Not Messi, Haaland Or Mbappe! Steven Gerrard Feels 26-Year-Old Star Will Win Golden Boot In FIFA World Cup 2026

Last Updated:June 12, 2026, 04:23 IST

The 26-year-old forward scored four goals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world today.

Former England captain and legendary midfielder Steven Gerrard has shared his predictions for the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, which got underway with the opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on Thursday (June 11). According to Gerrard, one of the greatest midfielders in football history, 26-year-old Argentina forward Julián Álvarez will win the Golden Boot award at this year’s tournament.

Álvarez, who played a key role in Argentina’s FIFA World Cup triumph in 2022, has been in outstanding form. During the 2025–26 season, he made 49 appearances for Atlético Madrid across all competitions and scored 20 goals.

At the FIFA World Cup, Álvarez has scored four goals for the South American giants.

In a video posted by TNT Sports on Instagram, Gerrard was asked to make several World Cup predictions. For the Golden Boot, he picked Álvarez ahead of stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Harry Kane.

For the Golden Glove award, Gerrard selected Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. Martínez won the same award at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Among his other predictions, Gerrard backed Messi to win the Golden Ball award, which is presented to the tournament’s best player. The 39-year-old Argentine remains the only player in FIFA World Cup history to have won the Golden Ball twice, claiming the honour in 2014 and 2022. A third triumph would be unprecedented.

Gerrard also identified Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal as the breakout young star of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and predicted that France would lift the trophy.

Les Bleus won their second World Cup title in 2018 and finished runners-up in the 2022 edition. They will once again rely on a star-studded squad featuring the likes of Mbappé, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Désiré Doué.

Towards the end of the video, Gerrard was asked to name a player who could win the prestigious Ballon d’Or. He chose Harry Kane, believing the England captain has a strong chance of claiming the award.

Kane enjoyed an exceptional 2025–26 season with Bayern Munich, and a successful World Cup campaign could help him become the first English player since Michael Owen in 2001 to win football’s most prestigious individual honour.

About the Author

Harshit BishtSenior Sub-editor

Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist with CNN-News18 since July 1, 2024, and covers cricket with a sharp eye for records, trends, and match analysis. Based in Noida, he has reported extensively on the...Read More

News sports football Not Messi, Haaland Or Mbappe! Steven Gerrard Feels 26-Year-Old Star Will Win Golden Boot In FIFA World Cup 2026

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