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Messi Leads Golden Boot Race with 5 Goals, 59% Odds

6/24/2026

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Summary

Messi Leads Bootrace

Lionel Messi leads the World Cup Golden Boot race with five goals, scoring a hat-trick against Algeria and two against Austria.
Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland each have four goals, scoring braces against Senegal and Iraq respectively.
Oddschecker’s AI model gives Lionel Messi a 59% chance to win the Golden Boot, Kylian Mbappé 41%, and Erling Haaland 12%.

Summary

Messi Sets Record

Lionel Messi, 38, became the oldest Cup hat-trick scorer and missed his third penalty, a tournament record.
Norway reached knockouts for the first time since 1998, with Erling Haaland scoring in both opening games.
France extended its run versus Asian teams to 6-0-0, with Michael Olise matching the lead with three assists.
Kylian Mbappé earned his 100th France cap at 27 years 184 days, the youngest player to do so.

History

Historical Context

In 1958 Sweden, French striker Just Fontaine scored 13 goals in six matches, setting a World Cup single-tournament record that FIFA still lists as unbeaten. The record has become a benchmark for later stars, with Lionel Messi’s five goals and Kylian Mbappé’s four in Qatar 2022 reviving the Golden Boot chase. This legacy shapes expectations and betting models for every World Cup.

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Messi Leads Bootrace

Lionel Messi leads the World Cup Golden Boot race with five goals, scoring a hat-trick against Algeria and two against Austria.
Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland each have four goals, scoring braces against Senegal and Iraq respectively.
Oddschecker’s AI model gives Lionel Messi a 59% chance to win the Golden Boot, Kylian Mbappé 41%, and Erling Haaland 12%.

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