2026 FIFA World Cup Top Scorers API
Live Golden Boot leaderboard for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Get goals, assists, xG, shots on target, and minutes for every player - updated after each match. Filter by team, group, or position to build leaderboard widgets and fantasy apps.
Real-time Golden Boot race
The players/stats endpoint sorts by goals scored and updates within seconds of each goal during World Cup matches. Use it to power live leaderboard widgets, push notifications, and Golden Boot race trackers.
Golden Boot tiebreakers
FIFA applies tiebreakers in order: most goals, then most assists, then fewest minutes played. The API returns all three metrics so you can rank players according to the official rule.
Per-90 and conversion-rate metrics
Beyond raw goals, the endpoint exposes goals per 90, shots per 90, shot-conversion rate, and xG-per-shot. Useful for projecting how a player's pace would extend across remaining fixtures.
Position and team filters
Filter by position (FW / MF / DF / GK) to see top-scoring strikers vs midfielders, or by team_id to surface a single squad's leaderboard. Combine with limit and order_by for fully custom leaderboards.
/football/players/stats
Use competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} to scope this endpoint to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The same endpoint works for 1,195 other competitions.
// Top scorers leaderboard for World Cup 2026
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.thestatsapi.com/api/football/players/stats?competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}&season=2026&order_by=goals&limit=20',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const { data } = await response.json();
// Top 20 players by goals scoredWhat the World Cup 2026 top scorers API returns
Selected fields from the JSON response. Full schema and example payloads are in the developer docs.
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| player_id | integer | TheStatsAPI player identifier. |
| name / position / shirt_number | string | Player metadata. |
| team | object | { id, name, slug }. |
| goals | integer | Total goals at this competition/season. |
| goals_open_play / goals_penalty | integer | Split of goals by source. |
| assists | integer | Total assists. |
| xg | decimal | Cumulative expected goals. |
| shots / shots_on_target | integer | Shot counts. |
| minutes | integer | Total minutes played. |
| per_90 | object | { goals, shots, xg } normalised to 90 minutes. |
What developers build with the World Cup 2026 top scorers API
Golden Boot widget
Render a sortable leaderboard on news sites and fan portals.
Fantasy & prediction games
Score user picks for top scorer markets per group, per stage, or for the tournament.
Player profile pages
Surface live tournament stats on each player's profile.
Push notifications
Notify subscribers when a tracked player scores or moves into the top 3.
Implementation notes
- Use the limit and offset parameters to paginate — leaderboards beyond top-50 are rare in editorial use.
- Apply FIFA tiebreakers client-side using assists then minutes if you need a tie-aware UI.
- Cache for 30–60 seconds during live matches; longer between match days.
- Combine with /world-cup/xg for a Statsbomb-style under-performance / over-performance view.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the World Cup Golden Boot decided?
The Golden Boot goes to the top goalscorer of the tournament. If players are tied on goals, FIFA uses tiebreakers in order: most assists, then fewest minutes played. Penalty goals count.
Are assists and xG included in player stats?
Yes. The players/stats endpoint returns goals, assists, xG, shots, shots on target, shot-conversion rate, and minutes for every player who featured in the tournament.
Can I get historical World Cup top scorers?
Yes. Historical Golden Boot data is available back to 1930. Adjust the season parameter to query a previous edition — e.g. season=2022 returns Mbappé's 8-goal Golden Boot run.
How fast does the leaderboard update during matches?
Player goal counts update within seconds of an event in our source feed. The leaderboard re-sorts automatically on each request.
Does the endpoint distinguish open-play goals from penalties?
Yes. Each player row returns goals (total), goals_open_play, goals_penalty, and own_goals separately.
How do I get the top scorer for a specific team?
Filter by team_id and order_by=goals limit=1. The same call returns the top assister with order_by=assists.
Is there an under-21 / U23 leaderboard variant?
Yes — pass age_max=21 to surface a Young Player of the Tournament-style leaderboard.
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