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World Cup 2026 Golden Boot standings: Messi & David lead

The 2026 World Cup is underway and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. There's a long road ahead as 48 nations battle for the top prize, but which star will take home the illustrious award? Here are GOAL's predicted candidates for the prize as we keep track of the tournament's most prolific stars

Lionel Messi Argentina player ratings Austria World Cup GFX

Messi is The GOAT! But Lautaro & Alvarez need to start scoring

Lionel Messi became the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, and then added another goal for good measure, as Argentina beat Austria 2-0 in a bad-tempered game in Dallas to maintain their winning start to their title defence. The greatest player of all time should have broken Miroslav Klose's record after just eight minutes of play, when the Albiceleste were awarded a penalty for a Stefan Posch foul on Lautaro Martinez, but Messi dragged his spot-kick wide.

Argentina v Austria: Group J - FIFA World Cup 2026

Messi is king of the World Cup! Argentina star breaks the record

Lionel Messi has cemented his status as the greatest to ever do it by becoming the outright leading goalscorer in World Cup history. The Inter Miami star overtook German legend Miroslav Klose during Argentina's high-stakes Group J encounter with Austria on Monday.

Pos	Équipe	P	V	N	D	BP	A	+/-	Pts	Forme
7	Al-Hedayah	9	6	0	2	18	9	9	19	N V V D V
8	MAJD ALQUNFOTHA	14	5	3	6	20	18	2	18	D V N V D
9	Alsalam	11	5	2	4	15	11	4	17	D N V V D
10	Al-Hait	10	4	4	2	12	9	3	16	D N V N V
11	Almaa	8	5	0	2	18	10	8	16	D V D V V

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