Lionel Messi delivered a hat trick during the opening stretch of the tournament, one of the biggest individual scoring bursts so far. Folarin Balogun and Kylian Mbappe also made notable plays in front of goal, while Erling Haaland appears to have broken through with goals of his own as the group stage unfolds.
The Golden Boot goes to the player with the most goals at the World Cup. If players are tied on goals, the award is decided by most assists, then by fewest minutes played.
Before the tournament opened, Mbappe was listed at +550 to win the Golden Boot, ahead of England's Harry Kane at +650. Messi was at +2000 prior to kickoff, with Haaland at +1200. Those numbers reflected the pre tournament betting market, though Messi's early scoring could shift how fans read the race going forward.
