Argentina captain Lionel Messi has climbed to the top of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot race after guiding his national team to the tournament final. Messi recorded two assists in Argentina’s 2-1 victory over France, bringing his total to four assists alongside his eight goals. This places him ahead of Kylian Mbappe, who also has eight goals but only three assists, giving the Argentine the edge based on the competition’s tie-breaking rules.
The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward currently sits in the lead as Argentina prepares to face Spain in the championship match scheduled for July 19. Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Mbappe has a chance to regain his position when France plays England in the third-place playoff this Friday. A successful scoring effort or an additional assist against the English side could shift the standings in favor of the Real Madrid striker. With both superstars scheduled to play one final game, the competition for the Golden Boot remains a primary focus of the closing weekend of the 2026 World Cup.
