The Golden Boot race at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup remains finely balanced after the Round of 16, with Argentina’s Annika Paz and Korea DPR’s Choe Yon-a level at the top on five goals each.

Paz has scored five times in four appearances and has not converted a penalty, while Choe has also reached five goals in four matches, three of them from the spot. Their shared lead underlines the tight nature of the race as the tournament moves into its decisive knockout rounds in Poland.

Several players remain close enough to challenge for the award. Spain’s Pau Comendador and Celia Segura, England defender Rachel Maltby and China’s Huang Jiaxin have all been among the leading scorers, while Nigeria forwards Winner Onajite David and Ramotalahi Kareem are also within reach after strong group-stage performances.

The U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Boot is awarded to the player with the most goals. If players finish level, FIFA uses assists and then the fewest minutes played as tiebreakers.

The senior 2026 FIFA World Cup has already concluded. France forward Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot with 10 goals in eight matches, finishing ahead of Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who scored eight. Norway’s Erling Haaland and England’s Jude Bellingham ended the tournament on seven goals, while Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembélé each scored six.

Mbappé’s 10-goal tournament placed him two clear of Messi and secured one of the standout individual achievements of the 2026 World Cup.