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Written by
Adam Martin -
02 Jun 20263 min. read
The World Cup is getting closer now and one of the biggest betting markets that players enjoy getting involved in is the top goalscorer market. Everyone is looking at the top of the market where Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane sit as favourites.
However, at no point has any player won the Golden Boot more than once throughout the whole history of the World Cup. If that trend continues then neither of the favourites will be winning this year given that they have won one each already.
Here we look at three of the top contenders that players should be looking at betting on for this year’s World Cup.
Table of Contents
Erling Haaland to be top goalscorer
Norway is considered an outsider to win the World Cup this year and that is largely due to the goal scoring powers of Erling Haaland. The Manchester City forward has been the top scorer in the Premier League three of the last four seasons, including this one.
During their qualification campaign Norway scored 37 goals and a large part of that was due to their main striker. Haaland played in all eight of Norway’s World Cup qualifying campaign and scored 16 goals.
Norway do have to face France in the group stage but should find it easy enough to qualify as they should beat Senegal and Iraq. With the potential for Norway to move through the rounds, Haaland becomes a good price.
Mikel Oyarzabal to be top goalscorer
Mikel Oyarzabal is an underrated forward who plays a vital part for Spain. The Real Sociedad attacker has had a solid season in La Liga scoring 15 goals in 30 starters.
He started in all six of Spain’s qualifying campaign and scored the most goals in the team with six. He also had the most assists on the team with four, showing how big a player he is for them.
Spain shouldn’t have any problems getting through the group stage as they face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. They are the favourites to win the World Cup, and a long run should give Oyarzabal plenty of opportunities to score goals.
Expect Oyarzabal to go under the radar but make an impact in this year’s World Cup.
Julian Alvarez to be top goalscorer
Julian Alvarez is one of the best young strikers in the world and at this price must be considered. He has had a good season at Atletico Madrid, helping them get to the Champions League semi-finals and scoring 20 goals in all competitions.
During their World Cup qualifying campaign, Alvarez played in all 18 matches scoring four and getting three assists. This put him joint top scorer for them and he usually played a central striker’s role.
Argentina should have a good campaign and that will give Alvarez plenty of opportunities to score goals. Expect him to have a good tournament and give his backers a good run for their money at a massive price.
Summary
The 2026 FIFA World Cup’s top goalscorer market is generating excitement for bettors, with favorites like Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane, though historical trends suggest first-time winners may emerge. Key contenders include Erling Haaland, who dominated Norway’s qualifying campaign; Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain’s underrated attacker with a strong La Liga season; and Julian Alvarez, Argentina’s young striker who played a central role in qualifying.
Alongside top goalscorer bets, FIFA 2026 World Cup Winner Betting Tips provide insights into favorites to lift the trophy, such as Spain, Argentina, and Portugal. Bettors can maximize their opportunities by using top bookmakers which offer competitive odds, promotions, and easy access to both match and individual player markets.
Adam Martin
Sports betting and igaming writer
Betting news
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