Balogun's two-goal burst against Paraguay shakes up World Cup Golden Boot race

Folarin Balogun announced himself as a genuine Golden Boot contender at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by scoring twice in the United States’ victory over Paraguay, giving him the outright lead in the goalscoring standings at the early stage of the tournament.

The USA striker’s brace is the most any player has scored so far. A cluster of players — including Canada’s Cyle Larin, Mexico’s Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, and South Korea’s Hwang In-Beom and Oh Hyeon-Gyu — sit one goal behind on a single strike apiece.

Balogun’s rapid rise has been reflected in the betting markets. He entered the tournament as a heavy outsider but his double against Paraguay has seen his odds shorten dramatically, making him a name to watch alongside the established favourites.

Kylian Mbappé, who claimed the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with eight goals, remains the market leader heading into the tournament. Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, and Mikel Oyarzabal are also among those expected to challenge for the award as the group stage progresses.

The Golden Boot has historically been claimed by players who peak in the knockout rounds. Mbappé’s record-breaking eight-goal haul in Qatar set a modern benchmark, while Harry Kane won the award in Russia in 2018 with six goals — the same tally that earned James Rodríguez the prize in Brazil four years earlier.

With the tournament still in its early stages, the standings will shift considerably as the world’s leading forwards get more minutes on the pitch. But Balogun has given the host nation’s supporters an early reason for optimism, and his name is now firmly part of the Golden Boot conversation.