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.
Discover more from starmich blog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
