As Argentina booked its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain, the Golden Boot race also took a dramatic turn, with Lionel Messi leapfrogging Kylian Mbappe in the standings.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleLionel Messi's bid to write another chapter of football history appears to be alive and kicking in what will be his final World Cup. After Argentina's 2-1 win against England secured their position for the July 19, 2026 final against Spain, the race for the coveted Golden Boot has also taken a dramatic turn.
Kylian Mbappé had been topping the scoring charts till now, but Messi climbed the standings with two assists after the semifinal. However, that doesn't secure the Argentine football superstar's fate just yet. Ahead of Sunday's match, here's a look at the top four contenders heading into the final weekend.
The Adidas Golden Boot is awarded to the player with the most goals at the FIFA World Cup. If two or more players finish level on goals, the tiebreaker is decided by assists, followed by fewer minutes played if necessary.
After the last match, Lionel Messi (Argentina) has reached the top rank, leading the Golden Boot race with eight goals and four assists. The 39-year-old overtook Mbappé after producing two decisive assists in Argentina's semifinal comeback against England. With one more match left against Spain in the final, Messi has the perfect opportunity to claim the first World Cup Golden Boot of his legendary career.
Kylian Mbappé (France) remains level with Messi on goals but trails by one assist. France’s World Cup dream may have been crushed in the semifinals by Spain, but the 27-year-old Real Madrid superstar still has a chance to reclaim the lead with France still to face England in the third-place playoff. Even one or two goals can do wonders to the existing Golden Boot standings and put him back on top before the World Cup 2026 finals.
Erling Haaland (Norway), global football's new sensation, is in third place. Even though Norway's fairytale World Cup run ended in the quarterfinals after defeat to England, the 25-year-old Manchester City striker's seven-goal record still keeps him in the Golden Boot race. Unlike the top two contenders, Haaland's tally will remain unchanged as Norway is no longer in the game. But he still has a chance, in case the players above him fail to add to their totals.
In fourth place, we have England's star player Jude Bellingham with six goals and one assist. The 25-year-old midfielder still has an outside chance of overtaking Mbappé and Messi, but that depends on how well he performs against France in the third-place playoff. His teammate Harry Kane also remains equally in contention with six goals and one assist.
The coveted Golden Boot is awarded to the leading goalscorer in the FIFA World Cup. Introduced in 1982 as the 'Golden Shoe', it had its name changed in 2010. Aside from the tournament's iconic trophy, the Golden Boot gives players a chance for recognition even when they don't qualify for the final match.
The award recognizes the player who scores the most goals during the tournament, with every match, from the group stage to the final and even the third-place playoff, counting toward the tally. If two or more players finish level on goals, FIFA uses a series of tiebreakers, including most assists and fewest minutes played.
With Messi in the lead this year, his win of the award would mark the first World Cup Golden Boot of his illustrious career. Meanwhile, Mbappé is aiming to become the first player since Cristiano Ronaldo (2002) to win consecutive World Cup Golden Boots, having claimed the honor in Qatar 2022 with eight goals.
Who do you think will win the Golden Boot in the FIFA World Cup 2026? Let us know!
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