Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland will hope for a record-equalling fourth Golden Boot this season - but who could challenge him as the Premier League's top-scorer?

<p>The best games, goals and personal highlights – from a magical Azteca to Erling Haaland breaking America</p><p><strong>Paraguay </strong><strong>1-1 Germany.</strong> There were plenty more games with more goals but none could match the drama of the penalty shootout in this last-32 tie. Germany aren’t supposed to lose in them <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/30/germany-paraguay-world-cup-2026-last-32-match-report">but they did this time</a> in spectacular fashion. <strong>Ed Aarons</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/22/world-cup-awards-guardian-team-2026-tournament-verdicts">Continue reading...</a>

From fans discovering America, Victoria Beckham's non-reaction, anything Erling Haaland, cute animals and Lionel Messi's DeNiro nod, here are the best viral moments from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

All the goals from the race for the 2026 World Cup golden boot as Kylian Mbappe leads the way from Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland.

Martinez - "Martínez led his country's backline in passes (460) and accurate passes (427) while he became the only Argentine defender on record to score and assist in a FIFA World Cup game (v Cabo Verde)." Rodri - "The Spanish midfielder registered the most accurate passes (756), most carries (164) and most line-breaking passes (122) in the competition while that haul of 756 successful passes is the most ever in an edition of the World Cup on record." Haaland - "Haaland averaged a goal every 17.1 touches at the 2026 World Cup (120 touches, 7 goals), the second fewest on record (since 1966) for a player to score five or more at a single tournament after Oleg Salenko in 1994 (16.7 – 100 touches, 6 goals)."

We look at some of the most memorable scenes during the 2026 World Cup that set the internet alight.

<p>Who is winning the battle to be top scorer at the World Cup? Live and updated throughout the tournament</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2026/jun/17/who-is-highest-goalscorer-world-cup-history-messi-mbappe">All-time World Cup goalscorers</a></p><p>The Golden Boot is awarded to the World Cup’s top goalscorer, with assists used as a tie-breaker if two or more players finish level. The 2026 tournament has three former Golden Boot winners taking part: Kylian Mbappé of France (eight goals in 2022), England’s Harry Kane (six goals in 2018) and James Rodríguez of Colombia (six goals in 2014).</p><p>Mbappé and Kane are among the pre-tournament favourites to finish top scorer in North America, alongside Norway’s Erling Haaland – making his World Cup debut – and Argentina’s Lionel Messi.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2026/jun/04/golden-boot-world-cup-2026-top-goalscorers-winner">Continue reading...</a>