Messi, Haaland and Mbappe lead the Golden Boot race with seven goals each as England's Harry Kane remains within touching distance on six goals.
Three of the world's best football strikers are locked in the race for the Golden Boot at the ongoing tri-nation FIFA World Cup as the tournament heads into the quarter-finals.
Argentina's Lionel Messi, France's Kylian Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland have scored seven goals each since the start of football's biggest tournament on June 11 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who had scored three goals, fell out of contention after Portugal were eliminated following Monday night's 1-0 defeat to arch-rivals Spain.
An emotional Ronaldo, who bid farewell to international football after the match, bows out with an all-time World Cup tally of 11 goals.
His decisive group-stage display against Uzbekistan made him the first player in men's football history to score in six different World Cup tournaments, while his penalty against Croatia marked the first knockout-stage goal of his World Cup career.
With their teams all safely through to the quarter-finals, Messi, Mbappe and Haaland each have an equal opportunity to clinch the Golden Boot if they maintain their scoring form in the remaining matches.
Each of the three stars boasts outstanding statistics, poses a major threat to opposing defences and has a realistic chance of leading his country to the final.
Mbappe
Mbappe's impressive haul of seven goals has taken his overall World Cup career tally to 19 goals in 19 matches, placing him among the most prolific scorers in the tournament's history.
The French superstar now averages a goal per game and has reached the milestone faster than any other player in that elite group.
Now 27, Mbappe scored four goals at his World Cup debut in 2018, including one in France's 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final.
He followed that with eight goals in 2022, when France lost to Argentina in the final but he still claimed the Golden Boot.
He will be looking to add to that remarkable record when France face African representatives Morocco in the quarter-finals on July 9.
Statistically, Mbappe has been the most clinical striker among the current Golden Boot contenders, including all-time leading World Cup scorer Messi.
If the goals remain level at the end of the tournament, Mbappe would win the award because he has two assists.
Assists are used as the first tiebreaker when two or more players finish with the same number of goals.
Messi
Playing in his sixth World Cup, Messi is the competition's all-time leading scorer with 20 goals in 30 matches, accumulated over a 20-year span since his debut in 2006.
He stunned the football world with a hat-trick in Argentina's opening match against Algeria.
Messi, 39, has now scored in eight consecutive World Cup matches dating back to the 2022 tournament.
He netted a brace against Austria, scored from a free-kick against Jordan, and struck his seventh goal of the current tournament in Argentina's thrilling 3-2 victory over Cape Verde, opening the scoring to take his all-time World Cup tally to 20.
Despite being widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Messi has never won the World Cup Golden Boot.
Haaland
Playing at his first World Cup, Haaland has quickly established himself as one of the tournament's standout performers, scoring seven goals in his opening four matches.
His first World Cup goals came in Norway's opening group match against Iraq, where he scored a brace.
He added another brace in Norway's 2-1 victory over Senegal in their second group match before scoring the winner in a 1-0 triumph over Ivory Coast.
Haaland then grabbed his second brace of the tournament with two second-half goals as Norway stunned five-time champions Brazil to book a place in the quarter-finals.
His record-breaking tally makes him the most prolific debut scorer at a World Cup since 1974.
Harry Kane
England captain Harry Kane remains within striking distance of the leaders with six goals and one assist ahead of the quarter-final clash against Norway on Saturday, July 11.
Kane entered the tournament with eight World Cup goals from his first two appearances — six in 2018 and two in 2022.
His overall tally now stands at 14 World Cup goals, underlining the crucial role he has played in England's progress.
He scored a brace in England's opening match against Croatia before adding another goal against Panama to overtake Gary Lineker as England's all-time leading World Cup scorer.
He then rescued the Three Lions with another brace in the Round of 32 against DR Congo before adding another goal in the Round of 16 victory over Mexico.
Kane has captained England in all three World Cups he has played, including his debut in 2018, when he won the Golden Boot with six goals.
He scored two goals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar — one against Senegal in the Round of 16 and another against France in the quarter-finals.
