News Focus
- Bruno Fernandes tops the early betting markets for the 2026 World Cup assists leader.
- Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are joint third favourites according to bookmakers.
- The tournament will take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico in summer 2026.
- European and South American playmakers dominate the predictions for the Golden Assist award.
Bookmakers have opened their markets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They are predicting which player will create the most goals during the tournament.
Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes is the current favourite. He has odds of +900. This means a $10 bet would return $100 if he provides the most assists.
France winger Michael Olise is second in the betting. The Bayern Munich star has odds of +1000.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi shares the next position with Spain teenager Lamine Yamal. Both players have odds of +1200. Many fans expect this to be Messi’s final World Cup appearance.
Other attacking stars appear further down the list. Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior is priced at +1400. France striker Kylian Mbappé and Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne both stand at +2000. Germany’s Florian Wirtz and Belgium winger Jérémy Doku share the same odds.
The award recognises the player who makes the final pass before a goal is scored. This is different from the Golden Boot, which goes to the top scorer. The tournament kicks off in June 2026 across three North American nations.