The race for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot has come down to the final match of the tournament. France star Kylian Mbappe has thrown down the gauntlet after scoring twice in France’s dramatic 6-4 loss to England in the third-place play-off on Saturday.
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His performance moved him to the top of the scoring charts, but Lionel Messi still has one last chance to overtake him when Argentina face Spain in the World Cup final.
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Mbappe vs Messi for the Golden Boot Race 2026
The final has become more than a battle for the World Cup trophy. It could also decide the tournament’s top scorer. Messi needs two goals against Spain to draw level with Mbappe in goals.
Mbappe’s latest brace lifted him to 10 goals in the tournament. That is the highest tally at a men’s World Cup this century. No player had reached double figures since Germany legend Gerd Muller scored 10 goals at the 1970 World Cup.
The French forward has also strengthened his place among the greatest World Cup scorers in history. His latest goals moved him to 22 career World Cup goals, putting him ahead of Messi’s 21 before the final.
Messi now enters what could be his final World Cup match with two major prizes at stake. Victory over Spain would give Argentina another world title. Two goals would also hand him the Golden Boot. The Argentina captain would win the Golden Boot because he has recorded more assists during the tournament.
However, any other outcome would see Mbappe become the first player to win the Golden Boot twice.
The race behind the top two has also produced standout performances.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham climbed to third after scoring against France. His seven-goal haul is the most by an England player in a single World Cup. He moved ahead of Norway striker Erling Haaland on assists. England captain Harry Kane and France winger Ousmane Dembele remain one goal further back.
Bellingham is now also in the running for the Golden Ball against Haaland, Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha and Spain’s Lamine Yamal. Messi is the only player in World Cup history to have won the Golden Ball twice and is the leading contender in World Cup 2026.
Other players in the running include Spain’s Rodri and Mikel Oyarzabal, and France’s Michael Olise.
