The match that will determine the 2026 World Cup champions is the biggest event left in the tournament, but there is also an individual battle to follow as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé compete for the Golden Boot, awarded to the competition’s top scorer.
The race has been one of the tournament’s main storylines since the opening match, with both players leading their teams deep into the competition. They are not alone in the race, as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham remain close behind, but Messi and Mbappé currently sit at the top of the standings.
After seven matches each, Messi and Mbappé are tied with eight goals, with one game remaining for both players. Even if Mbappé can no longer win the World Cup after France’s semifinal loss to Spain, the third-place match against England gives him one final opportunity to add to his total.
Golden Boot table
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 8 |
| 1 | Kylian Mbappé | France | 8 |
| 3 | Erling Haaland | Norway | 7 |
| 4 | Harry Kane | England | 6 |
| 4 | Jude Bellingham | England | 6 |
| 6 | Ousmane Dembélé | France | 5 |
| 6 | Mikel Oyarzabal | Spain | 5 |
| 8 | Vinícius Júnior | Brazil | 4 |
| 8 | Ismaïla Sarr | Senegal | 4 |
| 8 | Julián Quiñones | Mexico | 4 |
| 11 | Deniz Undav | Germany | 3 |
| 11 | Johan Manzambi | Switzerland | 3 |
| 11 | Romelu Lukaku | Belgium | 3 |
| 11 | Cody Gakpo | Netherlands | 3 |
| 11 | Folarin Balogun | USA | 3 |
