GOAL brings you all the leading goal-getters from the ongoing World Cup – who will come out on top?

Kylian Mbappe has won the 2022 Golden Boot with 8 goals in 7 games. He did so by becoming the second-ever player to score a hattrick in a World Cup final, after Geoff Hurst for England in 1966. However, unlike Hurst, Mbappe couldn't leave with the World Cup trophy, but he won't go back empty-handed.

Before the tournament began, much of the spotlight was on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Neymar to be among the leading lights of the competition, thanks to their ruthlessness in front of goal and a prolific international record.

Ronaldo, Neymar, and Kane all left the tournament in the quarter-finals, essentially leaving the race between Messi and Mbappe. And the race went right down to the wire, with Mbappe's 118th minute helping him clinch the award, as the Argentinian legend's brace almost got him the accolade.

They were however closely followed by their teammates Olivier Giroud and Julián Álvarez who both respectively scored 4 goals. But at the end of the day, it will be Mbappe who yet again cements his place in football and World Cup legacy.

With goals expected to rain heavily at the World Cup, GOAL is on hand to monitor the race for the World Cup Golden Boot!

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Getty1Kylian Mbappe | France | 8 goals

Mbappe is France's talisman at this year's World Cup. He was their chief tormentor during opening two group games, having opened his account in a 4-1 victory over Australia before bagging a match-winning brace against Denmark.

The PSG forward then banged in another brace as France put Poland to the sword with a 3-1 victory in the round of 16.

Needless to say, France's megastar has his eyes firmly set on scooping the highly sought-after prize that is the World Cup Golden Boot.

Mbappe became the 2nd-ever player to score a hat trick in a World Cup final to bring France back into the game from death twice. However, despite taking the match to penalties, he couldn't win the trophy for a second consecutive time.

AdvertisementGetty2Lionel Messi | Argentina | 7 goals

Messi opened his and Argentina's account with a penalty against Saudi Arabia but would suffer a shock defeat as the Asian side came back in the second half to win 2-1.

He would again dig Argentina out of a hole with a lovely driven shot from long-range to give them the lead in their 2-0 win over Mexico.

Messi would mark his 1000th game by giving Argentina a crucial lead against Australia with one of his classic finishes into the bottom corner.

Messi scored his 10th World Cup finals goal with an ice-cold penalty against the Netherlands to put his side 2-0 up in the quarter-final.

He would then score a crucial opener again from the penalty spot in Argentina's semi-final win against Croatia, making him their all-time World Cup topscorer, overtaking Gabriel Batistuta.
Messi led from the front with a brace as Argentina won their first ever World Cup since 1986, allowing Messi to win the one trophy he never won, and essentially complete football.

Getty Images3Olivier Giroud | France | 4 goals

Giroud's brace against Australia helped France to victory in their opening match. The AC Milan striker then opened the scoring against Poland in their Round of 16 victory, with a sweet finish into the bottom corner to become France's all-time record goalscorer.

The 36-year-old then restored lead in the 78th-minute with a thundering header past Jordan Pickford from Antoine Griezmann's superb left-wing cross in their narrow 2-1 quarter-final victory against England.

Alex Grimm/Getty Images4Julián Álvarez | Argentina | 4 goals

The young Manchester City forward scored his first World Cup goal in a must-win game against Poland. A cracking finish from Álvarez into the top corner helped Argentina secure the win and qualification to the next round.

Álvarez cemented his legacy in Argentinian football with a brace in their 3-0 semi-final victory over Croatia. The first of these goals was a scrappy solo goal where the Manchester City forward bullishly made his through the Croatian defence and nodded it past Dominik Livaković.