FIFA World Cup Golden Boot race: Harry Kane level with Erling Haaland, closing in on Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé

ByTech Word News

England’s Harry Kane (9) celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal against Congo in Atlanta. (Photo by AP/PTI) England captain Harry Kane reignited the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race with a sensational late brace against DR Congo to move level with Erling Haaland in second and close the gap on joint leaders Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.Kane’s two goals inspired England to a dramatic 2-1 comeback win in the Round of 32, keeping the Three Lions’ World Cup dream alive while opening up the race for the tournament’s top scorer.The England captain now has five goals at the tournament, just one behind Messi and Mbappé, who sit top of the table with six each after the France captain struck twice in Les Bleus’ 3-0 win over Sweden.

Kane joins the Golden Boot battle in style

Facing a shock exit, England held on for over an hour after DR Congo took the lead in the seventh minute through Brian Cipenga.Thomas Tuchel’s side struggled to find a breakthrough as goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi denied Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford while Yoane Wissa hit the post at the other end.Kane finally sparked England’s revival in the 75th minute before completing the comeback with another clinical finish 11 minutes later.The brace not only sealed England’s place in the round of 16, but also pushed Kane into the heart of the Golden Boot competition.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot standings

  • Kylian Mbappé (France) – 6 goals
  • Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 6 goals
  • Harry Kane (England) – 5 goals
  • Erling Haaland (Norway) – 5 goals
  • Ousmane Dembélé (France) – 4 goals
  • Vinícius Júnior (Brazil) – 4 goals
  • Ismaila Sarr (Senegal) – 4 goals

A few players stay within striking distance and make for an interesting battle during the elimination rounds.

  • Three goals each: Deniz Undav (Germany), Johan Manzambi (Switzerland), Julian Quinones (Mexico), Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Brian Brobbery (Netherlands), Folarin Balogun (USA), Matheus Cunha (Brazil), Elijah Just (New Zealand), Yoane Wissa (Cabo Verde), Jonathan David (Canada), Ismail David (Canada) and Kavertidada (Germany)

Another historic milestone for the England captain

Kane’s heroics also saw him overtake Brazilian legend Pelé on the all-time World Cup scoring record.His first goal took him level on 12 World Cup goals with Pelé, before his winner took him to 13, further cementing his place among the competition’s top scorers.The England captain overtook Gary Lineker as his country’s top scorer at the Men’s World Cup earlier in the tournament and now boasts 20 goals in major international competitions alongside 84 goals in 118 appearances for England.England have not won a men’s World Cup match after conceding their first since defeating Germany in the 1966 World Cup final, underscoring the importance of Kane’s comeback performance.With Messi and Mbappé leading the way with six goals each and Kane and Haaland breathing down their backs with five each, the battle for the tournament’s top scorer promises to be one of the defining lines of the knockout stages.England next face co-hosts Mexico in the Round of 16, where Kane will have another chance to continue both his remarkable scoring run and his pursuit of the Golden Boot.