The 2026 FIFA World Cup is setting the stage for a Golden Boot race for the ages as all-time records fall like dominoes – and we have not yet reached the end of the group stages – but it all just feels a bit meh.
Lionel Messi currently leads the way with five goals from his first two games for Argentina, while Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland sit just behind with four goals each.
It has been a remarkable fortnight of goalscoring from the game’s biggest stars. Messi has become the competition’s all-time top goalscorer with 18 goals; Mbappe will not be far behind, already matching Miroslav Klose’s 16 goals in as many games, topping France’s all-time goalscoring charts.
Elsewhere, Harry Kane has matched Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals for England with a double against Croatia and Erling Haaland is already leading the way for Norway.
Cristiano has now joined the party, notching two goals against Uzbekistan, a tally which he will no doubt add to if Portugal top Group K. At the time of writing, they would face Paraguay in the Round of 32. Yes. Paraguay.
NFL Superstar Tom Brady asked the question: “Best World Cup ever?”
While the ongoing goal-fest may make it seem that way, what do we actually expect when we’re seeing the world’s most elite footballers matched up against the likes of Uzbekistan, Panama and – I’m not just saying this because I’m an England fan – Scotland?
Negative impact of FIFA World Cup changes
Unfortunately, breaking these records has just become inevitable and will continue to be broken with ease thanks to FIFA’s insistence on fixing things that were never broken.
The new 48-team format has undoubtedly increased the potential for goals as the world’s greatest pick off the lower-ranked teams. The finalists will also have to play more games than ever before, this year’s World Cup winners will need to play eight games rather than seven, an even greater opportunity to add to the goal tally.
USA’s breakout star of the tournament, Folarin Balogun summed it up.
He said: “I think it’s annoying. Seeing players like Messi, Mbappe, Haaland – they’re so inevitable. I think they’re scoring a goal a game, sometimes more.
“For me, it’s just about trying to get to that level – to be inevitable as well.””I think it’s annoying. Seeing players like Messi, Mbappe, Haaland – they’re so inevitable. I think they’re scoring a goal a game, sometimes more.
“For me, it’s just about trying to get to that level – to be inevitable as well.”
At just 24, he may well get that chance, as unlikely as it may seem, reports suggest a 64-team format has already been mooted at FIFA headquarters, however unlikely. But would you actually put it past them? The game becomes more and more of a money spinner by the year, and what better way than to bring in another 16 nations?
I absolutely buy into the fact that football is the global sport and everyone should have access to it, but that starts at a lower level. The World Cup is supposed to be the greatest players on earth battling it out for the most coveted trophy in sport. It’s supposed to be closed off to the elite.
Unfortunately, that is no longer the case and as we watch some of the greatest players to grace the game blast through these remarkable records, it’s no longer as impressive as it once was. Like most things in football these days, it just isn’t the same.
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