For football/soccer fans, the next few weeks are shaping up to be incredibly exciting. Why? Because the 2026 World Cup is about to kick off.
Hosted at multiple stadiums across the USA, Canada, and Mexico it’s one of the most prestigious tournaments on the planet. Will it be favourites Spain or France who lift the trophy, will the Three Lions finally bring football home after ‘sixty years of hurt’ or will we see a few upsets? Well, unfortunately, we can’t say for certain, but what we can say with great confidence is that fans are in for plenty of goals.
As well as who wins the World Cup, there is also a great deal of excitement in the tournament surrounding who will score the most goals and win the prestigious Golden Boot award. 2018 saw England skipper and all-time goalscorer Harry Kane secure the title, whereas in 2022 it was France’s Kylian Mbappe turn to be crowned top goalscorer in the tournament.
So, will either of those two win the Golden Boot once more, or could we see another player crowned instead? Here’s a look at what the bookmakers in Ireland think, as we explore the odds for top goalscorer at the 2026 World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe
As of this writing, France, along with Spain, are considered to be favourites to win the 2026 World Cup. Without question, one of the main reasons for this is Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe.
Kylian Mbappe is currently the reigning Golden Boot winner, having won in 2022 after netting a staggering 8 goals, including a hat-trick in the final against Argentina.
Kylian comes into this tournament having scored 42 goals for Real Madrid last season, so he’s certainly in form. He is also chasing history, as he is currently just 4 goals away from becoming the all-time goalscorer at the World Cup.
If you fancy backing Mbappe for the Golden Boot, Ladbrokes are offering 5/1 odds, whereas BOYLE Sports have him at 11/2.
Harry Kane
England’s Harry Kane is also a firm favourite for the Golden Boot, with both Ladbrokes and BOYLE Sports offering 13/2 odds.
Kane, who is England’s all-time goalscorer, is also a former Golden Boot winner, after last winning in 2018. For Bayern Munich, he recently averaged more than a goal a game and continues to prove to be one of the most clinical strikers in professional football.
With all eyes on Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions, providing Kane doesn’t drift too deep, he should prove to be a nightmare for defenders.
Mikel Oyarzabal
Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal is another favourite for the Golden Boot, with Ladbrokes and BOYLE Sports both offering 12/1 odds.
Last season, he scored a very respectable 18 goals for his club, and is considered to be one of the coolest finishers in the Spanish squad. He may have missed the last World Cup in 2022 due to injury, but he got his redemption arc in 2024 when he scored the winning goal in the final, and broke English hearts in the process.
As Spain are currently favourites with many bookies, Oyarzabal could be instrumental.
Erling Haaland
Finally, we have Norway’s Erling Haaland.
When Haaland signed for Manchester City a few seasons ago, he was mocked and jeered. Fans claimed he was coming from a “Farmer’s League” and that he wouldn’t be able to handle top-flight football at professional level. He quickly silenced his haters.
Not only did he win the treble in his debut season, he went on to set the record for most Premier League goals (36) and the most goals for a Premier League player across all competitions (56). He currently has 112 goals out of 132 appearances for his club. Remember, he only signed in 2022!
While Norway are outsiders for the title, Haaland still has a very real chance of grabbing the Golden Boot at the tournament if they can reach the knockout stages. This is why Ladbrokes and BOYLE Sports are both currently offering 14/1 odds for Haaland to be crowned top goalscorer at the 2026 World Cup.