Now that the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has concluded, let’s take a look at the top goalscorers in the tournament so far as we head into the knockout stage.
Top Goalscorer: Lionel Messi (6)
Lionel Messi
tops the tournament so far with an incredible six goals in three matches. Despite turning 39 last week, Messi hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down and is arguably playing some of the best soccer of his career in his sixth World Cup with Argentina.
Messi opened the tournament with a sensational hat trick against Algeria, marking the first World Cup hat trick of his career. He kept that momentum going with two goals against Austria, breaking the record for the most World Cup goals of all time. He then capped off the group stage with a brilliant free-kick goal against Jordan after coming on as a substitute.
Messi has scored in each of Argentina’s matches so far and will enter the knockout stage in outstanding form.
Closing in Behind with Four Goals:
There are four players with four goals after the group stage who aren’t far behind Messi:
Kylian Mbappé (France), Erling Haaland (Norway), Vinícius Júnior (Brazil) and Ousmane Dembélé (France). All four have been crucial to their countries’ success and will be looking to carry that form into the knockout stage.
France’s Kylian Mbappé opened the tournament in outstanding form, scoring braces in his first two matches against Senegal and Iraq. Mbappé has looked virtually unstoppable at times and is already tied for the second-most World Cup goals in history with 16 across just three tournaments, trailing only Messi, who now has 19.
Alongside Mbappé is fellow Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé, who also has four goals in the tournament. Dembélé has silenced many of the critics who questioned whether he could replicate his club form on the international stage. Three of his four goals came in France’s final group-stage match against Norway, where he scored a brilliant hat trick to seal a 4-1 victory.
Vinícius Júnior is another player who faced some scrutiny for underwhelming performances with Brazil compared to his club form at Real Madrid. With Neymar entering the tournament injured and missing Brazil’s first two matches, Vinícius has stepped up as Brazil’s leader and top goalscorer, finding the net in each of the team’s group-stage matches. He finished the group stage with a brace against Scotland. Although Vinícius didn’t score in Brazil’s 2-1 Round of 32 victory over Japan, he still impressed and remains one of the biggest reasons behind Brazil’s success.
The last of the four players with four goals is Erling Haaland, who scored all four of his goals in just two matches. Haaland netted braces against Senegal and Iraq before being rested for Norway’s final group-stage match against France after qualification had already been secured. He will enter Norway’s Round of 32 matchup against Côte d’Ivoire well rested and will be relied upon heavily to continue his goalscoring form if Norway hopes to make a deep run this summer.
Players with three goals:
- Deniz Undav (Germany)
- Johan Manzambi (Switzerland)
- Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)
- Brian Brobbey (Netherlands)
- Matheus Cunha (Brazil)
- Harry Kane (England)
- Elijah Just (New Zealand)
- Ismael Saibari (Morocco)
- Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
- Jonathan David (Canada)
- Kai Havertz (Germany)