World Cup stories: The way-too-early Golden Boot race Power Rankings

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is now just 60 days away, but that might as well be a lifetime in terms of player form and fitness.

So many things can happen between now and then that could influence how players arrive in North America for the biggest World Cup ever, but that doesn't mean we can't take a look at the upcoming Golden Boot race anyway.

Without a ball being kicked, some names simply jump out ahead of others as we attempt to pare down the list of likeliest players to top the goalscoring charts when all is said and done.

Therefore, with a nod to our World Cup winners power rankings, here are DAZN News' Golden Boot Power Rankings for the tournament.

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Harry Kane looks to lead England to glory 

All his goals from the 2018 World Cup 

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The way-too-early 2026 World Cup Golden Boot race Power Rankings

Top 5

1. Kylian Mbappé

Getty Images

The Golden Boot winner from 2022 is the favourite to claim the award again this year as he continues to set the standard at all levels of the game.

Mbappé topped the 2022 goalscoring charts with eight goals in that tournament, scoring more times in a single World Cup than any player in 20 years. This season, he currently leads the goals race in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, and with France expected to make another long World Cup run he could complete a treble of Golden Boot awards this summer.

2. Harry Kane

Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images

The man who currently trails Mbappé in the Champions League goalscoring race, Kane has had a superb 2025-26 season.

The England star has almost double the number of goals of the next-best player in the Bundesliga scoring chart, and he continues to be arguably the most important piece of Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions squad. 

If England can shake off their recent woes and put together an extended stay in North America, Kane is as good a candidate as any to claim the Golden Boot.

3. Lionel Messi

Yes, he's nearly 39 years old. And yes, he has taken a step down by moving to Major League Soccer, but Messi remains an integral part of the Argentina side that will try to defend their World Cup title this summer.

While MLS is not among the top leagues, it's a high enough standard to keep the Argentine superstar sharp, and he's still scoring for his national team with regularity. Messi topped the South American World Cup qualiying tournament's goalscoring list just a few months ago, and with the team built around him it will not be surprising to see him challenging for the Golden Boot once again.

4. Erling Haaland

Arguably the greatest pure goalscorer of his generation, Haaland finally gets to show his stuff on the grandest stage of them all.

The Norway star has slowed down a bit after a roaring start to the campaign with Manchester City, and his team will be in tough to advance out of a group that includes France, Senegal and Iraq, but it's hard to bet against him finding the back of the net with frightening frequency in North America.

5. Ferran Torres

Spain will be expected to feast in the group stage against Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia, and Torres could be the beneficiary.

The Barcelona man scored a pair of World Cup goals in 2022, and with a bigger role in this year's tournament he could be a prolific contributor to a team with designs on winning it all.

The next 5

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