​Jalen Brunson believed Erling Haaland would finish the 2026 World Cup as the Golden Boot winner, even as his Knicks teammate Josh Hart strongly disagreed. After the group stage concluded, Brunson and Hart offered their forecasts for the remainder of the tournament, including who they thought would claim the Golden Boot. Although Lionel Messi led the scoring tally at that moment, Brunson chose the audacious Haaland, much to Hart’s visible frustration. Brunson argued passionately in favor of Haaland, predicting that Norway would mount a deep run in the tournament. Hart, meanwhile, was vehement in his opposition, backing France’s Kylian Mbappe instead.
Jalen Brunson: “I’ll say Erling Haaland, because I think Norway will make a push.”
Josh Hart: “Y’all, please don’t bet on Erling Haaland. It’ll probably be Mbappe.”
Hart later apologized to Brunson on social media for discounting Haaland as a viable option after Norway eliminated Brazil in the Round of 16. In hindsight, Hart’s stance may have looked less certain, as Mbappe now sits tied with Messi for the tournament lead with eight goals, while Haaland sits one behind at seven. Haaland, however, has the advantage of an additional match in hand, as he has yet to play his quarterfinal clash against England, where a brace could propel him past Mbappe.
Haaland is Norway’s primary offensive weapon and the player most likely to rack up goals if Norway’s attack can consistently create opportunities for him. The outcome hinges on how far Norway advances and how many chances Haaland can capitalize on. With a maximum of three games remaining, Haaland’s Golden Boot chances depend heavily on his ability to score in a win over England in the quarterfinals. Reaching the semifinals would ensure he plays the same total number of games as Mbappe, since a semifinal defeat would put Norway into a third-place match scenario.
If Norway were to lose to England, Haaland’s chances would be severely diminished unless he could convert a brace in a losing effort while Messi and Mbappe remain quiet in the rest of the tournament. As the competition progressed, the balance of probabilities shifted toward Haaland only if Norway’s offense could deliver the supply he needed and he could convert those chances in the knockout rounds.