The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to kick off in just 13 days, and excitement is reaching a fever pitch.
As always, one of the most intriguing questions of the World Cup will be who will be the tournament’s leading goal scorer.
Four years ago in Qatar, France’s Kylian Mbappe led the tournament with eight goals, while Lionel Messi finished second with seven as Argentina won their third World Cup.
Heading into 2026, Mbappe is the odds-on favourite to lead the World Cup in scoring, followed by England’s Harry Kane, Norway’s Erling Haaland, Messi, and a pair of Spaniards in Mikel Oyarzabal and Lamine Yamal.
With France a heavy favourite to return to the final, TSN’s Kevin Kilbane believes Mbappe will once again lead the way.
“Clear decision in my mind. There’s actually no debate on this one. Kylian Mbappé. He is a serial winner. When it gets down to the final moments, in the final games, France will be there, and who’s their main man? Kylian Mbappe,” said Kilbane.
“He’s ramping up to this tournament, and he knows his legacy depends on what France is going to do. He’s one of the top three players in all of football.”
TSN’s Steven Caldwell believes 25-year-old Haaland will put Norway on his back to lead the tournament in goals.
“I’m going to choose Erling Haaland. He can get multiple goals in the group stage. I think Norway will go a lot further than people think, maybe the quarters, maybe the semifinals,” said Caldwell. ”He’s got support around him, and he can fire the goals. Haaland is the better player, in better form and is ready and hungrier for this World Cup.”
Top options for Canada would be strikers Jonathan David and Cyle Larin, though expecting an offensive explosion may be far fetched for the team. The CanMNT, drawn into Group B, will open their tournament on June 12 at Toronto Stadium against Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by a pair of matches in Vancouver on June 18 against Qatar and June 24 against Switzerland.
