America following the 2026 World Cup. Yet, Milan are reluctant to let him go.
The world is learning more and more about the American striker, who could become a household name both in the U.S. and Europe if he continues to perform.
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Turkiye
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