The competition for the Golden Boot has narrowed to just two contenders: Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. As the FIFA World Cup 2026 final approaches, Messi has a crucial match ahead against Spain this Sunday at the New York-New Jersey Stadium. Following a standout performance that included a brace in the third-place playoff against England, Mbappe has overtaken the Argentine legend in the race for the award. At 39 years old, Messi now faces a significant challenge in the final if he hopes to reclaim the top spot from Mbappe.
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His two goals increased his total to 21 in World Cup competitions, surpassing the Argentine legend by one goal, while also bringing his overall tournament score to 10.
Additionally, it is difficult to envision a scenario where Lionel Scaloni would substitute Messi during such a crucial World Cup final. The only situation that could lead to this would be an injury affecting Messi during the match.
What does Messi need to do?
Kylian Mbappe has bolstered his case for the top scorer title by netting two goals in France’s thrilling 4-6 loss to England during Saturday’s third-place playoff. Despite France missing out on the bronze medal, the talented forward achieved a significant personal milestone by surpassing Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup goal record.
After securing the Golden Boot at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with eight goals—outpacing Messi’s seven—Mbappe is now in prime position to defend his title in the 2026 tournament.
Messi faces one last chance to reclaim the lead when Argentina takes on Spain in Sunday’s championship match. As the Argentine captain, he remains a strong contender, but securing the award necessitates an outstanding performance in the final. A hat-trick could elevate Messi’s total to 11 goals, putting him ahead of Mbappe.
Even if Messi doesn’t manage a hat-trick, scoring two goals along with at least one assist could also suffice, as both players currently share four assists. According to the tournament’s tiebreak rules, if Messi scores a double and is substituted before reaching 56 minutes, he could still triumph over Mbappe.
As of now, Mbappe boasts 10 goals and four assists in 769 minutes, while Messi has recorded eight goals and four assists in 712 minutes. The tournament has showcased various impressive performances, with ten players achieving four goals or more. England’s Jude Bellingham ranks third in the scoring charts with seven goals, while Norway’s Erling Haaland also tallied seven despite playing only 537 minutes.
