USA striker Folarin Balogun no longer stands alone at the top of the race for the Golden Boot at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after Germany forward Kai Havertz matched his tally with a brace in his side’s emphatic 7-1 victory over Curaçao.
Balogun had set the early pace by scoring twice in the first half of the United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay in their opening Group D match at Los Angeles Stadium. The 25-year-old Monaco striker became the first player to score multiple goals for the USA in a World Cup match since 1930.
However, Havertz drew level with the American after netting twice in Germany’s dominant Group stage win. The former Chelsea and Arsenal forward opened his World Cup account from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time before adding his second goal in the 88th minute to complete the rout and move alongside Balogun on two goals.
With many of the tournament’s 48 teams still to play their opening matches, the standings are expected to change significantly in the coming days.
adidas Golden Boot standings
Two goals
Folarin Balogun (USA) – 0 assists, 77 minutes played
Kai Havertz (Germany) – 0 assists
One goal
Hwang In-beom (Korea Republic) – 1 assist, 87 minutes played
Giovanni Reyna (USA) – 0 assists, 17 minutes played
Cyle Larin (Canada) – 0 assists, 20 minutes played
Oh Hyeon-gyu (Korea Republic) – 0 assists, 28 minutes played
Mauricio (Paraguay) – 0 assists, 53 minutes played
Jovo Lukić (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – 0 assists, 65 minutes played
Nestory Irankunda (Australia) – 0 assists, 66 minutes played
Raúl Jiménez (Mexico) – 0 assists, 79 minutes played
Julián Quiñones (Mexico) – 0 assists, 82 minutes played
John McGinn (Scotland) – 0 assists, 86 minutes played
Ismael Saibari (Morocco) – 0 assists, 92 minutes played
Ladislav Krejčí (Czechia) – 0 assists, 100 minutes played
Connor Metcalfe (Australia) – 0 assists, 102 minutes played
Breel Embolo (Switzerland) – 0 assists, 103 minutes played
Vinícius Júnior (Brazil) – 0 assists, 104 minutes played
Germany’s seven-goal demolition of Curaçao has provided the first major shake-up in the scoring charts, with Havertz becoming the latest contender to stake an early claim for the tournament’s top individual scoring prize.
Vanguard News
The post World Cup 2026: Havertz joins Balogun as top scorers so far [Full List] appeared first on Vanguard News.