{"id":16973,"date":"2026-07-06T23:35:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T18:05:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/?p=16973"},"modified":"2026-07-06T23:35:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T18:05:52","slug":"golden-boot-race-4-three-way-tie-at-the-top-as-haaland-crashes-the-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/golden-boot-race-4-three-way-tie-at-the-top-as-haaland-crashes-the-party\/","title":{"rendered":"Golden Boot Race \u2014 4: Three-Way Tie at the Top as Haaland Crashes the Party"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Seven goals each. Three players. One trophy. The FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Golden Boot race has never been tighter \u2014 and with the quarter-finals still to come, Kylian Mbapp\u00e9, Lionel Messi, and Erling Haaland are locked in a three-way battle that could go any direction.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-black ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Page Contents:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/golden-boot-race-4-three-way-tie-at-the-top-as-haaland-crashes-the-party\/#Kylian_Mbappe_%E2%80%94_7_Goals_2_Assists_France\" title=\"Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 \u2014 7 Goals, 2 Assists (France)\">Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 \u2014 7 Goals, 2 Assists (France)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/golden-boot-race-4-three-way-tie-at-the-top-as-haaland-crashes-the-party\/#Lionel_Messi_%E2%80%94_7_Goals_0_Assists_Argentina\" title=\"Lionel Messi \u2014 7 Goals, 0 Assists (Argentina)\">Lionel Messi \u2014 7 Goals, 0 Assists (Argentina)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/golden-boot-race-4-three-way-tie-at-the-top-as-haaland-crashes-the-party\/#Erling_Haaland_%E2%80%94_7_Goals_0_Assists_Norway\" title=\"Erling Haaland \u2014 7 Goals, 0 Assists (Norway)\">Erling Haaland \u2014 7 Goals, 0 Assists (Norway)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/golden-boot-race-4-three-way-tie-at-the-top-as-haaland-crashes-the-party\/#Harry_Kane_%E2%80%94_6_Goals_0_Assists_England\" title=\"Harry Kane \u2014 6 Goals, 0 Assists (England)\">Harry Kane \u2014 6 Goals, 0 Assists (England)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/golden-boot-race-4-three-way-tie-at-the-top-as-haaland-crashes-the-party\/#Dembele_Oyarzabal_Bellingham_%E2%80%94_4_Goals_Each\" title=\"Demb\u00e9l\u00e9, Oyarzabal, Bellingham \u2014 4 Goals Each\">Demb\u00e9l\u00e9, Oyarzabal, Bellingham \u2014 4 Goals Each<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/golden-boot-race-4-three-way-tie-at-the-top-as-haaland-crashes-the-party\/#The_Chasing_Pack\" title=\"The Chasing Pack\">The Chasing Pack<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Watch every remaining <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\"><i>FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122<\/i><\/a><i> match live on ZEE 5 \u2014 including all quarter-final action. The <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/myaccount\/subscription?plan-ref=0-11-7467&amp;asset-ref=0-6-4z5914493&amp;visibility=SELECTED&amp;context=FIFA\"><i>ZEE 5 FIFA Subscription<\/i><\/a><i>\u00a0 Quarterly Plan at \u20b9799 gets you full tournament access in India.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kylian_Mbappe_%E2%80%94_7_Goals_2_Assists_France\"><\/span><b> Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 \u2014 7 Goals, 2 Assists (<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/france\/france-squad\"><b>France<\/b><\/a><b>)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Mbapp\u00e9 leads on the tiebreaker. Seven goals across France&#8217;s campaign \u2014 two against Senegal, two against Iraq, two against Sweden, and one in the Round of 32 against Paraguay \u2014 plus two assists. No other player in the top three has an assist to their name. That alone keeps him above Messi and Haaland for now. France are through to the quarter-finals, meaning Mbapp\u00e9 has more opportunities to pull clear.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lionel_Messi_%E2%80%94_7_Goals_0_Assists_Argentina\"><\/span><b> Lionel Messi \u2014 7 Goals, 0 Assists (<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/argentina\/argentina-squad\"><b>Argentina<\/b><\/a><b>)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Messi has been relentless. Three goals against Algeria, two against Austria, one against Jordan in the group stage, and his 20th FIFA World Cup goal against Cabo Verde in the Round of 32 take him to seven for the tournament. No assists \u2014 but he is yet to play Argentina\u2019s Round of 16 match against Egypt. He and Haaland are joint-second on goal difference alone, with FIFA criteria yet to separate them.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Erling_Haaland_%E2%80%94_7_Goals_0_Assists_Norway\"><\/span><b> Erling Haaland \u2014 7 Goals, 0 Assists (<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/norway\/norway-squad\"><b>Norway<\/b><\/a><b>)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The man of the moment. Haaland was relatively quiet through the group stage \u2014 two goals each against Iraq and Senegal, one against Ivory Coast \u2014 but his brace against Brazil in the Round of 16 has propelled him into the top three. Seven goals, zero assists, and Norway are through to the quarter-final for the first time in their history. If Haaland continues scoring at this rate, he will be very difficult to stop.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Harry_Kane_%E2%80%94_6_Goals_0_Assists_England\"><\/span><b> Harry Kane \u2014 6 Goals, 0 Assists (<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/england\/england-squad\"><b>England<\/b><\/a><b>)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Kane sits one behind the trio at the top. Five goals across the group stage and Round of 32, plus his penalty against Mexico in the Round of 16, gives him six. Six goals is a serious tally, and England&#8217;s run continues. A quarter-final against Norway and a potential Haaland-Kane head-to-head in the same match adds an intriguing sub-plot.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dembele_Oyarzabal_Bellingham_%E2%80%94_4_Goals_Each\"><\/span><b>Demb\u00e9l\u00e9, Oyarzabal, Bellingham \u2014 4 Goals Each<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Three players share the next tier. Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 leads the group on assists with four goals and two assists, while Mikel Oyarzabal (four goals, one assist) and Jude Bellingham (four goals, one assist) round out a competitive cluster. Bellingham&#8217;s two goals against Mexico in the Round of 16 were his most important yet. Oyarzabal&#8217;s Spain are still in the tournament. All three remain live contenders if the top three stumble.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Chasing_Pack\"><\/span><b>The Chasing Pack<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Johan Manzambi (three goals, two assists) leads a group of four players on three goals each. Folarin Balogun has three goals and an assist. Cristiano Ronaldo and Ismael Saibari are both on three goals but without an assist between them. For Ronaldo in particular, with Portugal still in the tournament and facing Spain next, a big performance could bring him back into the conversation rapidly.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Golden Boot will not be decided until July 20. Seven goals may not be enough to win it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Follow the Golden Boot race live at the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 \u2014 all remaining matches are on ZEE 5 in India. Don&#8217;t miss a goal.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Disclaimer: Subscription pack prices are subject to change from time to time. Please visit the subscription page for the most up-to-date pricing information.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seven goals each. Three players. One trophy. The FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Golden Boot race has never been tighter \u2014 and with the quarter-finals still to come, Kylian Mbapp\u00e9, Lionel Messi, and Erling Haaland are locked in a three-way battle that could go any direction. &nbsp; Watch every remaining FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 match live [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":15163,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3019],"tags":[3031,3508],"class_list":["post-16973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-golden-boot-race-4"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png","author_info":{"display_name":"Sourav K","author_link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/author\/sourav-k\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Golden Boot Race \u2014 4: Three-Way Tie at the Top as Haaland Crashes the Party<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"FIFA 2026\u2122: Mbapp\u00e9, Messi and Haaland battle for the Golden Boot as the quarter-finals approach.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/golden-boot-race-4-three-way-tie-at-the-top-as-haaland-crashes-the-party\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Golden Boot Race \u2014 4: Three-Way Tie at the Top as Haaland Crashes the Party\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" 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