France World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf believes Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé are the two most likely players to claim the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot, provided England and France continue their strong runs in the tournament.

Speaking to BOYLE Sports, Leboeuf argued that both strikers — each the focal point of their national team's attack — are best placed to rack up the goals needed to take the coveted award.

"For the Golden Boot, the favorites have to be Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe. If England and France both go deep in the tournament, I think it will be a contest between the two of them," Leboeuf said.

Tournament expansion changes the equation

Leboeuf did not shy away from raising concerns about the expanded 48-team format, warning that the Golden Boot race could be distorted by mismatches in the group stage.

"The increased number of teams changes things. I don't want to be overly harsh on nations like Curacao, Haiti, or Cape Verde, but the Golden Boot could easily be decided by someone scoring six or seven goals against those teams," he said.

The former France defender was blunt about FIFA's motivations for expanding the competition, adding: "FIFA's expansion seems driven more by revenue and the increased volume of matches rather than sporting reasons. The competition will really pick up after the group stages."

Kane and Mbappé neck and neck

In the current standings, Kane sits level with several other players on 3 goals, while Mbappé holds 4. England face DR Congo in their next fixture, while France take on Sweden — meaning both strikers will be in action this week as the tournament approaches its final stages.

With knockout football now looming, Leboeuf expects the contest between the two forwards to intensify as the stakes rise and the weaker opponents are left behind.