World Cup 2026 golden boot standings as Cristiano Ronaldo joins Messi, Mbappe and Haaland in race
The race for the golden boot at World Cup 2026 is hurtling towards an epic contest during the knockout stage after Cristiano Ronaldo made an emphatic statement to silence the critics, joining Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the race.
The stars continue to dominate at this tournament, none more so than Messi after backing up a hat-trick against Algeria with a double against Austria to highlight one of his greatest traits after a penalty miss.
AdvertisementAdvertisementKylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland followed the Argentine with doubles of their own on a dramatic day at the World Cup, with the France captain enduring nearly a two hour delay due to adverse weather.
But after a dismal first outing had many questioning whether he was hampering Portugal’s World Cup hopes, Ronaldo hit a superb brace against Uzbekistan to prove his worth and put himself in contention for the accolade.
Kane, Deniz Undav and Vinicius Jr could all still challenge as they prepare to close out the group stage with their teams’ final matches.
If players are tied for goals, the number of assists will determine who ranks higher. If there is still a tie, it comes down to minutes played and the goals-per-minute ratio. Here are the latest 2026 World Cup golden boot standings:
AdvertisementAdvertisementWorld Cup golden boot standings
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina), 5 goals
= 2. Kylian Mbappe (France), 4 goals
= 2. Erling Haaland (Norway), 4 goals
4. Deniz Undav (Germany), 3 goals (2 assists)
5. Jonathan David (Canada), 3 goals
= 6. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), 2 goals (1 assist)
= 6. Vinicius Jr (Brazil), 2 goals (1 assist)
= 6. Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), 2 goals (1 assist)
= 6. Crysencio Summerville (Netherlands), 2 goals (1 assist)
= 6. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain), 2 goals (1 assist)
= 6. Maximiliano Araujo (Uruguay), 2 goals (1 assist)
= 6. Ayase Ueda (Japan), 2 goals (1 assist)
= 12. Harry Kane (England), 2 goals
AdvertisementAdvertisement= 12. Matheus Cunha (Brazil), 2 goals
= 12. Yasin Ayari (Sweden), 2 goals
= 12. Elijah Just (New Zealand), 2 goals
= 12. Kai Havertz (Germany), 2 goals
= 12. Johan Manzambi (Switzerland), 2 goals
= 12. Cyle Larin (Canada), 2 goals
= 12. Ismael Saibari (Morocco), 2 goals
= 12. Folarin Balogun (USA), 2 goals
= 12. Brian Brobbey (Netherlands), 2 goals
= 12. Daichi Kamada (Japan), 2 goals
= 12. Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), 2 goals
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.'
