Lionel Messi is 39 years old, just scored a hat trick against Algeria, and leads the World Cup scoring charts with six goals in three games. He also broke Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup goals record in the process. If you haven't already built your DFS lineup around him, that's on you.
The 48-team format changes the Golden Boot calculus significantly. More games means higher tallies — Messi's six in the group stage alone is already enough to have won the award outright in 2006 and 2010. The field is also deeper, with multiple genuine contenders capable of putting up numbers that would've looked absurd in a 32-team format.
The frontrunners — and why the market is right about them
Kylian Mbappé has four goals already, with Sweden next in the Round of 32 — a team that conceded five against the Netherlands in matchday two. France have two forwards in red-hot form after Ousmane Dembélé's hat trick against Norway, which makes Les Bleus a nightmare to play against and a goldmine for DFS points.
Erling Haaland was rested for Norway's final group game after scoring four goals in his first two. That's not a concern — that's a coach managing their best player for the knockout rounds. Ivory Coast face him next. He scored 16 times in eight qualifying games, including five against Moldova. Four goals in two World Cup appearances is just the warm-up.
Harry Kane has 11 World Cup goals from 14 appearances and already broke Gary Lineker's England scoring record at this tournament. He's averaging better than a goal every other international game at a major finals. DR Congo are next. England should advance.
Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41, just became the first player to score in six different World Cups. He's got two goals, Portugal finished second in their group, and there are genuine questions about whether his presence is helping or hindering the team's shape. His personal tally will benefit from being the focal point of attacks — the team results are the bigger question mark heading into a tricky tie against Croatia.
The value picks that could steal the Golden Boot
Beyond the obvious names, a few players offer strong DFS value at lower salary caps.
- Deniz Undav (Germany): Nine goals in 12 international appearances, three off the bench already in this tournament. His double against Ivory Coast won Germany the group. Julian Nagelsmann has a genuine selection dilemma — and Undav might just force his way into the starting XI for the knockouts.
- Romelu Lukaku (Belgium): Still capable of changing games at 33, and Belgium are through to the knockout rounds after a five-goal showing against New Zealand. Missed much of qualifying through injury, which kept his price down. If he stays fit, he's clinical.
- Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain): A goal every other game for La Roja, the Euro 2024 final winner, and two against Saudi Arabia in the group stage. Spain are among the tournament favourites, which means Oyarzabal should get four, five, maybe six games. That's plenty of runway.
- Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden): France await in the Round of 32, which probably ends Sweden's run. But one more goal is realistic, and his hat trick in qualifying showed he can deliver in high-pressure moments. At Arsenal, he scored 21 times in all competitions last season as they ended a 22-year Premier League drought.
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt): At his second World Cup, now a free agent after nine years at Liverpool, and Egypt are through to their first ever knockout game — against Australia. He's averaging better than a goal every two games for his country. A favorable draw makes him interesting at his price point.
The bookmakers have this right at the top — Messi is the man to beat. Six goals before the knockout rounds even start, still producing the single most compelling individual performance at any World Cup in recent memory. The DFS platforms will price him accordingly. Whether he's worth the salary hit depends on how deep Argentina go — but against Cape Verde next, it's hard to see him not adding to that tally.
