The World Cup Golden Boot is one of the most esteemed honors given to a striker.

Since there is just one chance to compete for it every four years, most players will have very little chances to win it throughout their careers.

The performance of the team is what matters most, players frequently assert, hence they are not interested in receiving personal recognition. However, it is reasonable to suggest that such a claim is only partially accurate.

Certainly, advancing as far as can in the World Cup is ideal, but forwards enjoy scoring goals and are aware that doing so will earn them the tournament’s most valuable trophy.

Who is in the lead in the World Cup Golden Boot race?

Kylian Mbappe – Five goals

The young Frenchman has a remarkable ability to perform at his peak at World Cup finals. Kylian Mbappe is exerting all of his might to guarantee that the trophy remains in Paris after playing a pivotal role in France’s successful campaign in Russia four years ago.

He has performed even better than France fans could have ever imagined throughout this year’s World Cup. Mbappe has only played four games in Qatar, but he already has five goals and two assists.

In France’s opening match against Australia, he scored his first goal before adding two more goals against Denmark.

In the victory over Poland in the round of 16, he added two more goals, each deserving of the sizable lead he had established in the battle for the Golden Boot.

Up to this moment, his assertions that he entered the competition as the best player in the world have only grown stronger.

Goncalo Ramos – Three goals

Goncalo Ramos’ first international start might best be described as bursting into the scene. He was given the nearly impossible task of filling in for Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal’s match against Switzerland in the round of 16.

However, he did well under the strain rather than buckling beneath it. Ramos accomplished scoring a hat trick in the World Cup’s knockout round for the first time since 1990.

As if that were not enough, he also gave Raphael Guerreiro an assist in the 6-1 victory.

Lionel Messi – Three goals

Lionel Messi is giving Argentina a chance to win the World Cup on December 18 in what is probably his final World Cup.

However, if he had converted his penalty against Poland, he would have trailed Mbappe by one goal rather than two.

In the humiliating loss to Saudi Arabia, he scored his first goal of the competition from the penalty spot. He quickly had the ability to change the course of his nation’s World Cup campaign with a spectacular goal that ignited the victory over Mexico.

Before Messi took over against Australia in the round of 16, there was a scoreless performance in the easy victory over Poland. He now has three goals after scoring the opening goal in the 2-1 victory.

Marcus Rashford – Three goals

Marcus Rashford has established himself as an underdog for the Golden Boot despite making just one England World Cup start.

He has netted three goals in a little over an hour and a half of play, one against Iran and two against Wales.

The Three Lions’ two goals in their 3-0 victory over England’s closest neighbors—a free kick and a solo goal—were especially excellent.

He has demonstrated how important he can be to Gareth Southgate, especially given that there were questions before the tournament about whether or not he should even be in the squad.

Bukayo Saka – Three goals

A teammate of Rashford’s has also scored three goals so far in this World Cup.

Prior to the tournament, Bukayo Saka had only scored four goals in 21 England appearances. He gave England the lead against Iran.

He scored twice in the 6-2 victory before adding the winning goal against Senegal in the round of 16.

He will undoubtedly have a chance to win the Golden Boot should he and his teammates defeat France in the quarterfinal.

Olivier Giroud – Three goals

Speaking of France, Olivier Giroud is an additional player with three goals.

He was aware that he trailed Thierry Henry by two goals in the all-time scoring rankings going into the World Cup.

The 36-year-old was even at the top after his two goals versus Australia in the first match. With a precise goal in the last-16 victory over Poland, he then finished alone as France’s top scorer.

Giroud’s response has been very interesting since he did not score during his country’s World Cup-winning run four years ago.

Richarlison – Three goals

Richarlison becomes one of the most productive strikers in international football when he dons the fabled yellow shirt.

The Brazilian forward not only scored three goals, but also two of them are amongst the tournament’s best.

The tournament’s best goal was his overhead kick against Serbia to start the scoring, while his goal over South Korea was not too shabby either.

He might take home the Golden Boot if Brazil makes it all the way to the championship game.

Cody Gakpo – Three goals

Cody Gakpo has demonstrated just why he is still the target of a high-paying transfer to the Premier League.

He scored in each of the Netherlands’ Group A games as they won the group and advanced to the round of 16. In doing so, he made history by becoming the first Dutchman to score in all three of his World Cup games.

He had a losing run against the USA in the round of 16, but he can more than make up for it by scoring against Argentina in the quarterfinal.