The Group Stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup produced goals galore. As of Sunday 28 June, 215 goals have been scored across the 72 matches, averaging an impressive 2.99 goals per match.

Here, we look at who is in the running for the iconic Golden Boot Award, the top scorer of the World Cup.

Six goals - Lionel Messi (Argentina)

The Little Maestro is alone on top of a big mountain. He carries the weight of Argentina's expectations on his shoulders gladly.

Messi opened his World Cup account with a hat-trick against Algeria to further cement his GOAT status. Then, despite missing an early penalty, the 29-year-old backed it up with a brace against Austria. Finally, in the last group stage match against Jordan on Saturday, he struck home a low free kick for a record-extending 19th World Cup goal.

With that final strike, Messi also became the only player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. Watch this space, as more records are surely around the corner for the greatest to ever do it.

Four goals - Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele (both France), Erling Haaland (Norway), Vinicius Junior (Brazil)

Mbappe's quartet of goals has moved him into joint-second on the all-time World Cup goalscoring list with 16. The striker's stoppage-time stunner against Senegal was one to behold, powering the ball into the back of the net from 30 yards out. France teammate Dembele made headlines for his 32-minute hat-trick against Norway.

Playing in his first World Cup, was there ever any doubt that Haaland would continue his incredible goalscoring record? The man-bun brute struck a pair of braces against Iraq and Senegal, taking his international tally to 59 goals from 52 matches. Finally, Junior has been prolific for Brazil, showing off his dazzling skill to score the first three goals of their campaign.

Three goals - Harry Kane (England), Jonathan David (Canada), Matheus Cunha (Brazil), Yoane Wissa (DR Congo), Deniz Undav (Germany), Ismael Saibari (Morocco), Brian Brobbey (Netherlands), Elijah Just (New Zealand), Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), Johan Manzambi (Switzerland)

"I'd be one of the favourites [for the Ballon d'Or], if England win the World Cup," said Kane before kickoff. No pressure, Harry! Well, he's handled it so far and found the back of the net three times at the head of a bipolar England attack.

At the other end of the expectation scale, Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa's goals have led DR Congo out of the group stage for the first time in their football history. Then we have Jonathan David. The Canadian striker entered elite company when he scored a hat-trick in the 6-0 drubbing of Qatar for their first-ever World Cup win.

Honourable mention: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - Two goals

The Portuguese talisman may be behind in goals scored and pace, but his longevity is truly incredible. Ronaldo stands alone as the only player to score in six World Cups - that's 24 years of football!

And at 41 years and 138 days old, his two goals against Uzbekistan made him the oldest player to score a World Cup brace. Should Portugal go deep in the tournament, expect the veteran to create more history.

Erick Mathoho leaves Kaizer Chiefs after eleven seasons