2026 World Cup Golden Boot Prediction, Favorites: Back Mbappe, Kane to Win?

The 2026 World Cup is loaded with star power, especially in front of goal. With 48 teams involved, there will be more goals scored than ever before.

But who will be the player who steps up and wins the Golden Boot award, given to the top goalscorer in the competition? Will it be one of those big name stars leading his team to the title, or will another player catch fire and put his country on his back leading them on a deep run? 

Below, we’ll break down some of the top players for the Golden Boot race based on the implied odds via PrizePicks Team Picks, and explain why they might end up as the top goalscorer at the 2026 World Cup. 

Before and during the 2026 World Cup, you can make real-money predictions on players like Kylian Mbappe or Harry Kane to win the Golden Boot, score goals in individual matches, and more on PrizePicks.

Make your 2026 World Cup Golden Boot winner prediction on PrizePicks

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2026 World Cup Golden Boot Prediction, Favorites to Win

Which World Cup player will join the list of prestigious names to have ended the World Cup as the leading scorer? Will France’s Kylian Mbappe repeat after a stellar 2022 World Cup campaign, or will he be replaced on top of the scoring leaderboard? 

Mbappe is the favorite to again lead all players in goals, and repeating that feat would likely see him become the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history.

Find more daily World Cup predictions and expert picks here

2026 World Cup Golden Boot Winner Favorites: Mbappe, Kane on Top

Here are the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot favorites to win the award, via PrizePicks Team Picks, including their payouts if you predict them to win. 

Payouts from TeamPicks are live as of publishing, but are subject to change. Payouts listed below (like 2x) indicate real-money earnings if a prediction is correct; for example, a 4x on a $100 entry would pay out $400 on PrizePicks Team Picks.

• Kylian Mbappe, France – Yes 5.26x | No 1.13x
• Harry Kane, England – Yes 6.25x | No 1.09x
• Erling Haaland, Norway – Yes 10x | No 1.03x
• Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain – Yes 10x | No 1.03x
• Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal – Yes 14.28x | No 1.02x
• Lionel Messi, Argentina – Yes 14.28x | No 1.02x
• Lamine Yamal, Spain – Yes 16.66x | No 1.01x
• Rapinha, Brazil – Yes 16.66x | No 1.01x
• Julian Alvarez, Argentina – Yes 16.66x | No 1.01

Make your 2026 World Cup Golden Boot Winner prediction on PrizePicks

FIFA World Cup Golden Boot Winners List, History

Here is a complete list of past World Cup Golden Boot winners, to help prepare you for this year’s award. 

The award for the World Cup’s top goal scorer was officially given out for the first time at the 1982 World Cup, where it was called the Golden Shoe. In 2010, the award was renamed the Golden Boot.

Results below will only track since the award was created in 1982. That said, the record for most goals in a World Cup is Just Fontaine in 1958, who scored 13 goals for France.

• 2022: Kylian Mbappé, France – 8 Goals
• 2018: Harry Kane, England – 6 Goals
• 2014: James Rodríguez, Colombia – 6 Goals
• 2010: Thomas Müller, Germany – 5 Goals
• 2006: Miroslav Klose, Germany – 5 Goals
• 2002: Ronaldo, Brazil – 8 Goals
• 1998: Davor Šuker, Croatia – 6 Goals
• 1994: Oleg Salenko, Russia – 6 Goals; Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgaria – 6 Goals
• 1990: Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci, Italy – 6 Goals
• 1986: Gary Lineker, England – 6 Goals
• 1982: Paolo Rossi, Italy – 6 Goals

2026 World Cup Golden Boot Predictions, Pick to Win

Here are three players to consider for your 2026 World Cup Golden Boot picks on PrizePicks Team Picks, led by Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane, with a longshot at the end.

Kylian Mbappe, France

Kylian Mbappe World Cup Golden Boot Winner Payout: Yes 5.26x | No 1.13x

Kylian Mbappe is out to repeat as Golden Boot winner, after claiming it with 8 goals at the 2022 World Cup.

Mbappe led all La Liga players in 2025-26 in goals (25), shots (146), and shots on target (63) while often playing in a central role for Real Madrid. Manager Didier Deschamps has deployed him both on the left and as a striker in France’s 4-2-3-1 setup leading into the tournament. 

Both roles give him an opportunity to score in different ways, and make it hard for opponents to plan on how to stop him. 

Playing off the left allows him to cut inside onto his favored right foot, while operating centrally allows him to move around in the box and find spaces to get the ball. 

France’s attacking depth could be the biggest hurdle he has to overcome. Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele, among others, will also see plenty of scoring opportunities with only one ball to share.

France are expected to make a very deep run, and Mbappe is their primary penalty taker.

Mbappe will be targeting Miroslav Klose’s career record of 16 World Cup goals, and getting there could lead to him repeating as the tournament’s top scorer.

Pick Kylian Mbappe to win the World Cup Golden Boot on PrizePicks

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Harry Kane, England

Harry Kane World Cup Golden Boot Winner Payout: Yes 6.25 | No 1.09x

Harry Kane is the talisman for this England side, and is a ball-dominant striker who will drop back into midfield to get involved in build-up play. Combined with his penalty duties, he’s one of the favorites to win the Golden Boot for a reason. 

Kane scored a staggering 60 goals this season for Bayern Munich. Left foot, right foot, headed, inside the box, outside the box—you choose a way to score, and he pulled it off at some point.

During England’s World Cup qualifying run, Kane scored 8 goals. Ten of his teammates combined to score the other 20. Only one of his goals came from the penalty spot, which underlines how active and ruthless he is. 

England are in a very favorable Group L, with two teams in Ghana and Panama who leak goals. That presents one of the best opportunities of any of the favorites to get off to a hot start. 

Kane scored two goals in five matches at the 2022 World Cup, and wants to make amends for skying his late penalty attempt vs. France. If England are to make a deep run in this year’s tournament as expected, it’s unlikely they do so without him contributing goals. 

Pick Harry Kane to win the World Cup Golden Boot on PrizePicks

Michael Olise, France

Michael Olise World Cup Golden Bot Winner Payout: Yes 22.22x

I mentioned Olise earlier, and he honestly might be France’s best attacker at the moment. When PSG defeated Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinal, they literally built their tactics around preventing him from beating them.

Olise has one of the best long-range shots in this tournament, and reminds me a lot of Arjen Robben the way he cuts inside and curls efforts at the back post with his left foot. He’s also going to take free kicks for France from the right side. 

In France’s final warm-up match vs. Northern Ireland, he scored all three goals in their victory and sealed it with an absolute worldie from distance. 

France is likely to see quite a few compact defenses in this tournament, and Group I sees them taking on two tough opponents in Senegal and Norway. If teams park the bus, it raises the likelihood that Olise begins peppering the goal from outside the area. 

Olise scored only two goals in five World Cup qualification matches in 2025, but attempted 13 shots. He’s in stellar form and has only improved as the season has progressed. With opponents focusing on stopping Mbappe, this could be his opportunity to truly break out. 

Pick Michael Olise to win the World Cup Golden Boot on PrizePicks

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Make World Cup Golden Boot Winner Predictions on PrizePicks

Kylian Mbappe enters the 2026 World Cup as a favorite to repeat as the Golden Boot winner — the award given to the tournament’s top goal scorer. However, Harry Kane and England have high hopes as well, while Mbappe’s teammate Michael Olise is on a scoring tear entering the tournament.

No matter who you think scores the most goals in the 2026 World Cup, you can make your Golden Boot prediction on PrizePicks and get paid if you’re right.

On PrizePicks Team Picks, make picks on World Cup futures, game winners, totals, and more — now available in 35 states, including California, Florida, and Texas. 

Stay locked in on Playbook during the 2026 World Cup for our expert predictions, picks, and analysis for every match and more.