Erling Haaland has playfully conceded defeat in the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot after Lionel Messi continued his remarkable scoring form. The Manchester City striker admitted the challenge is becoming increasingly difficult following Messi’s latest goal in Argentina’s Round of 32 clash against Cape Verde.
Messi Takes Solo Lead in Golden Boot Race
On Friday, July 3, the 39-year-old Lionel Messi opened the scoring for Argentina in a dramatic match in Miami, bringing his tournament tally to seven goals.
Before the game against the World Cup debutants, Messi was tied with Kylian Mbappé on six goals. His strike against Cape Verde gave him the outright lead in the Golden Boot standings.
Haaland’s Humorous Reaction on Snapchat
After the match, Haaland — who scored the winning goal for Norway in their Round of 32 victory over Senegal — shared a fan’s Snapchat message suggesting he might not win the Golden Boot due to Messi’s scoring spree.
The Norwegian forward replied with a simple “True,” followed by a laughing emoji.
This isn’t the first time Haaland has publicly acknowledged Messi’s dominance. Following Argentina’s earlier 3-1 win over Jordan — where Messi came off the bench to score a sublime free-kick — Haaland posted on Snapchat: “Messi is never letting me touch the World Cup Golden Boot,” accompanied by two crying emojis.
🚨📲 𝗘𝒴: Erling Haaland on Snapchat. pic.twitter.com/fy1DnoWXUt
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) July 4, 2026
Haaland Shines on World Cup Debut
Despite trailing in the Golden Boot race, Haaland has been one of the standout performers at the 2026 tournament. In his first-ever World Cup appearance, the Norwegian striker has scored in every match Norway has played in North America so far.
With five goalsHaaland currently sits joint-third in the scoring charts, showcasing his world-class finishing on football’s biggest stage.
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