Very little separates Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe in World Cup Golden Boot odds
World Cup Odds
Day 14 Best BetsUpset PicksGolden Boot RaceFavoritesFrance Clear FavoriteVery little separates Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe in World Cup Golden Boot odds
Lionel Messi is the leading scorer at the 2026 World Cup and is favored to win the Golden Boot. Charlotte Wilson / Getty Images
By Dan SantaromitaJune 24, 2026 5:00 am EDT UpdatedThe 2026 World Cup has been all about stars so far. The biggest names in the sport have delivered in a big way, and a few of them on multiple occasions already.
Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé played on the same day twice in the group stage. On both days, all three players scored multiple goals. Mbappé got two goals in France’s opener, followed by two goals from Haaland for Norway and then topped by a Messi hat trick against Algeria. On Monday, all three players did it again, scoring twice.
That leaves Messi as the top scorer in the World Cup so far with five goals. Mbappé and Haaland are right behind with four. Throw in Harry Kane, who had two goals in England’s opening match but was held scoreless against Ghana on Tuesday, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who struggled in Portugal’s opener but scored twice against Uzbekistan on Tuesday, and the Golden Boot race is shaping up to be generational.
For context, five goals is the same tally that won the Golden Boot in 2010 and 2006. The last time a Golden Boot winner scored 10 was in 1970 (Germany’s Gerd Müller). Messi already has five, and someone reaching 10 doesn’t seem that unthinkable given the numbers the top players have put up so far.
As for the betting odds, they favor Messi, barely. Messi is the favorite on FanDuel (+180) and DraftKings (+185), while BetMGM has Messi and Mbappé as co-favorites at +175. Mbappé is +220 on DK and FD.
Messi has a one-goal edge on Mbappé, which obviously carries value, but his Argentina team also plays Jordan on Saturday. La Albiceleste will be overwhelming favorites in that match, but have already clinched first place in the group. Would it be wise to play Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday? On the other hand, can you convince him to sit?
Meanwhile, Mbappé and Haaland meet on the field on Friday. France and Norway, who have two wins each, have been impressive, which means goals could be harder to come by for both teams. France-Norway is one of the most enticing matches of the group stage, especially now that both Mbappé and Haaland are in the thick of the Golden Boot race.
One note to keep in mind when looking at the award is that France is the tournament favorite while Argentina is fourth in the odds. Both teams are expected to make deep runs. On the flip side, the odds say Haaland’s Norway is not. While the Vikings have looked good, they are still relative long shots to win the tournament (with odds ranging from 28-to-1 to 33-to-1). Haaland has feasted on the teams Norway has beaten so far, and there may be a couple more ahead, but it will get harder as the tournament goes on.
Haaland is 5-to-1 on BetMGM, 7-to-1 on DK and 13-to-1 on FD to win the award. That wide range is somewhat telling. If you think Norway is a contender in this tournament, Haaland has shown he can rack up the goals. Otherwise, it’s going to be tough to keep up with Messi and Mbappé.
As for the next tier, Kane looked like a real contender with a pair of goals against Croatia, but England was held scoreless against Ghana. Two goals in two games is a strong scoring rate, but when three superstars are already multiple goals ahead of that, Kane has an uphill battle to catch up. However, England will be heavy favorites against Panama next and will still have something to play for. Kane has a good opportunity to get right back among the leaders.
Kane currently sits at 6-to-1 on BetMGM and DK, while FD has him at 8-to-1.
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A new challenger entered the arena on Tuesday in Ronaldo. The 41-year-old took a lot of criticism after he and Portugal struggled in a 1-1 draw against DR Congo. He and the team responded with a 5-0 win against Uzbekistan, spurred on by two goals from Ronaldo. Is CR7 truly back, or was this a product of playing Uzbekistan, which has now allowed eight goals in two matches?
Ronaldo is fifth in the odds after those two goals, with odds ranging from 10-to-1 to 18-to-1.
Are there any other contenders? Jonathan David scored a hat trick for Canada against Qatar, but Canada isn’t expected to go far in the tournament. Germany’s Deniz Undav has also scored three goals, but has not started yet. His minutes and chances may be hard to come by, but he already has a solid goal tally and is on a contending team.
American Folarin Balogun had two goals in the first match, but was held scoreless against Australia, despite forcing an own goal. He remains firmly in long-shot territory with odds as long as 55-to-1 on FanDuel.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
